Ceremonial shovels of dirt were turned over Monday as the first step
toward
construction of the future home of a Chinese and American facility in the
Town
of Fishkill.
The $2 million facility on Route 9D will be the U.S. headquarters of the
Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co. Ltd., of the People's Republic of
China, and its U.S. subsidiary, Intensus Engineering Inc.
Intensus, which runs an import-export business in heavy construction
equipment, has been in the area for about two years. The planned
10,000-square-foot building on the 15-acre parcel will be a center for
development, distribution and assembly of the equipment, according to Juan
Carlos Salcedo, managing director of Intensus.
Chinese official attended
Attending Monday's ceremonial groundbreaking at the site, north of
Dutchess
Stadium, was an official Chinese delegation from the Xuzhou Municipal
Government, as well as Intensus executives and community leaders.
Attendees were enthusiastic about the positive impact the facility will
have on the Hudson Valley once it opens. "(The groundbreaking) is a
significant step forward in bringing quality jobs to Dutchess County," said
Joseph A. DiPalo, chairman of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp.
"I hope it will bring very good returns for the investors and will be
beneficial for the U.S. economy," said Wang Xilong, the Xuzhou chief
economic
adviser and a top party official. "Certainly we hope it will help the
development of the economy in the Hudson Valley; that it will give people
more
opportunities here."
"For the Chinese to come here of all places in the nation defines their
commitment (to this project)," Salcedo said.
Xuzhou leaders selected the site in Fishkill both because they recognized
the need for a new industry in the area and because of the geographic
advantages. "The Hudson Valley has a very good climate and people," said
Xilong. "It's close to a big city without having (to deal with) the
troubles
of big cities."
Construction of the new facility will not begin until the purchase of the
land has been finalized, according to Salcedo.
