Orgill, Inc., the world's largest independent hardlines distributor, will build its first Northeastern U.S. distribution center in Rome, Oneida County, New York.

The new, 780,000 square-foot facility, to be located at Griffiss Business and Technology Park, will be the company's first in New York State and lead to the creation of 225 new jobs in the Mohawk Valley. The company plans to invest nearly $70 million to construct and equip the facility, which will serve Orgill's customers throughout the Northeast.

Orgill serves more than 6,000 retail hardware stores, home centers, professional lumber dealers and farm stores throughout the United States and Canada, and more than 50 countries around the world.

"There were many positive things that led us to select Rome as the home for our newest distribution center, including the excellent workforce in the area and the assistance and cooperation of local officials," said Ron Beal, Orgill's Chairman & CEO. "We look forward to being a good corporate citizen of Rome, Oneida County and the State of New York."

"We are excited to announce this expansion to our distribution network and look forward to the enhanced efficiencies this will create for our customers as we move forward," said Boyden Moore, Orgill's President. To encourage Orgill's investment in the Mohawk Valley, Empire State Development has offered up to $3.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits, which are tied directly to the creation of 225 jobs as well as the purchase of equipment and machinery. The approximately $68 million, 780,000-square-foot distribution center will have the potential to expand to 1 million square feet, and will be Orgill's first distribution center in New York State and in the Northeastern U.S.

"Orgill is a wonderful addition to Griffiss and our region and we are excited that after an exhaustive site search they have selected the skyline site for their northeast distribution center," said Elis Delia Chair of Griffiss Local Development Corporation. "Preparing large scale sites for development takes time and foresight and we are grateful to our economic development team who was able to deliver a quality site in the timeframe that was needed for this project to be a success. Orgill's decision to select Griffiss is another example of the positive developments that are taking place within our region and how Griffiss continues to be a major driver in the region's economic resurgence."

"We are proud to welcome Orgill Distribution Center to Griffiss Business and Technology Park," said Steven J. DiMeo, President of Mohawk Valley EDGE. "Over the past few years we at EDGE have adapted our business development strategy to target site selectors. It is from that strategic relationship that this project was identified. We are excited that Rome and the Griffiss Business and Technology Park is that location."