AMD - Driving GROWTH in our Region

Presently the largest new investment in the state, the nano-chip fabrication plant promises not only to change the computing world, but the very landscape of Malta itself. But amidst the excitement that surrounds the plant’s arrival, Malta Town Supervisor Paul Sausville cautions,

“We’ve got to be mindful of our small town character.” The rural town of Malta is certainly going to grow as a result of the new company, but Sausville hopes for “thoughtful, managed growth,” as the town tries to stay true to its roots.

The town of Malta will be forced to make a choice: to try and hold on to its small town charm and feel, or grow side-by-side with The Foundry Company as it draws more people and businesses to the area. Traditionally Malta has been a very community-oriented town, boasting organizations such as citizen-based fire and ambulance corps.

“We’re a community of people, and we don’t want to lose that really nice, homey feel,” Sausville said.

With that in mind, many measures are being taken to ensure that the town’s strong sense of community is retained. From legislation passed which says The Foundry Company will comply with New York State’s environmental protection standards, helping to keep Malta clean, to an agreement with the company that construction won’t begin on site until after 7 a.m., instead of during the early hours of the morning. And while The Foundry Company may be the new top dog in the area, Sausville stressed that the focus will remain on local businesses.

“There’s a gold rush mentality on the part of the developers, but that doesn’t mean Malta is a boomtown,” Sausville said. “It’s not a free-for-all.”

But preparations are underway to ensure that Malta is ready for The Foundry Company’s big move. Older properties around the town are being renovated or removed with new construction projects popping up in their place. Among them is the construction site located near Route 9 and Stone Break Road, where space for 238 new condos, 55 carriage homes, and 115,000 square feet of retail space is being built on a 60-acre site. Another site located just down the road, across from the town hall, will see the development of 4 new apartment buildings with 312 units, and 70,000 square feet dedicated to retail, all located on a 12.7-acre lot. Near Exit 12 off the Northway, a hospital is also in the planning stages for development, although it has yet to be approved. Overall, Malta will likely see a modest increase in residential growth, and Sausville wants to make sure that they “meet the needs, but not over-speculate.”

Malta has begun to build up its infrastructure with several roadway projects well underway, some even ahead of schedule. The Round Lake bypass is one such project, a $22.4 million endeavor to alleviate and prevent heavy traffic flow through the village of Round Lake. The project aims to connect Exit 11 from the Northway to Route 9, with 1.6 miles of new road and a 630 foot bridge over Ballston Creek for people traveling back and forth to the Luther Forest Technology Campus. Then there’s the Dunning Street Project, where $2.6 million is being spent to add roundabouts along Dunning Street to keep the traffic moving. Both projects are designed to help small town Malta deal with what some predict as an additional 1,600 new vehicles on the roadway during rush hour, and will hopefully keep traffic from piling up downtown.

Perhaps one of the most hopeful changes facing Malta are the new job opportunities, created directly and indirectly by The Foundry Company.

“Jobs over at General Electric have declined drastically in the last 10 to 20 years. Honestly, we’re barely keeping our nose above the water in terms of the job market. AMD helps to reverse that,” Sausville said.

With over 1,400 new permanent jobs being created at the plant, and nearly 1,600 jobs in construction, it is the hope of both Malta and The Foundry Company that most of the positions will be filled by local residents. “I’ve seen my friends and colleagues who say they have to go down to Texas or California to visit their family, because there are no jobs here in New York State. With AMD coming, families won’t have to be split apart now that jobs will be available in the area,” Sausville said. And maintaining that family atmosphere is key for Sausville when it comes to preserving Malta’s ambience and charm.

“AMD’s part of our family now, and we want to provide the services they need,” Sausville said.

That includes making sure that Malta’s zoning laws coincide with whatever AMD’s needs may be, but not at the expense of Malta’s integrity or small town charm.