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Kawasaki Rail Car to Invest $25 Million in YonkersPOSTED May 4, 2011 ALBANY -- Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last month that Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. (Kawasaki) will invest $25 million into their Yonkers facility and retain all 375 current positions. Kawasaki has operated its U.S. corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in the Hudson Valley since 1985 with the inaugural order of 95 subway cars for the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) system between New York and New Jersey. "Kawasaki's decision to reinvest in Yonkers speaks volumes about New York's commitment to business," Governor Cuomo said. "It means that hundreds of good jobs will stay right here in New York. We look forward to the company's continued growth and prosperity in the Lower Hudson Valley." Empire State Development (ESD) awarded Kawasaki a capital grant in the amount of $500,000 for the retention of 375 full-time manufacturing employees and an investment by the company of $25 million for the purchase and renovation of its currently leased facility located in Yonkers. ESD President and CEO Kenneth Adams said, "Today's announcement symbolizes the commitment of a world-renowned and well-respected manufacturer to the State of New York. It also reinforces Governor Cuomo's message that New York is open for business. We are thrilled that Kawasaki will continue to call New York home." Kawasaki secures an average of $460 million a year in contracts and produces an average of 180 rail cars a year for various transportation authorities, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, as well as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. "We are very happy to stay in our New York home," said Mr. Hiroji Iwasaki, the Chief Executive Officer of Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. "We had considered locations outside New York State for this, but based upon the tremendous quality of our workforce here as well as the help provided by Empire State Development, the decision was an easy one to make. Kawasaki's philosophy is 'customer first,' and this proximity will allow us to respond to our customer's needs in a timely manner. We are very appreciative to Governor Cuomo, ESD, Mayor Amicone of Yonkers and all our local partners and look forward to many decades of growth ahead of us." Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "I would like to thank Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development for working to secure this investment in the Mid-Hudson Valley and for helping to retain 375 jobs right here in Westchester County. Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. comprises a large part of the Hudson Valley's transportation industry, which is critical to maintaining our region's ties to upstate New York as well as New York City and Long Island. Incidentally, their facility is located right next door to my district office, and they have been excellent neighbors. I am very pleased that they will maintain a strong presence in Yonkers." Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone said, "Kawasaki has been an important member of our corporate community in Yonkers for decades, and we are thrilled they will be staying here for years to come. At a time when other manufacturers are leaving New York State, it is crucial that we work in partnership with New York State to provide incentive packages that will keep jobs in New York. And Kawasaki provides good paying, quality jobs. We could not be more proud to have them in our community. I want to thank Governor Cuomo and Empire State Development for their efforts." In 2009, KawasakiRail Car, Inc. received a mandate from its parent company, KawasakiHeavy Industries, Ltd., to identify and secure a permanent base for its U.S. operations where "Made in the USA" cars can be built and delivered to its customers. After careful consideration and review of multiple sites, including New Jersey and Nebraska, Kawasaki made a final determination to stay in Yonkers. The Hudson Valley location is at the center of the U.S.'s busiest passenger rail corridor, the Northeast corridor a site Kawasaki believes will enable it to cost effectively support its ongoing and projected rail car manufacturing operations in the United States. In 2001, Kawasaki expanded its U.S. operations with a state-of-the-art rail car manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Nebraska -- the only facility currently in the U.S. that is capable of mass-producing heavy rail, commuter rail and high-speed rail cars from the bottom-up. This expansion to Lincoln allowed Kawasaki to increase production and respond to growing customer demands of U.S. made products. This has also benefited Kawasaki's partners in allowing for greater production flexibility. With U.S. capabilities beyond any other manufacturer, Kawasaki is uniquely poised to design, build and deliver American-made rail cars to this country's emerging mass transportation and high speed intercity passenger rail market well into the future. |
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