Road Bump for Nano Center

    When a business looks to expand and build a new facility, it often acts quickly and looks for a site that's ready to go. Over a decade ago, work began on developing a technology site in Marcy. A number of entities including Oneida County and Mohawk Valley Edge laid out a plan for the site.

                Mohawk Valley Edge President Steven Dimeo says, "We didn't lightly plan on how we we're going to develop this site, we have consulted with the industry experts, who are engaged in this industry and know how these sites are laid out and we clearly tried to avoid wetlands."

            For years many believed that nanotechnology would be the boom this area needed. But development has been delayed by permits and many say because the technology industry rapidly changes they can't afford to wait.

                Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente says, "You have to have sites pre-permitted, truly shovel ready so construction can begin without jumping over hurdles because business doesn't want to wait."

                Dimeo added, "Market timing is critical to them so if they miss a technology cycle that's a big financial bust in their financial analysis and that's not the way the industry can work."

            Mohawk Valley Edge has been applying for permits the last six years and those involved say they could not have foreseen the mitigation of wetlands being the ultimate road block.

                "I don't think that any of us thought that this was going to be the issue that its turned out to be so in that regard it's been, I mean disappointing is a light term for it but that doesn't mean we're stopping. Is it a road block certainly, is it a deal killer, absolutely not" says Picente.