PLATTSBURGH, New York (From the Plattsburgh Press Republican) -- A Canadian firm plans to bring 26 new jobs to Plattsburgh through the Start-Up NY program.

Resolute Forest Products intends to invest $26,000 to create those positions as it establishes a principal U.S. office in Redcay Hall at SUNY Plattsburgh.

With its headquarters in Montreal, the firm has more than 40 pulp-, paper-, tissue- and wood-product facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea, in addition to power generation assets in Canada and the United States.

SUNY Plattsburgh President Dr. John Ettling said the university is pleased to welcome the firm to campus.

It is the third Canadian-based company to set up in Redcay under the program, which provides up to 10 years' exemption from state taxes to qualified applicants.

"The company has already established an internship with a student in the Global Supply Chain Management department in our School of Business and Economics," Ettling said.

"We are also exploring other connections that will lead to full-time positions within the company for students upon graduation and for alumni living in the local area."

Resolute Forest Products' U.S. Public Affairs Director Debbie Johnston said the new office is intended to provide a base to support its growing operations in this country.

Corporate functions to be based in Plattsburgh include some of the firm's customer service, production planning and accounting responsibilities, as well as some management and executive positions and administrative support roles.

"The Plattsburgh office provides a base to grow our corporate presence in the United States to support our growing U.S. operations, help attract skilled U.S. professionals and provide a center for consolidating business functions," said Resolute Forest Products President and CEO Richard Garneau.

The company has hired three new employees from the Plattsburgh area, and it has filled one internship with a SUNY Plattsburgh student. Johnston said several full-time positions and internships are still available.

"One of the most important advantages of the U.S. principal office is the access to an attractive talent pool of young graduates and interns from Plattsburgh State University, as well as competitively priced office space on the university campus," she said.

Ettling thanked the North Country Chamber of Commerce and its president, Garry Douglas, for their efforts and support to bring Resolute to the campus and Plattsburgh.

Douglas said they had an initial meeting with Resolute officials two years ago.

"They were exploring the possibility of establishing a satellite of their Montreal corporate headquarters on the U.S. side of the border, and were focusing on Burlington," he said.

"We brought our team together and began a long process of showing that Plattsburgh was the place to locate their U.S. principal office, given its proximity to Montreal, where they are based, and an experienced team ready to help with all aspects."

According to Douglas, this was a perfect case for Start-Up NY, with the 10 years of exemption from state taxes further differentiating Plattsburgh from Vermont.

"This is a principal office of a global Canadian corporation with 26 initial white collar jobs brought to New York instead of another state," he said.

"It is exactly the type of success envisioned under Start-Up NY."

The chamber has also facilitated a discussion with Clarkson University, Douglas said, to explore potential connections with Resolute Forest Products, such as recruitment and research.

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