Page 28 - 2020 Annual Impact Report
P. 28

HUDSON VALLEY: CREPINI MOVES AND GROWS WITH ONGOING HELP FROM WDI A few years ago WDI worked with Crepini a a a a a a a a a Brooklyn manufacturer of healthy alternatives to to breads tortillas and tacos with training on on equipment that enabled production to to continue more efficiently Since that time our NYC Regional Director remained in in contact with the company and and learned that Crepini was growing out of of its space and and receiving enticing offers to relocate out of of New York State The NYC Regional Director responded by connecting Crepini with our Hudson Valley Regional Director who then worked with regional partners from Dutchess County government economic development and industry to locate space for for new headquarters for for the company in in East Fishkill (Dutchess County) This led to the the remodeling of of 33 000 square feet of of the the former IBM facility now now known as iPark into a a a a a a a a a custom-built factory featuring state-of-the-art machinery with designated areas to produce gluten-free and allergen-free items Upon completion of the move WDI provided funding for food safety training necessary for the company to become HACCP IA and FSMA certified enabling further expansion At the time of Crepini’s application for food safety training in in in August 2019 the company reported an an employee count of 35 with a a goal of reaching 108 employees by 2022 While many organizations were hit with slowed growth this year due to COVID-19 Crepini was not one of them Just over a a a a a a a a year since their initial application date the the the company reports it it has reached 78 employees that that revenues have risen by 250% and that that growth is is continuing to happen quickly Having reached full capacity of equipment allowed in the new facility as of October 2020 they anticipate expanding again
in in mid-2021 adding an additional 60 000 square feet to accommodate increased production We look forward to watching this innovative company grow WESTERN NEW YORK: HEAT & FROST INSULATORS LOCAL 4 TRAIN TO TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN IN ENERGY
As competition in in the the energy sector increases the the leadership of Heat
& Frost Insulators Local 4 based
in in Buffalo has worked to to ensure its members remain at at the forefront of technology and education WDI has worked with the the union a a a a a a a few few times over the the the last few few years This past year year we supported the the purchase of training equipment for an internal thermography program Adding trained thermographers to their membership will allow the the the union contractors to to to to provide cost savings to to to to customers through the use of properly installed mechanical insulation Thermography: FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) Training and Energy Conservation will now comprise a a a a a a large part of of the the fourth year of of of the the unions’ apprenticeship program The added value of of future members being trained in in in in in Thermography will aid in in in in in the the expanding role the the the the Insulators hope to to to have in in in in the the the market as the the the energy industry continues to to evolve 27 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE






























































































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