The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers LU 139 plans to purchase and renovate a new headquarters/training facility in Elmira’s Near Westside district in New York. The union plans to renovate a two-story building that once housed a Coca-Cola bottling plant, and most recently, an electrical contracting business.
According to the Star Gazette, the new training facility would be the only one of its kind in Chemung, Steuben, Tioga and Allegany counties. Ten apprentices a year would be trained at the facility in alternative and green energy techniques.
The projected $1 million cost of the project includes a $500,000 purchase price and an equal amount for renovation costs. The union has requested a 50 percent, 10-year property tax abatement on the increased assessment, along with sales tax and mortgage tax exemptions, from the Chemung County Industrial Development Authority. The renovations will not increase the building’s footprint, so there is no need for an environmental review....(The Star Gazette)