[ad_1]
Overall, this year has been a bleak year for the local business scene.
Victories such as the opening of the Americold cold storage facility in the town of Dunkirk were overshadowed by setbacks. Most notably, massive layoffs at nearby Wells He Ice Cream and major changes in construction work at Athens have hit workers in northern counties.
Among small businesses, Silver Creek’s long-standing institution has closed, but a closed Fredonia icon is making a comeback.
Shrinking Wells
On July 21st, the company “Reduce operations…5 production lines in 2023” at the Dunkirk plant.
Wells was acquired by the Ferrero Group in early December. Wilfred Rosas, Mayor of Dunkirk “We were assured that there would be no further cuts.”
But these cuts were devastating. Wells said in September, through the State Department of Labor, that by January 1 he would lose 319 jobs. Before the announcement, the factory had 650 to his 700 employees.
Athens withdraws
The troubled pharmaceutical company has sold its Dunkirk factory’s new town lease to ImmunityBio.
The company had lost more than $308 million by September, and in October announced layoffs of about 40 people at its Dunkirk plant. ImmunityBio also said that to meet the needs of pharmaceutical manufacturing, a major retrofit of the plant would be required, which could take up to a year and a half.
Closure of Balbo
After 103 years, Valvo’s Candies and Gift Shop closed on September 12th.
Owner Elizabeth Balbo said the property would eventually be put up for sale. “We would like to thank our wonderful customers, friends and family who have helped us along the way.” she said.
“I really appreciate everyone who supported us.”
she added, “My husband and I were working in the candy factory until 2 in the morning and sometimes we heard a knock on the door. People from the community would just come and help.”
White Inn has been sold
Local businessman Steve St. George partnered with restaurateur Devin Jones to purchase this historic building, which closed in 2017, for an undisclosed amount.
The duo plan to restore the building to its original splendor as a hotel, restaurant, bar and event space. State grants, including one issued last week, are supporting this effort.
“We have spent years working behind the scenes to help the inn achieve positive results.” When the sale was announced, Mark Geise, who leads Chautauqua County’s business development efforts, said: “Several attempts by other stakeholders have stalled, but I am confident that Mr. St. George’s efforts will succeed.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to give back to Fredonia.” Saint George said
nursing home fines
In March, the State Department of Health fined Dunkirk Rehabilitation and Nursing Center $10,000 for failing to perform CPR on a resident who died unresponsive.
A licensed practice nurse who discovered a patient was not performing CPR did not activate Code Blue for internal emergency assistance, and called 911 for help from outside the building, according to state citations. did not do it.
LPN instead contacted the Nursing Director, who was out sick. According to state reports, the facility did not properly schedule its registered nurses and did not appoint a full-time nursing director when the original nursing director was on sick leave.
Nursing homes have taken corrective actions, including plans to ensure registered nurse coverage in the required hours and the designation of interim nursing directors in the absence of regular nurses.
[ad_2]
Source link