Senator Flanagan Joins Local Officials In Welcoming Tesla To Smithtown
March 20, 2018
Recently, New York State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan joined with Town of Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim and other local officials to welcome Tesla to the region. At the event, Tesla announced its plans for a new service center at the corner of Route 347 and Middle Country Road in the hopes of revitalizing a location that has been vacant for several years while also creating at least 25 new jobs.
Senator Flanagan and Supervisor Wehrheim discussed the economic benefits that Tesla will bring to the local community.
“It is exciting to see Tesla working with the Town of Smithtown to revitalize this long-vacant property into an economic asset that will benefit all who live in our region. Tesla’s commitment to this project will help create career opportunities for our residents, provide students with crucial experience and, in the long term, help protect the local environment. We welcome them to the area and wish them great success,” stated Senator Flanagan.
Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim added: “Thank you to Tesla for choosing Smithtown for your new location. This will be a real asset and advantage to our community, and all the residents I’ve spoken to are excited about it.”
Representatives from Farmingdale State College, which currently operates an internship program with Tesla, addressed the new job opportunities that the Smithtown location will create for its students. The internship program, which began in Fall 2017, provides students in Farmingdale’s Automotive Technology Department with the opportunity to work on Tesla’s zero-emissions vehicles and potentially find full-time employment with the company after graduation.
“The opening of a new Tesla service center in Smithtown is great news for Long Island and for Farmingdale State College. This location will give more of our Automotive Technology students the chance to put their talents to use and begin fulfilling careers with an innovative, industry-leading company,” said Farmingdale State College President Dr. John Nader.
Tesla currently has a Service Center in Syosset, a store in Manhasset, two galleries in Huntington Station and East Hampton as well as two solar warehouses in Hauppauge and Bethpage. Together, these locations employ more than 150 people.
Tesla released the following statement regarding the new site: “Tesla’s new service center in Smithtown will provide thousands of Long Island residents with convenient service for Tesla’s sustainable products. Proposed legislation would enable Tesla to also sell and deliver our products at this location, and allow for additional Tesla stores across New York, deepening our investment in the state. Smithtown is a promising market for sustainable energy products and Tesla is eager to meet that demand head on."
