By Jeanne Sager
LIBERTY — April 23, 2004 – There’s nothing fishy about the news that a major new business is coming to Liberty.
Word has it that Global Aquaproductions Systems will be making a move to the town soon, setting up shop to process fish on Old Route 17.
According to Supervisor Frank DeMayo, this is good news for the town – it will bring jobs and help on the tax rolls.
And the planned location is in an agricultural zone, near a farm that processes ducks.
“It’s kind of consistent with what we already have in the area,” DeMayo said.
“The board has looked upon this favorably,” he added.
Global Aquaproductions is still looking to the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency before moving ahead with plans, but they’ve announced their intentions to build a 300,000-square-foot building on the 109-acre parcel of land.
The structure will be a high-tech recirculating aquasystem that will be used to breed and process about 7 million pounds of fish each year.
The company is asking the IDA to waive local, state and use taxes that relate to acquiring the property and constructing and equipping the facility.
There has also been a request for a bond to help fund the project.
The IDA will be considering the project after a public hearing set for May 17 at 10 a.m. at the Town of Liberty Hall.