FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2005

SCHUMER: MORE JOBS RETURNING TO FULTON CHOCOLATE PLANT

Schumer, Top Ivory Coast Officials Announce Chocolate Production To Begin By End of February, Hiring 80 Employees

Schumer Brokered Original Deal Between Nestle and the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency

US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today NY Chocolate will begin a full production schedule by the end of February, including hiring 80 employees within the next two weeks. Schumer today met with top officials from the Ivory Coast, including former Prime Minister Affi Pascal; Angeline Kili, head of the FRC (Federal Control Board overseeing the country’s Cocoa Bean Growers); Aboue Raymond, the Minister of Construction and Urbanism; and Jean Claude Amon, CEO of NY Chocolate, to discuss discuss the latest progress in their effort to keep the chocolate business and jobs at the former Nestle Plant.

“This is great news for Fulton and for all of Central New York,” Schumer said. “This new timeline means we are one step closer to returning to the rich tradition of chocolate production in Fulton. It also means we are creating new jobs and boosting the local economy. There is still a lot of work to be done and we’ll make sure we continue pushing until the factory is fully up and running again.”

In addition to announcing the 80 jobs, Schumer also confirmed that within six to eight months, NY Chocolate will employ 150 workers and start producing candy bars. Until then, they will produce bulk chocolate and sell to current customers to fill the market void left by the shutdown of the Nestle plant.
Schumer brokered the initial deal between Nestle and the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency in 2003 to allow a property transfer that would keep chocolate business and jobs at the site. In October of 2003, Schumer convened the first ever meeting of investors to figure out ways to work together cooperatively at the site. Schumer's meeting provided the first opportunity for the principals to let the other know of their general vision regarding the future of the site, and to explore ways in which to work together. In the summer of 2004, Schumer met with the President of the Ivory Coast, S.E.M. Laurent Gbagbo, in Washington to discuss the Fulton chocolate plant and its development. President Gbagbo pledged his full support for the project and accepted Schumer's invitation to join him in Fulton for the plant's groundbreaking.

Since the July 2004 announcement of capital investment and new jobs, Schumer has been working with NY Chocolate on the next steps toward getting their business up and running and profitable. Schumer will continue to help the company identify retail outlets for its chocolate and also monitor trade issues with the Ivory Coast to ensure Fulton is not impacted by any turmoil.

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