CVS/pharmacy celebrates grand opening of its new DC in Chemung, N.Y.
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy held a grand opening event on Tuesday at its distribution center in Chemung, N.Y., which attracted federal, state and local officials to celebrate the occasion.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, U.S. Representative Thomas Reed, Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy, New York State Senator Thomas O'Mara and New York State Assemblyman Christopher Friend were among those in attendance.
The 751,000-sq.-ft. distribution center, which opened for business in June, will support the inventory and fulfillment needs of at least 350 CVS/pharmacy stores in the Northeast. Representing an investment of approximately $90 million, the facility will employ more than 300 people by the end of 2011, and a total of 600 people when it reaches full capacity.
The facility holds the distinction of being the largest industrial building in the state of New York to be certified Gold by LEED, the nation's green building certification program. It also is one of the 10 largest industrial buildings in the United States to receive LEED Gold certification.
"Our Chemung distribution center is supporting the expanding distribution needs of our retail stores, and is an important part of our company's overall growth," stated Larry Merlo, CVS Caremark CEO. "The 600 jobs we are creating here [are] part of our hiring effort for more than 5,000 positions around the country and across all areas of CVS Caremark's business over the next 12 months."
Among the organizations recognized for their support were Southern Tier Economic Growth, Chemung County Industrial Development Agency, Empire State Development, New York State Office of Community Renewal, the New York State Electric and Gas Corp., and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
"CVS/pharmacy's Chemung distribution center is a great example of a public-private partnership that benefits the entire region," added Ron Link, SVP supply chain and logistics. "Not only are we creating 600 new jobs in the Southern Tier of New York, but more than 90 New York-based businesses received work over the last two years from the construction of our facility and the installation of equipment."