NEWS RELEASE
584 Phoenix Drive
Rome, New York 13441
Phone 315-338-0393

For immediate release:
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Noble Wood Shavings wins EDGEccelerator Business Competition

Noble Wood Shavings has been named winner of the EDGEccelerator Business Competition presented by NBT Bank. They bring home $20,000 cash and qualify for a $50,000 loan to implement their project proposed in the competition. Accepting the award were co-entrants Jason DiBenedetto and Leo Rentzis.

The winner was announced during the first Mohawk Valley EDGE Locavore Dinner sponsored by Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Northland Communications, ConMed and Saranac. The dinner featured a guided pairing of five courses of locally grown and produced food catered by Leaf, Loaf and Ladle at the Resource Center for Independent Living. The evening featured expert commentary on each pairing. Nick Matt and Rich Michaels from Matt Brewery; Tim Joseph from Maple Hill Creamery, Dan Williams from Sunnybrook Farms, Ron Bunce from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Keith Schiebel from VVS Maple Mobile Market each talked about agribusiness and the properties of the pairings.

“According to the latest USDA census, agribusiness in our region directly contributes $152 Million to the local economy’” stated Laura Casamento, EDGE Board Chairman and Dinner Master of Ceremony. “This event celebrates the small businesses of the region and reinforces that EDGE stands ready to work with local companies to help them succeed.”

Headquartered in Sherrill, NY, Noble Wood Shavings was established in 2010. They offer high quality, healthy pine wood shavings for the equine professional. Shavings are passed through a rotary drum dryer; super-heating and fluffing them to ensure extremely low moisture, maximum absorbency, and fluffiness. It also leaves the product devoid of bacteria, molds and mildew. Two times during the production process, the shavings are passed through a Shaker machine that removes any splinters chips or shards. In addition, fine dust particles are removed which can be harmful to animals. They are Central New York’s only manufacturing facility dedicated to producing the best quality bedding for the equine industry.

The other three finalists were:
• Aqua Vita Farms of Sherrill, NY;
• Joe’s Jerky and Country Store of Sherrill, NY; and
• Store Scan Shred of Rome, NY.

“NBT Bank is a strong supporter of Mohawk Valley EDGE and small business,” said John Buffa, Senior Vice President, NBT Bank and immediate past Chairman of Mohawk Valley EDGE Board of Directors. “We view the EDGEccelerator Business Competition as an opportunity to grow the local business base and support young emerging companies.”

“We appreciate the time and investment each of these finalists, and all entrants, made in this competition, and more importantly, in their business plans and projects. We wish them all success,” said Steven J. DiMeo, President of Mohawk Valley EDGE.

“The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is part of the support system for economic development in the fabric of our region,” said Peggy O’Shea, President and CEO, The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. “We are proud to support Mohawk Valley EDGE and this program as it targeted entrepreneurs and growing companies. The finalists are all front line entrepreneurs ~ here to showcase new ideas and new ways. All are winners. We give thanks for their ingenuity. When small business succeeds we build a more vital community, and that speaks to our mission; to improve life and the livelihood of our region.”

Sponsors of the EDGEccelerator Business Competition are: NBT Bank; The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc; MVATC; Mohawk Valley Business Journal; NYBDC; NY Small Business Development Center at SUNYIT and Utica Industrial Development Corp. (UIDC) and MORECO.

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Contact: Mary Rizzo (EDGE), 338-0393

More information can be found at: EDGE