Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has issued the following letter to Lisa Davis of Dresser-Rand Co. on the company's decision to close its facility in Wellsville, Allegany County. The letter is also available here.
Ms. Lisa Davis
8850 Starbrooke Drive
Houston, TX 77064
Dear Ms. Davis:
I am deeply disappointed by your decision to close the former Dresser-Rand facility in Wellsville, New York. Your action will result in the loss of jobs for 250 highly-skilled men and women in Western New York and the Southern Tier - areas of the state that absolutely cannot afford to absorb such a loss. I urge you to reconsider this reckless move and explore all options to keep the facility open.
Dresser-Rand Co. has a storied history in the State of New York, and it is a shame to see the company turn its back on New Yorkers in this manner. The workers at this facility are highly specialized and trained with wide ranging titles, job duties, and skill sets. The jobs at the Wellsville facility are critical to the economy of the region, and closing this plant would be devastating to the employees, their families, and the communities throughout Western New York and the Southern Tier.
The State has provided significant economic support to Dresser-Rand Co. through multiple economic development grants, including a $500,000 grant to build a new 5,000 SF facility in Olean, New York in 2012. These investments have played a key role in Dresser-Rand Co.'s success and contributed to the economic growth of the entire region.
The closure of the Wellsville facility is an extreme and unnecessary measure that will upend the lives of New Yorkers and threaten the economic progress we have made in the area. New York State has a great deal of experience assisting businesses at risk of closure by facilitating a productive dialogue with regional stakeholders, local and state government, and labor organizations. I am confident that we can develop a plan that will be beneficial to both your company and the hard-working men and women at the Wellsville location.
Sincerely,
Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor
