Reprinted from Post Journal 7/15/10
Although there is still much work to be done before Brigiotta's Farmland Produce & Garden Center can utilize its newly acquired property on Livingston Avenue in Celoron, the family is one step closer to that day.
At a ceremony Wednesday morning at the site of the former Penn Empire trucking company, the Galbato family, which owns the long-standing produce business, was joined by local and county officials as they were given the keys to the property, marking a significant milestone in the rehabilitation of the former Brownfield site.
"We are here today to celebrate the partnership between the village of Celoron, Chautauqua County and the federal government to turn a contaminated property into a taxable business property," said County Executive Greg Edwards. "To see this locally grown business expanding is exciting and positive, and the fact that we're able to be here today transferring the property to the Galbato family is a testament to everyone working together. This is how things are supposed to work."
The process was complex, however, as the property was contaminated with what Edwards said was "tons" of toxic substances left behind by the former tenant.
"Chautauqua County worked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency in conducting an environmental investigation at the site in 2008 and 2009," Mrs. Ruth said. "When the results of that investigation were reviewed, county leadership determined the site was a viable candidate for redevelopment and subsequently authorized the acquisition of tax deeds in March of 2010. In May of this year, a request for proposal was published in the local newspapers and six local businesses attended a pre-proposal site inspection on May 13."
According to Bill Daly, director of the county's Industrial Development Agency, the Galbatos proposal family was considered the best.
"Brigiotta's submitted the proposal that was most advantageous to the county," Daly said. "Their proposal reflects their savvy business acumen, commitment to the county and successful track record of nearly nine decades as a premier supplier of produce in Western New York."
Tim Galbato, co-owner of Brigiotta's Farmland Produce & Garden Center, said the family is excited to take over the property and has established a three-year plan for development and use of the new site.
"We were interested in the property a while back but the cost of clean-up was much more than we could do," he said. "We are thankful for the government assistance that made this a reality, and we will continue to work hard to grow our business at the new location."
After initial clean-up at the Livingston Avenue site, the property will be used to expand the company's wholesale produce distribution business, which already boasts more than 2,000 customers throughout Western New York and Pennsylvania. And talks are already under way with railroad officials to utilize the tracks adjacent to the property to cut transportation costs for moving produce into and out of the area, a method that is expected to save the company 30 percent versus traditional trucking.
"We have been blessed with an excellent work force and would never be able to expand without them," Galbato said. "We've come a long way since my grandfather was growing vegetables in the fields on Jones and Gifford, and that's because my parents have always reinvested profit back into the business.
" Francis and Thomas Galbato Sr. reflected on the prospect of taking the business to the Internet while remembering taking late-night trips to Buffalo to pick up produce.
"They told us this would never work and we wouldn't be able to do it," Mrs. Galbato said. "I can still remember people telling us that but we're still here today, with four generations of our family invested in the business."
By Robert Rizzuto
