By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ELLICOTTVILLE — M.J. Painting Contractor Corp., plans to begin construction of a $1.7 million facility this summer on a 9-acre site at 350 Franklin St., Olean.
The site was the subject of a brownfield cleanup over the past two years. Thousands of tons of contaminated soil at the former Socony Vacuum Co., refinery site was removed and clean fill was brought in.
The brownfield cleanup was paid for by Exxon Mobil, which bares responsibility because it is a successor company to the original owner, Socony Vacuum.
M.J. Painting president Mike John submitted a revised application to the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency for phase 1, a 8,256 square foot building with offices, two mechanical bays, six storage bays, a salt storage building and a fuel station.
John had proposed a painting facility in the earlier application.
John said he plans to appear before the Olean Planning Board on June 10, seeking approval for the site plan.
John purchased the site in 2018 from Park Center Development Co. for $233,500. He said the company has run out of room for expansion at its nearby headquarters at 291 Franklin St.
The company currently has 40 employees. The impact of the new building on the company’s employment has not yet been determined. The company’s 2023 payroll was nearly $3 million.
Corey Wiktor, IDA executive director, said John had scaled the project back a little since the IDA initially induced the project in 2021.
John is seeking $128,000 in sales tax exemptions for the building, a $50,000 payment in lieu of taxes over 10 years and a mortgage recording fee exemption, the value to be determined.
The IDA board approved the revised application from M.J. Painting Contractor Corp.
Also approved by the board was a $2.4 million application from Win-Sum Ski Corp., which owns Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville for sales tax exemption only.
The project includes resort efficiencies including new snow guns and pipeline, renovations to the Inn at Holiday Valley technology project and pickleball court.
Wiktor also reported on plans to start a RevRail railbike
Business in the village of Cattaraugus that would link with the IDA’s Dayton to Cattaraugus rail line.
The line has some washouts and is no longer in use. However, the IDA is seeking grants to reopen the line for the RevRail railbikes.
It is a way to jumpstart tourism in the village, which has been working on several projects including restoring the Crawford House, a walkable village and extension of the Pat McGee Trail.
Wiktor said the initial RevRail railbike line will be 2.2 miles. That will increase when the washouts are repaired.
The Bank of Cattaraugus and Historic Cattaraugus Corp., are spearheading the efforts to develop tourism interest in the village.
