With Pepsi Bottling Group Considering Abandoning Westchester For New Home In Connecticut, Schumer Personally Lobbies Pepsi Bottling Ceo To Keep Company In Town Of Somers
Providing over 850 Good-Paying Jobs in the Westchester Area, the Pepsi Bottling Group is Vital to Region's Economy
In Phone Call with Pepsi Bottling CEO, Schumer Stresses Advantages of Remaining in Westchester-Talented Workforce, Proximity to NYC, Benefits from ESDC
Senator Pledges to Work with Pepsi Bottling to Keep Company in Current Home
Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he personally called the CEO of the Pepsi Bottling Group in the Town of Somers to urge the company to remain in northern Westchester County. The Pepsi Bottling Group is currently considering vacating its home in the Town of Somers and relocating to Danbury, Connecticut. Schumer today stressed that it's vital for the company to remain in Westchester County, where it employs approximately 845 employees and provides crucial economic support to the region.
In his phone call with Eric Foss, CEO of the Pepsi Bottling Group, Schumer asked that the company continue to work with the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) on an incentive package that would keep the facility at its longtime home. He also stressed how the company is able to take advantage of the talented work force in the Westchester area. According to Schumer, Foss stated in the phone call that he would continue to work with local and State economic development leaders and was open to staying at its current home in the Town of Somers.
"The Pepsi Bottling Group and the Town of Somers have been a match made in heaven, providing the Westchester area with goodpaying jobs while allowing Pepsi to take advantage of its highskilled workforce and close proximity to New York City," said Senator Schumer. "In my phone call with the CEO, I pressed him to keep the Pepsi Bottling Group in the Town of Somers and offered any assistance to make sure this happens."
Pepsi Bottling Group is the primary vendor for PepsiCo and has a payroll of over $90 million. Crains Business reported in December that shares of Pepsi Bottling Group were up in 2007 by 31%. Pepsi Bottling Group is the largest employer, outside of IBM, in Northern Westchester County, employing over 845 people and 45 contractors at it headquarters in Somers. NYS recently offered a second incentive package for Pepsi Bottling to stay in Somers. While their current lease does not expire until 2010, they are looking to move to Connecticut.
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