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CBS News
8 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Historic Domino sugary refinery in Yonkers to close at year's end. Here's what it could mean for the community.
The historic Domino sugar refinery in Yonkers will close this year, after more than a century in operation. The move has many concerned about the impact to workers and the community. 300 jobs will be lost when Domino sugar refinery closes For the last 25 years, the massive refinery on the Hudson River has been owned by Domino, but it has been turning raw cane into sugar products since at least 1900. A spoonful of sugar won't make the decision to close the plant any more palatable. When it shuts down at the end of the year, it will mean the end of 300 jobs. "Shocked and appalled," eight-year employee Tyrone Antrum said of the decision to close. "Every year we heard rumors of it shutting down, just never thought it would happen. ASR, the corporate owner, says it's part of an "optimization plan" that will shift operations to Buffalo and elsewhere in the Northeast. "It's gonna be a great loss for the community" Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano calls the decision bittersweet. "The fact that they've been there so long is something we've been proud of," Spano said. The plant drives millions in regional economic activity. Domino partners with local nonprofits and employees volunteer many hours at nearby YMCA Community Garden and elsewhere. It was just a few years ago that Domino invested in signage and facade improvements at the refinery, and the general manager said the company looked forward to being in Yonkers "for generations to come." "It's gonna be a great loss for the community due to the fact that they create jobs in the community and they not only help us at the YMCA Community Garden they also help everyone else with an organization. It's gonna be a great loss for all of us,' said the YMCA Community Garden's Lucy Moreno-Casanova. Refinery sits on valuable property, Spano says The plant will likely be torn down. The waterfront property adjacent to Metro-North's Hudson line that it sits on will have developers circling. "Twenty-four acres that it sits on are probably the most valuable property between here and Albany," Spano said. The city and state say they'll work with the company to assist workers facing the sour prospect of unemployment. "Whatever it takes -- I got a family to support, so I'm out here looking already," Antrum said.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Yonkers Launches Multi-Platform Media Campaign to Position City as 'Hollywood on Hudson' with Largest Film & TV Production Hub in Northeast
YONKERS, N.Y., May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Yonkers has announced the launch of a multi-platform advertising campaign aimed at positioning Yonkers as "Hollywood on Hudson," the largest film and TV production hub in the Northeast. The ad campaign, which launched on May 28, includes TV commercials, bus exteriors, billboards, MTA car cards on trains, paid social and organic social. The goal is to position Yonkers as Hollywood on Hudson to residents and filmmakers alike and to continue to build the brand which is copyrighted. "Yonkers isn't just making movies; we're making history. This multi-platform campaign showcases our incredible studios and diverse locations, and it celebrates the Yonkers residents whose talent and hard work is fueling our transformation into 'Hollywood on Hudson.' Partnering with our local schools that are nurturing the next generation, the future of film and TV is undeniably bright right here in Yonkers, the fastest-growing city in New York State," said Mayor Mike Spano. The stars of the campaign are the Yonkers residents who work at Great Point Studio whose testimonials are featured in a TV commercial airing throughout the Westchester area. They include Stage Manager Jason DiPaola, Grip Rohan Corbin, Graphic Designer Jordan Weaver, Stage Manager Julia Carriero, Campus Ambassador Michael Hurtado and Custodian Nancy Delgado. Sixty percent of the those employed at Great Point Studios are either from or live in Yonkers. According to the Mayor's Office of Film, permits for filming generated a total revenue of $5.45 million since 2014 with 1,510 days of filming -- at both public and private non-studio properties throughout the city. Since Great Point Studios opened its Lionsgate Studios in January 2022, it has shot eight productions. Great Point also has studios throughout the city including 90 Warburton Avenue, and 134 Woodworth Avenue which features a 4Wall LED studio. Including the new Media Pro campus at 150 North Broadway opening in July, Yonkers will now have 10 stages open and 6 more about to go under construction. When completed, the city will have 245,000 SF of purpose-built stages and over 1,000,000 SF of support space. Among the recent productions filmed in Yonkers are "Dexter" for Paramount+, "Run The World" for Starz, "Raising Kanan" for Starz, the Golden Globe winning TV series "The Penguin" starring Colin Farrell and an Apple TV+ series. The top locations for filming were City Hall, Hudson River Museum, Untermyer Gardens and Oakland Cemetery. Last September, the Yonkers Public Schools held the grand opening of the Robert Halmi Sr. Academy of Film and Television, a groundbreaking new academy that provides students with the skills and hands-on experience necessary for careers in film, television, and the broader media industry. It is named in honor of legendary and award-winning television producer Robert Halmi Sr. The city's booming film and TV production industry is just one example of why Yonkers is the fastest growing city in New York State and the safest city of its size in the nation. Yonkers also boasts the highest graduation rate among the state's big five cities. Yonkers recently opened two new schools and is expected to break ground on a new school in 2026. Yonkers is home to over $5 billion in private economic development, attracting national retail stores and businesses as well as national developers. The city is renovating and creating new open, green spaces including a new waterfront park in Ludlow. Yonkers is a leader in sustainability with a goal of ZERO emissions by 2050. Finally, Yonkers is awaiting a decision on one of the three remaining full gaming licenses in the downstate region. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE City of Yonkers, NY Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
