Dryden grower RPM gets $100K in state aid
Company plans to construct its international headquarters
Ithaca Journal - September 13, 2008RPM Ecosystems, which grows and sells specially cultivated trees, shrubs and grasses for restoration and conservation projects, has received a $100,000 state grant toward building its international headquarters in the Town of Dryden, company, state and Tompkins County officials announced Friday.
"This is a targeted, smart investment in new jobs and local economic development," said state Sen. James Seward (R-51st Dist.) at a ceremony announcing the grant. "It's economic development that provides new local tax revenues and reduces pressure on property taxes." Click here for full article.
RPM holds its first Open House Field Day and BBQ
On September 12th RPM Ecosystems LLC in Dryden, New York held its first Open House Field Day to welcome the public to the 157 acre nursery in update New York. Two hundred people attended the event including Senator James Seward with a special announcement awarding $100,000 to RPM for the development of their international headquarters building. It was a rainy day under 2 big tents but that did not keep people from coming from as far as Canada to Missouri and Marthas Vineyard to learn more about the RPM advantage, agroforestry, seed collection, planting applications and to tour the acres of growing bays.
New Nursery in Ravenel, South Carolina (Charleston area)
Through a strategic relationship with MeadWestvaco, an international package company, RPM Ecosystems LLC will be opening a southern nursery in Ravenal, South Carolina in September. The new 80 acre nursery and facilities will be within MeadWestvaco's 77,000 acre holdings. 200,000 trees will be on site for the official inauguration in September 2008.RPM Ecosystems LLC New York receives $100,000 Grant
"In a time of severe competition for state funds, I thought your project was worth the extra effort to secure state dollars" said New York Senator James L. Seward.RPM's New York Headquarters Goes for Leed's Platinum
RPM Ecosystems LLC, New York working with New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA), and Taitum Engineers is in the design development phase of its new headquarters building in Dryden NY to achieve Leed's Platinum certification. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall.Noble Windparks specify RPM Trees at 4 new sites
New installations of wind turbines across New York in Chateaugay, Clinton, Ellenburg and Wethersfield counties will capitalize on the ability of RPM trees to accelerate restoration and to re-establish wildlife habitats. RPM trees will be planted in the areas surrounding the wind turbine poles.RPM joins Cornell University at New York State Fair, 21 August - 1 September
Cornell invited RPM to join their exhibit "New York's Greener Horizon: Renewable Energy, Efficient Transportation and Green Jobs" at the New York State Fair. RPM Ecosystems LLC has partnered with Cornell Plantations to produce "assemble and take away" children's education materials on "how trees work for us". Come see us at the Innovation Pavilion.RPM Ecosystems' Restoration Efforts in the Gulf Coast
The 2005 hurricane damage along the gulf coast has been identified as the "worst forestry disaster on record in America-with an unreported ecological catastrophe that killed or severely damaged 320 million trees in Mississippi and Louisiana," according to the Washington Post.Much of the forest damage occurred in Mississippi on small parcels of land owned by individuals. These landowners are ineligible for existing programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program and even the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program (a program authorized by Congress to address some of the devastated forestry lands).
In the December 2007 Omnibus Bill (742), $800,000 appropriated for a demonstration projects using new technologies that increase the rate of growth of re-forested hardwood trees on private lands on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
Projects using these "seed" funds and RPM native southern species are in the process of being implemented working in partnerships with not-for-profits along the Mississippi gulf coast.
Efforts to leverage federal dollars within the region and with philanthropic donations, to-date have generated a matching $800,000 from the State of Mississippi's recent appropriations. The first $400,000 will be available for 2008 fall planting distributed through Replant South Mississippi.
