Delphi-Harrison Main Page Lockport Home Page
Delphi-Harrison world headquarters is here in Lockport and the plants are the region's
major employer. Nothing in the area comes close to its impact with about 6,500 employees,
most affiliated with the UAW union. Now independent of General Motors, the history of
Harrison goes back a century here in Lockport. "Harrison" manufacturers
and designs automotive radiators, heating/cooling systems.
It has gone by many names over the years. Harrison Radiator, Harrison Divison of General Motors, and, most recently, Delphi-Harrison. Whatever the name its been Lockport's largest employer for as long as most of us can remember. In fact, it's the largest manufacturing employer on the Niagara Frontier. World headquarters is still here in Lockport.
.Delphi-Harrison's Contributions
To Lockport Area Economy 1999
(Press Release From Delphi-Harrison, Lockport)
In a year full of dramatic and historic changes, the likes of which have
never been seen in the company's 90-year history, Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems remained a powerful economic force on the local economy.
Delphi Thermal contributed $758 million to the New York State economy in 1999, as determined by employee payroll and compensation, in-state supplier purchases and local taxes. That marks an eight-percent increase over 1998's local contribution, and reaffirms the company's role as a leading economic catalyst in Western New York.
"Being such a leader to this region's bottom line is a responsibility we
take very seriously at Delphi Thermal," said Ronald M. Pirtle, Delphi Thermal president and Delphi Automotive Systems vice president. "We're proud to have such a significant impact on the quality of life for so many families and communities, and of the continuous support we give to local businesses."
Entering its first full year of independence, Delphi Thermal remains the
largest manufacturing employer in Western New York, and is among the largest
such companies in the state. Employment at its Lockport manufacturing site and
world headquarters facility averaged slightly more than 6,000 during 1999.
At $758 million, Delphi Thermal's direct impact on the area economy topped
1998's figure by $56 million. The increase is owed primarily to a rise in
employee payroll and compensation (9.9 percent) and New York State supplier
purchases (5.3 percent).
A closer look at Delphi Thermal's 1999 local economic highlights:· employee payroll/compensation of $456 million;
· New York State supplier purchases of $300 million;
· property taxes of $746,000 (for Lockport, city and town, and Niagara
County);
· school taxes of $834,000 (Lockport and Starpoint school districts);
· sales taxes of $1,474,000
In the last four years combined, Delphi Thermal has had a direct impact of
$2.75 billion on the state's economy, based on above parameters.
"To continue our profound effect on the economy in the short and long term,
we have a number of major competitive challenges we must overcome," Pirtle said.
"The Lockport site is very strategic to us, and will continue to be so in the
future. We are implementing a very comprehensive plan to respond to these
challenges and to be successful."
The company has a significant economic impact that extends well beyond the
direct contributions already listed, noted David Kinyon, president of the
Eastern Niagara Chamber of Commerce.
"The men and women at Delphi stimulate the local economy in a staggering
fashion, with a 'ripple' effect that creates new employment opportunities and
more invigorated spending in the community," Kinyon said. He added that,
according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, for every 100 manufacturing
employees there are 136 other jobs in the region that exist based on the demand
those 100 employees create for products and services. More than half of those
136 jobs are in manufacturing and wholesale/retail trade, according to the Dept.
of Labor.
Additionally, Delphi Thermal employees continue to spearhead the Eastern
Niagara United Way's annual fund drive. Last year, employees at the Lockport
site raised more than $637,000 to support local United Way agencies and their
many critical programs and initiatives, bringing the site's total donations to
more than $2.6 million over the last four years.
Meanwhile, Delphi Thermal's Community Relations Committee (CRC) helped
support activities at a number of local organizations and institutions. The
CRC's focus is primarily, but not limited to, supporting environmental and
educational initiatives through financial contributions.
Some of the organizations that received CRC support in 1999 include Junior
Achievement, the Buffalo Urban League, Wyndham Lawn, the Buffalo Museum of Science, University at Buffalo School of Engineering, the Niagara County
Community College Foundation, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Kenan Center.
Other Lockport Plant Notes
Only about 1/3 of the total approximate 6,000
employment lives in Lockport (Zip 14094)
Delphi-Harrison pays about 5.65% of the City of Lockport's property taxes.
It pays about 3.53% of the Lockport School District taxes.
It is the largest property taxpayer in the city, second largest in the Town and Niagara
County.
It has 345 acres (and most of the buildings) in the city , about 148 acres in the town.
The average wage at the Lockport plant is about $20/hour plus benefits.
Harrison's city water bill for 1999 was about 30% of the city's water fund income.
It's sewer bill was about 6.5% of the sewer fund income (the company has its own treatment
plant).
Our air view is of the giant "West Plant" complex. A few operations still remain in a small part of the facility on Walnut Street. In the picture below North is on top. Route 31 and the rail line can be seen along the bottom of the picture forming the southern boundry. The picture is from the Niagara County Historical Society. As the saying goes...this is big...really big!
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