With tax abatements in place, the biopharmaceutical company Athenex Inc. is getting set to construct its state-of-the-art facility in the town of Dunkirk.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors granted sales and property tax exemptions to the company during Tuesday’s meeting in Jamestown. With IDA approval, Athenex has obtained state and local tax incentives needed to move forward at its site on Lake Shore Drive East.

Teresa Bair, vice president of legal affairs and corporate development for Athenex, was in attendance for the board meeting. She told members they will begin building by the fall.

“We’re very excited about this project,” she said.

Incentives include a sales tax exemption, with an estimated value of $9.1 million, and a 20-year payment in lieu of tax agreement for the construction and outfitting of the $208 million facility. Bair said sales and property tax exemptions from the IDA were placed within the deal during negotiations with the state. The state’s $200 million investment was approved a few months ago.

“It’s always been considered that we were going to have some sort of arrangement in place in this regard,” she said. “We’re very pleased with how it’s worked.”

IDA and Athenex officials said the project would have been in question if financial assistance through the IDA wasn’t granted for the project. And it could have jeopardized the 450 jobs that will be created within the first five years.

“Without that, they could be in another state,” said Kevin Sanvidge, administrative director and CEO for the IDA. “It’s a real big event in Chautauqua County. It’s probably one of the biggest developments in the county.”

The state was originally going to own the 320,000-square-foot facility, which would have meant no property taxes being paid to the school district and local municipalities Athenex ended up coming forward to negotiate a PILOT with the IDA and take ownership of the building. George Borrello, county legislator and IDA board member, commended Athenex officials for working out a deal.

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“I think it’s appreciated and it certainly wasn’t a part of the original plans, so it’s a bonus for everyone,” he said.

Athenex is a global clinical biopharmaceutical company that’s looking to develop cancer drugs at its Dunkirk facility. Sterile high potency oncology drugs will be manufactured in a controlled environment for shipment around the world.

Bair said the company has selected a contractor to design the facility. She said a timeline to break ground will become more firm as time goes on.

“We’re looking forward to do this as soon as we can,” she said.

County Executive Vince Horrigan was in attendance for the meeting. He said the project is a “true game-changer” for the north county with 450 direct hires. He said the whole county will also benefit from the project between the supply chains and vendors that will come about.

“I’m excited and support this great company,” Horrigan said.

Construction of the facility is estimated at $178 million while the purchase of equipment and machinery is approximately $19.2 million. Around 100 construction jobs will be created.

The project was planned in conjunction with Empire State Development and Fort Schuyler Management Corp.