Local Ocean will renovate 40,000 of the former Acme Building on Route 9 in Greenport, just south of the City of Hudson—a property once leased by Kaz. In addition, Local Ocean will create 53 full-time jobs over the next three years and seven contract positions. The company looked at locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and other places in the New York metropolitan area before deciding to locate here.  

The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon at a press conference at Space 360 in Hudson. Gathered for the occasion were the principals of Local Ocean and the principals of local and regional government—Senator Stephen Saland, Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, County Chairman Art Baer, Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera, Greenport Supervisor John Rutkey, Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development Kenneth Flood, various other county supervisors, some members of the Greenport Town Board, and two aldermen from the City of Hudson.

Addressing the gathering, James Marlow, Vice President of Strategic Development for Local Ocean, spoke about creation and growth—creating a new system and growing fish, creating jobs and growing self-esteem for the area, and doing that "without affecting the future of our children." The new industry will have zero emissions and no discharge and will produce high-quality protein that is free of mercury and lead, since the fish are grown in a controlled environment.

Marlow explained that the company will be creating jobs at three skill levels. Higher management positions will require expertise in marine biology and an understanding of the system. At the beginning, the people to fill these jobs will come from elsewhere, but as the company grows in the United States, new people will be trained to take those positions and the company’s experts will move on. Intermediate technical level jobs will be concerned with quality control and quality analysis. There will also be jobs for feeders, whose responsibility it will be to monitor fish behavior and be alert for any problems. Marlow stressed the importance of these jobs. “Fish are living things that suffer immediately from lack of care.” To prepare the local workforce, Marlow said that Local Ocean will work with Columbia-Greene Community College “with training in every aspect of marine biology.”

The new enterprise will create 53 jobs immediately, but, Marlow said, “We have high expectations.” Local Ocean will create a product that is “well priced, well marketed, and will generate brand recognition.”

“We’ll be exporting seawater fish from the Hudson River,” said Marlow.

The cutting-edge fish farm is expected to cost $10.7 million, and Local Ocean plans to use local resources in every way they can. “We’re using local suppliers,” said Marlow, “and we’re talking to local contractors” about their plans to renovate the Acme warehouse.

Senator Stephen Saland declared it “an absolutely a great day.” “The sun is shining in Columbia County,” said Saland, describing Local Ocean as “a green business venture with the potential to grow.”

Assemblyman Marc Molinaro said the project was evidence that “the private sector working with the public sector can create jobs” in New York.

Chairman Art Baer asserted that the project was “totally consistent with our strategic plan” for Columbia County.

Local Ocean is coming to Columbia County thanks to the combined efforts of then Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Saland, Assemblyman Molinaro, Empire State Development Corporation, Columbia Economic Development Corporation, and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal. Local Ocean will receive a $175,000 grant from the Empire State Development Corporation and a $175,000 matching grant from the Division of Housing and Community Renewal.