EAST BLOOMFIELD, NY — A manufacturing business with a presence in East Bloomfield since 1971 is expected to leave the facility by the end of the year, leaving potentially dozens of workers without jobs.
Crosman Corp. recently notified town of East Bloomfield, village of Bloomfield and Ontario County officials of its plan, according to East Bloomfield Supervisor Fred Wille.
The initial news is somewhat softened, but the idea of mainstay of the town and county closing remains devastating.
“It’s a big blow to our town,” Wille said. “They employed a lot of people and paid a lot of taxes.”
Earlier this year, Crosman was purchased by Daisy Manufacturing Co., which is headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas.
According to a press release announcing the sale, Crosman, which a year ago marked its 100 th anniversary, is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of air guns, accessories and related items sold under the Crosman, Benjamin, Game Face, LaserMax and Centerpoint Optics brands.
Daisy is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of youth and adult air guns, accessories and related items sold under the Daisy, BSA, Red Ryder, GAMO and Winchester brands.
Much of the work done in East Bloomfield also is being done in Arkansas, according to company and local officials.
Joe Brown, vice president of marketing and product development for Crosman Corp., said the plan is to be out of the facility — and it is being marketed for sale — by the end of the year, whether the building is sold or not.
“That’s just an operational efficiency,” Brown said. “There’s no reason to not do that.”
But in a new development, Brown said the company will keep a footprint for some of its manufacturing, but it’s undecided if it would be in part of this building as part of a lease with a new owner or somewhere nearby.
“That’s a very recent decision,” Brown said.
Still, the number of employees, which he put at approximately 140 although the number is fluid, will be reduced, said Brown, who is one of the employees who will be downsized. Ten employees have been notified of layoffs, which start in September.
The exact number has not been determined, but a majority of the workforce will be reduced, Brown said.
“Employee numbers will be reduced,” Brown said. “They’re figuring that out now.”
Wille said he had no idea how many local people are employed by the company, but some of the people worked there a relatively short period of time and others have spent a career there and have nowhere to go in terms of that specialized manufacturing.
“It’s tough,” Wille said.
Bloomfield Mayor Mark Falsone said many Crosman workers come into the village for lunch.
“So, it’s going to be an economic hit to the restaurants we have here and just the overall viability of the town and village in terms of tax revenue and things of that nature,” Falsone said. “It’s a sad state of affairs.”
Wille is hopeful that another company will find the location, which sits on 50 acres off state Routes 5 and 20 west of the village, attractive.
“It’s a beautiful campus,” Wille said, with plenty of acreage and water, sewer and electricity. “We’re hoping that some other corporation or manufacturing industry will find it attractive and want to come and set up shop here.”
While Ontario County Economic Development Director Ryan Davis said the company’s decision is “incredibly disappointing,” the facility is an attractive site and well equipped for manufacturing, particularly as the Finger Lakes region hopes to gain traction as a tech hub for the semi-conductor industry.
“We’d like to think there’s somebody looking for a home just because of the location,” Davis said. “It isn’t a hard sell. It’s a beautiful location.”
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Manufacturing business exiting Ontario County facility; job losses expected
Most Popular
Comments / 0