Albion will pursue $750K grant and loan for CRFS

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2013 at 12:00 am

ALBION – The village and the Orleans Economic Development Agency will seek a $750,000 state grant and low-interest loan package to aid the expansion by Claims Recovery Financial Services.

The village of Medina and the EDA pursued the funding last February, when CRFS announced it was expanding into the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina. The state in April approved Medina’s application for a Community Development Block Grant through the state’s Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

However, the money hasn’t been received by CRFS. And now the company is expanding again. It will move its Medina operation and its workforce in Albion to the former JPMorgan Chase site.

The company and EDA want to transfer the grant and loan to Albion. The village will have a pubic hearing on the revised application at 7 p.m. on Oct. 23. The hearing will be at the Village Hall, 35-37 East Bank St.

Mayor Dean Theodorakos said the application will be the same as in February, when the company sought a $367,500 grant and a $367,500 deferred loan. The other $15,000 goes to Harry Sicherman, a grant writer and consultant from Buffalo. He will prepare the application and will administer the funding.

CRFS employs nearly 600 people in Orleans County and is working to add 150 jobs as part of the expansion in the former Chase site. Theodorakos said more details about the application will be available at the public hearing.