Connection plans to reopen again - temporarily

PENN YAN—The Connection Call Center in Penn Yan plans to resume operation for a very brief time next month. The business, which began operations in Yates County in July 2010, closed Friday, Feb. 4.
Finger Lakes Economic Development Center (FLEDC) Director Steve Griffin announced the news during a meeting of the FLEDC board of directors on Wednesday, Feb. 16. While it is positive news, it is only for seven weeks.
Griffin said he didn’t know if former employees would be interested in short term employment. The facility had employed up to 300 people. The reason for the closing was that their major customer decided to move their business off shore to the Philippines. The Connection has a lease on the facility. at the North Avenue Industrial Park in Penn Yan.
In other business at the economic development center: Regulations regarding a requirement that prevailing wage be paid for certain projects has halted plans to build an incubator building that was planned at Horizon Business Park on Route 14A south of Penn Yan. Griffin said there is growing opposition to the requirement because it is killing projects. A tenant had expressed strong interest in renting half of the 10,000 square foot building and the balance would have been used as a business incubator. This type of facility provides space for startup businesses. They remain in the incubator for a set period of time. This allows fledgling businesses to become established.