Kmart plans to build a state-of-the-art distribution facility at the Florida Business Park, a 325 acre site located on Route 5S less than two miles from the New York State Thruway. Construction will begin later this year with completion scheduled for late 2002. The site, located in the Amsterdam Empire Zone, will receive $1.25 million toward site and workforce training costs from the Empire State Development Corp.

Agency officials estimate that more than 600 construction jobs will be created by the project. Kmart also qualifies for wage tax credits and other incentives under the Empire Zone program. New York State has committed $1 million from the Pipeline for Jobs program to help offset part of the cost of bringing water and sewer services to the Florida Business Park and another $150,000 in additional grants for the business park's infrastructure.

The State Department of Transportation will provide $1 million to improve the intersection of Routes 30 and 5S. In addition, DOT's Industrial Access Program will provide $2.1 million to Montgomery County to build access roads from Route 5S to the Kmart site. The Thruway Authority will expand and retrofit Exit 27 as part of planned capital improvements along the highway system, state transportation officials say.