Mohawk Valley Legislative Delegation Pledges Support for Remington Arms, Ilion Workforce

ALBANY- State legislators representing the Mohawk Valley have pledged their continued support to venerable Herkimer County manufacturer Remington Arms.  In light of the state’s adoption of strict new guns laws in 2013, recent out of state expansions, and the announcement of job layoffs in Ilion, the state elected officials publicly recommitted their unrelenting support for Remington and its employees.

In a letter to Remington Chairman and CEO George Kollitides, the legislators wrote:

We write to reaffirm, in no uncertain terms, our interest in working with you and your team to ensure Remington’s continued viability and its enduring presence in Herkimer County as the premier manufacturer of firearms and outdoor products for the sporting, defense, law enforcement and personal markets.

Specifically, we offer our support for an initiative to provide a modern, state of the art manufacturing facility in Ilion.

Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta), whose senate district includes Ilion, said,  “Remington Arms continues to employ one-thousand workers at the company’s birthplace in Ilion.  These are good paying jobs that we need if we are to rebuild our upstate economy.  I will continue to work with the company to protect the existing positions and to secure state support for needed facility upgrades to ensure that the Mohawk Valley remains a key piece of Remington’s future success.”

Senator Hugh T. Farley (R/C/I – Schenectady) said, “Remington continues to be a major economic engine for this region.  They provide essential jobs that support local families and communities, and it is important that we take steps to ensure their continued success and presence.  I will continue to work with other local legislators to help protect these needed jobs.”

Senator Joseph A. Griffo (R – Rome) said, “In 1816, a Remington believed he could design a better gun than he could buy. Nearly 200 years later, one man's dream has become the lynchpin for an entire economy - offering 1,000 good-paying jobs in the Mohawk Valley. This plant employs local residents, including my constituents. In many instances, it also employs their mothers, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. The coalition and I will do everything in our power to ensure that Remington has what they need to remain productive in New York state for years to come.”

Assemblyman Marc Butler (R/C/I – Newport) said, “With all of the discussion recently about economic development and job growth in our state, there is little in the Mohawk Valley that is as vital as maintaining Remington Arms’ presence here in Ilion.  This is an issue that cuts across party lines and geographic lines, and I am so very pleased my legislative colleagues from the region have acknowledged that fact.  Working together and with our local officials and our Albany officials, we must help Remington to stay and flourish where it has been for close to two centuries…right here in Ilion and the Mohawk Valley.”

Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R/C/I – New Hartford) said, “Remington has the distinction of being one of the most iconic brands in the world.  The history and tradition of this country as a leader in manufacturing and an innovation is reflected in the people from Central New York who have forged great products and services to our military and lawful gun owners throughout the world for nearly 200 years.  It is a top priority that we join together to ensure that Remington Arms will continue to maintain its historic and highly productive manufacturing facility in Central New York.”

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi (D – Utica) said, “The importance of Remington Arms to the fabric of life here in the Mohawk Valley is something I hear about almost every day from constituents.  I will do everything possible to assist this company with the improvements it needs to remain competitive, and I will continue carrying the message to state legislative leaders in Albany that this company and its employees are vital to the economic stability of our region.”

All six of the legislators voted against the NY-SAFE Act.

Founded in 1816, Remington Arms is one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating manufacturers and one of the largest domestic producers of shotguns and rifles.  The Ilion plant currently employs approximately 1,000 workers and contracts with several other local manufacturers.  Remington’s economic impact on the region and New York State is tremendous.