Local International Company Going Strong after 56 Years

While local economic discussions have been dominated lately by news of several companies leaving our county, there are still strong, viable Columbia County businesses that continue to thrive and provide much needed employment opportunities.

One of the largest county employers, Taconic Farms, Inc., has continued to grow since being founded 56 years ago by Robert Phelan. The company employs 1,000 people worldwide, with 450 employees based in Columbia County, either at the Hudson headquarters or the Germantown production site.

The third generation of Phelan's family is poised to take over the leadership helm, and the company remains committed to the area.

“We're very fortunate to be living and working in Columbia County ,” said Richard “Dick” Phelan, corporate secretary and founder Robert's son. Together with his brothers Joe and Sam, Richard Phelan joined the company in the 1980s and helped it grow through the succeeding decades.

“We live and work in a community that's second to none in terms of the people we deal with and the beautiful scenery we wake up to every morning. I don't think you can say enough about the community.”

Taconic Farms breeds mice and rats for use in scientific research at facilities around the world. They produce hundreds of strains that exhibit different characteristics, to assist researchers in finding drugs to respond to diseases.

Their Germantown facility is the largest single site in the world producing rats and mice for research, said Phelan. Their products are used in pharmaceutical and disease research in the areas of cardiology, oncology, immunology, metabolic disorders and neuro-degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Although it's virtually impossible to know exactly how their business has impacted the medical community (due to the highly-guarded nature of disease research), Taconic Farms is certain they contributed significantly to advances in blood pressure treatments, said Phelan. In the 1970s, they were the primary suppliers of a mice breed that spontaneously developed hypertension. Extensive research led to the development of the many blood pressure drugs on the market today.

Company founder Robert Phelan was an MIT graduate working at the Beech Nut plant in Canajoharie, Montgomery County , when he started raising mice in his basement. In 1952, the entrepreneur purchased an existing mouse breeder in Columbia County that had four employees, and moved his family here.

“Every succeeding year has generated increased revenues, even in the 1950s,” said Richard Phelan. “The company has been, is currently, and we foresee it will continue to be, a strong company.”

One of the reasons Columbia County is a great location for the company is its proximity to major pharmaceutical, biotech and research institutions, said Kevin Leak, Taconic's senior vice president, client relations. Most of Taconic's clients are concentrated in the corridor from Boston to Washington , D.C.

“We are able to cost-effectively create products here and deliver in that corridor,” explained Deak.

“This lends itself nicely to being able to serve our customers as they want to be served,” added Phelan.

Besides the central location, Columbia County offers an employee base with a strong, traditional work ethic and loyalty, added Phelan. In return, Taconic Farms offers a family-oriented atmosphere and an opportunity for advancement.

“You can build your career at Taconic,” starting at entry level and moving up through supervisory, management and executive levels, said Leak. Taconic works closely with Columbia-Greene Community College to provide training for the types of workers it needs.

Taconic Farms is also committed to remaining a family-owned, privately run company. Company executives meet quarterly with family members and encourage family members' participation in the business's operations.

“We're planning to continue this business as a privately-owned, strong, viable company,” said Phelan.

Leak said he hopes Taconic Farm's example will serve as inspiration for other companies to locate in Columbia County . Their long-term success as a type of “anchor” business (similar to an anchor store in a mall) should make it attractive for other companies to locate here.

“I think the stability of Taconic Farms over the years has contributed to the stability of the community,” added Leak. “We have had generations of families employed here.”

Phelan hopes the community understands how companies large and small are contributing to Columbia County 's economy. “It's very important the community understands the importance of strong, viable companies and how they add value to the community. They are vital to the success of the county and it's important the community embraces strong businesses.”

The Chamber of Commerce thanks Taconic Farms for being invested in Columbia County.