Nestle Corporation’s closing of the Fulton Nestle chocolate factory in May 2003 caused 450 people living in the Fulton area to lose their livelihood. The Nestle chocolate factory was the second-largest employer in Fulton.

The oldest chocolate plant in the country was too old to upgrade, and Nestle couldn’t afford to keep it open.

But things may soon be changing for the better for Oswego County. Richard M. Duffy, a former SU basketball player, has proposed to lease two buildings at the rear of the factory, where he will open a low-carbohydrate chocolate bar factory, according to a story that appeared in The New York Times.

The factory would not be the same, but Michael Pollard, who lost his job in May, said he’d be interested in it.

‘I think anytime employment is offered … it is very good for the Fulton city [and] Oswego County areas,’ Pollard said.

He said he doesn’t know if he would get back his quality assurance position, but he would take any offered job.

Alicia Stutz, a freshman in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, agrees with Pollard.

‘I think it’d be great for getting the population of Fulton back to work,’ Stutz said.

New York state and Oswego county officials are talking about possibly aiding the replacement company with start-up funding. With this aid, Duffy might find the means to start the company, which is estimated to employ several hundred workers over the next few years. The new factory’s opening is tentative because several companies have put in bids for the land.

‘He would definitely have people to work,’ Stutz said. ‘The question is whether it would be sound practice to start up a business in an old factory that was abandoned by its previous owners because it was old.’

She does agree, though, that with the funding from the state and local government, this factory could be up to grade and worth every penny.

Many students praise Duffy’s idea to reopen the factory and create more jobs for the Oswego county area.

‘It’s very democratic to create so many positions because it’s benefiting a lot of people,’ said Laura Brientnall, a sophomore communication and rhetoric studies major.

The factory would help the surrounding Oswego community by creating more jobs.

‘This is a positive economic move for the community, which will benefit local families,’ said Megan Caiazzo, a sophomore communications sciences and disorders major.

Published on September 28, 2003 at 12:00 pm