by Doug La Rocque
At its May 10 meeting, The Rensselaer County legislature unanimously approved the sale of the former WCW building at 1 Mechanic Street to the 1150 Scottsville Rd LLC for $140,000. They plan to move Trojan Steel from its current location at 62 Factory Hill in North Hoosick. Raymond J. Benoit III (known as Ray Benoit) is President of the group.[private]Benoit said he would like to have Trojan Steel moved in there before winter. He said they are already taking steps to renovate the building, including roof repair, and install the necessary overhead cranes for their production process. Benoit said “I had to do something in the property I am at – it was either build or move. When this building became available I took a look at it, and with its 22-foot-high ceilings throughout it was perfect for what we do.
Benoit said he hopes to add 5 to 10 jobs over the next two years. “It’s going to allow Trojan Steel to grow. We currently don’t do any outside field erection but we will have an outside erection crew working out of this building.
Trojan Steel was established in Hoosick in 1998 by Ray Benoit and Jeff Loeffler, owners of Kozel Steel, an established structural steel supplier and fabricator based in Rochester, N.Y. Both long term steel industry businessmen, Benoit and Loeffler saw the need for a steel supplier in the Albany area. Basing the concept for the company on the successful Kozel Steel operation, they established a plant in Hoosick Falls in 1998, delivering steel beams and other products to the Albany area and points north.
The space in their new building (80,000 sf) is larger than they need at present, so some of the space will be available for other industrial tenants. They also plan to bring in another company they own called the Tool Ranch in a store at the front of the building. That company sells tools and builders’ hardware to professional contractors.
Benoit also said they have a hard time hiring skilled welders and drivers, so they are considering a training facility where younger workers can become certified in welding and create a better pool of prospective employees.
Legislative Chairman Stan Brownell said “this is big news and we are excited to have them in Rensselaer County and Hoosick Falls especially.” Brownell also said that after five years of the County owning this property, “it’s a start of the healing process for Hoosick Falls.”
Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino said, “The County has been actively working to find a suitable buyer for 1 mechanic street since taking ownership of the property due to the previous owner’s failure to pay taxes. Our hope was that we could eventually find a company that could take on the challenges of this property while looking to create jobs and economic vitality. Fortunately we feel we have found that partner in 1150 Scottsville Road, LLC that I am certain will build upon its already 20 years of success in business.”[/private]