Lackawanna, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) is seeking proposals for businesses at the one-time home of Bethlehem Steel in Lackawanna. The IDA's president says businesses are already in place along Steelworkers Drive.
John Cappelino, ECIDA President, says everyone in Western New York has some tie to that site.
"Whether it was a relative that worked at the former Bethlehem Steel site, a lot of people remember the day the company announced the closure, and the traumatic impact that had on a lot of families in our community," said Cappelino in an interview with WBEN.
He says there was a purpose to naming the site Renaissance Commerce Park.
"I think there's a lot of pride for the people and the employees that work there in some of the great things that happened in the past, but we're also looking at how do we breathe new life into that site," Cappelino added.
Cappelino says two of the big buildings in the very front already have occupants.
"There are two Uniland facilities, and 2 Steelworkers Way is half full, a Canadian company that makes brake parts. The other is a local company that does also assembly for some automotive parts in there," said Cappelino.
He says KPM is in the other building. He adds the IDA has been working with a company called Sucrose Sourcing.
"They actually have a sugar refinery, more towards the back of the property, and we're working with them about purchasing one of our parcels, and putting up a new distribution facility there as well," Cappelino noted.
Capellino hopes for proposals by late summer and early fall, and by that time, he will go over them. He hopes one of them will be able to move forward and move into the property.