Former Seneca Army Depot welcomes Akron Ag Products

Town Officials are pleased to welcome a new agri-business to the former Seneca Army Depot.According to Romulus Town Supervisor David Kaiser, Akron Ag Products, a maker of high performance animal bedding, has located at the facility with the intent of marketing its product and inviting other businesses to the facility as part of what will be known as “Seneca Ag Park.””This is great news for the Town,” Kaiser said. “Akron is an established business, having been incorporated in 1984 and having, according to at least one report, annual revenue of $10 to 20 million. They plan to be privately-funded, meaning that taxpayers will not have to subsidize any part of its operations.”Greg Brown, Akron’s owner, recently spoke to the town board at its May meeting. At that meeting, Akron noted that their operation has been reviewed with Cornell University, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies. “Our product is one of the most absorbent beddings on the market, being five times more absorbent than sawdust or shavings and ten times more absorbent than straw,” Brown said. “It is completely natural and totally biodegradable.””We look forward to Akron and Seneca Ag Park being a job generator for the area,” Kaiser responded.Akron’s presence at the former depot is the latest in the town’s efforts to revitalize the former army base and use it to improve the area’s economy. Last month, the town board also approved amendments to the town’s zoning code to better clarify and coordinate land use at the facility. That effort, Kaiser noted, involved two years of coordinated action between Romulus, the Town of Varick and both towns’ planning boards.In addition, Civita Medical, a research and development company, has approached the town about establishing operations at the former depot.