Remington Leaving New York
 

I am optimistic this can be discussed in such a fashion that nobody shouts, Get to the choppah, helo swoops in and everything lands in the basement

I admit I am a bit shocked, but apparently the whole kit and kaboodle is going to up and move to Georgia. I would imagine they are going to try and get their employees to come along, no doubt they have some extremely skilled folks.



https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/02/iconic-gun-maker-leaving-new-york-after-200-years/

Not surprising. High costs and operational climate.

It is old news. The move was announced over 2 years ago.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gun-maker-remington-headquarters-to-georgia-from-ny-in-100-million-deal-promising-800-jobs/

Breaking news! All the fabric mills in NH, MA and CT moved to NC, SC and GA 100 years ago chasing cheap labor and less regulations. Then all those factories moved to China 50 years ago for even cheaper labor and no regulations.

To it's credit, Georgia has done a great job attracting Northeast F500 companies. Hartford, CT insurance companies another example.

It's not actually "Remington" anymore. That poor company has been passed around like Martha Stewart in San Quentin. So, while they have a very skilled workforce in New York, no one in management has any sentimental ties. Ruger demonstrated with Marlin how do do this, kinda breaking the ice. S&W are leaving the Northeast as well. Oh, and none of these companies really employ enough people to have the economic impact the "there, that'll show 'em" crowd would hope. They will be a much better company in the long run for it.

I'm really surprised they didn't stay in NY.

What Happens to a Gun Town When the Gun Factory Moves Out?

Remington is leaving Ilion, N.Y., after two centuries, abandoning upstate for a gleaming new factory in Georgia. With it goes the village’s identity.


"The Ilion factory was outdated — many of its structures are more than 100 years old — and required workers to move parts between buildings during production. Compared with this inefficient setup, a gleaming built-to-order space in Georgia held enormous appeal. Under the deal, Remington will pay only $10 for the land for its factory, and enjoy up to $13 million in tax credits, provided it hits construction and staffing benchmarks."

Ilion is a couple miles from my hometown, Frankfort. Growing up, I remember the company having a large workforce. There were two large buildings across the main drag on town that had a sky bridge connecting the two. Well, urban renewal came through and pretty much destroyed the character of the village. The company has been sold a few times, reducing the work force, making demands to lower wages, reduce labor force. The union was pretty much useless. Major lawsuit over assault rifle killings pretty much nailed the coffin on Remington. They made great hunting rifles. The Mohawk valley has been depressed for years. GE in Utica left years ago, Union Fork and Hoe company in Frankfort closed as well as Sperry Rand. Not a lot of industry left in the area. Remington was a mainstay in the community and will be sorely missed.

Yep. Tax and regulation refugees. "Nothing personal, just business."

They have been talking about it for years, never thought it would actually happen. I wonder what incentives, if any, were offered to stay

Kimber recently left NY for Alabama. Not a very gun friendly state not to mention the anti-business attitude. Also finding good help is near impossible.

Ilion depended on Remington. It is a depressed area east of Utica, NY. I believe Herkimer is the next closest town. Not much there either. I understand the need to move from NY, but I feel bad for the people. Their community will be in shambles.

Sky trooper,
Ilion, Mokawk, Herkimer, Little Falls, Fort Plains, Canajohrie (Beech-Nut), baby a food. Gone. That whole area is depressed, has been for years. My sister still lives in the “valley”. Utica is kind of making a comeback with the Wynn Hospital, possible chip manufacturing, a few small start up companies. When GE left though in central NY including Syracuse that started the ball rolling for CNY going downhill. Oh, don’t forget Carrier leaving as well. During it’s heyday over 3500 people worked at the campus. When I left in ‘85, there were about 1500 employees on site. I saw the writing on the wall and bailed.

If they could afford to I’m sure a lot more people would be leaving New York.

The Rust Belt will keep expanding as a Low Tech Belt if states can't attract new modern business to fill the good middle class jobs that once were. I think Mass had an easy time doing given its education hub status and all the old mills are now high priced condos. Same with all the WWII manufacturing plants in CT.

NY State as well as OH and VT are getting a ton of money for new chip production facilities.

Announced just last week

AP News: Biden admin providing $1.5 billion to GlobalFoundries to make computer chips in New York and Vermont

I am pretty sure the Intel plant in OH is already underway.

I can't imagine anyone being surprised unless you don't understand what NY has been doing.
Exactly. Would you stay in a place where you are hated and is trying to destroy your business? Would you stay in a place that costs double or triple to stay?

This is a business responding to what NY wants to be politically, socially, and economically.

I would be not be surprised if more businesses get out (especially in light of other news that has rocked NYC). I expect that eventually, NY will try to levy a tax/penalty if a business tries to leave (similar to how the treat wealthy NYers who flee the state). NY is reaping the harvest of what they have been sowing.

LaGrange, GA, location of the new plant, is in the WSW part of the state, and there are a number of other firms with giant plants there, including Hyundai, Kia, and Honda over the line in Alabama. Just last year, Hyundai broke ground on a massive, 2,900 acre EV plant on the other side of the state (Savannah). Certainly, one could live much cheaper there than in more attractive places in Georgia, so employers can get away with paying less.

From low Earth orbit, the Remington facility doesn't look very big, and if you figure in the number of cars in the parking lot, probably < 75 staff? Just a guess.

https://i.imgur.com/nht3pho.png