Industry ramps up on city’s east side

By Rosa Salter Rodriguez | The Journal Gazette

There's good news about jobs in New Haven on the horizon, according to two applications for economic development benefits.

Superior Aluminum Alloys plans to create 12 jobs in production and maintenance and invest about $13 million in new equipment and improvements at its plant at 14214 Edgerton Road.

Quincy Recycle Paper Inc. plans to install $715,000 in baling equipment at its facility at 2210 Summit St. and add two sales jobs.

The expansions at Superior and Quincy amount to about 10 percent of their current labor force. 

Both companies recently filed applications for tax abatements. A public hearing on whether both companies' properties should be declared economic revitalization areas as a prelude to granting the temporary tax reductions is scheduled June 13. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. at New Haven's administration building at 815 E. Lincoln Highway.

Superior, which recycles scrap aluminum into alloys used in vehicle manufacturing, has about 130 employees and had $165.25 million in sales in 2016, according to its abatement application.

The company is asking to save $719,000 in business personal property taxes for the equipment investment over the next seven years and $108,461 in real estate taxes over the next 10 years.

Salaries for the 10 new production jobs would range from just under $20,000 to $45,000, while the two maintenance jobs would pay $27,000 to $61,000, according to Superior's application.

All jobs also carry comprehensive benefits, including health insurance and paid vacation time, the company's application says.

Quincy has 23 employees and gross sales of $9.3 million in 2016. Salaries for the new jobs were not available Friday. The company would save about $26,500 in business personal property taxes on its new equipment, its application says.

Brian Yoh, New Haven's director of planning and economic development, said interest by industrial companies in the New Haven area has been increasing along with the economic recovery.

“The U.S. 24 project (completion) has put us in a different light, since it's been straightened out, and put in four lanes and limited access. It makes us more viable,” he said.”

Earlier this year, Continental Diamond Tool announced a 77-job expansion in New Haven. Lippert Components and Sauder Manufacturing also have announced plans to expand facilities and add jobs in New Haven.