Pictured L to R: Operation Oswego County Board President Peter Cullinan, Oswego Industries President & CEO Allen Connely, and Operation Oswego County Executive Director Austin Wheelock.
FULTON, N.Y. Oswego Industries, Inc. has been named the recipient of the 2025 Jobs Award by Operation Oswego County. The award was presented during the organization’s annual meeting, held at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in Oswego.
The Jobs Award is given each year to a business that has made a significant capital investment and contributed to the creation and retention of jobs in Oswego County. Oswego Industries was honored for employing more than 100 individuals with disabilities—165 employees in total, and for its long-standing impact on the local economy through contract work, textile manufacturing, and specialty services based in the city of Fulton.
In addition to job numbers, the award highlights the meaningful nature of the employment opportunities Oswego Industries creates. For more than 57 years, the nonprofit has remained committed to empowering people with disabilities to live fulfilling lives through employment and independence.
“This is one of the great things we’re able to do in our community,” said Allen Connely, president and CEO of Oswego Industries. “Coming from the private sector and now leading a nonprofit, I can tell you this work is uplifting. You get to see the impact you’re making on young people and older people alike. It’s incredibly meaningful.”
Connely also highlighted how Oswego Industries is investing in new technologies to expand its workforce and create more inclusive jobs for the future.
“Most people don’t know that we’re also a Department of Defense contractor,” he said. “We make all of the coveralls for mechanics in the Air Force. While that’s part of our legacy, we’re also investing nearly half a million dollars into new cutting technology to support higher-tech jobs for individuals with disabilities.”
Connely emphasized the importance of creating roles that allow individuals with varying abilities, including those with more severe disabilities, to contribute to meaningful work without being limited by physical dexterity.
“We’re putting that investment back into the community to open doors for people who are often marginalized,” Connely said. “This is about working side-by-side, creating real products, and contributing to something larger than ourselves. We’re proud of that—and we’re going to be part of this community for another 57 years, for sure.”
