YORKVILLE, N.Y. — Fred F. Collis & Sons will celebrate 90 years in business with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 15, at its Yorkville headquarters.

The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. at 5092 Commercial Drive. Representatives of the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, company employees and members of the community are expected to attend.

The anniversary marks a long run for a family-owned company that began serving the Utica area in 1936. Fred F. Collis & Sons now provides heating, cooling, insulation, oil delivery and indoor air quality services across the Mohawk Valley and Central New York. Its Syracuse operation also provides plumbing services.

A local company reaches a 90-year milestone

Nine decades in business means the company has worked through major changes in home heating, construction, energy use and customer expectations. The systems used to heat and cool a house today are far different from those common when the business opened during the 1930s.

The firm’s official website says it has served the Greater Utica area since 1936. It describes its goal this way: “Our goal is to make your home a comfortable, safe haven for you and your family.” The company says it works toward that goal with trained technicians and home comfort services tailored to each customer.

The 90th anniversary is locally significant because independently operated businesses often become part of the region’s everyday infrastructure. Homeowners may only think about heating or cooling equipment when a system fails, but maintaining that equipment is especially important in Central New York, where winters can be severe and summer heat can create health risks.

From heating service to broader home performance

Fred F. Collis & Sons has expanded beyond traditional heating service. Its current offerings include cooling systems, insulation, air sealing, indoor air quality work, oil delivery and other home comfort services. The company opened a Syracuse branch in 2021, according to the anniversary announcement, and plumbing is offered through that location.

The growth reflects a broader change in the industry. Home comfort is increasingly treated as a whole-house issue. Insulation and air sealing can affect how hard a furnace or air conditioner must work. Indoor air quality can be tied to ventilation, filtration and moisture. Energy assessments can help identify where a building loses heat or where upgrades may improve comfort.

On its official products and services page, the company says it aims to improve “the safety, comfort and energy efficiency” of customers’ homes. It also provides information about state energy programs and incentives that may help eligible homeowners pay for certain improvements.

Why the anniversary matters to the Mohawk Valley

A 90-year business anniversary is more than a ceremonial date. It points to decades of local employment, purchases from suppliers and service relationships with households and other businesses. It also shows how a company can adapt while remaining rooted in the same region.

Yorkville sits in the center of a network of communities that includes Utica, New York Mills, Whitesboro, New Hartford and other parts of Oneida County. A business based there can reach customers across the urban area as well as homes in smaller towns and rural communities.

The anniversary also offers a chance to recognize skilled-trade careers. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, insulation and plumbing work require technical training and hands-on problem solving. Those jobs cannot be moved easily to another state or country because the work must be done inside local homes and buildings.

Energy costs keep home efficiency in focus

For many households, utility costs are a major part of the monthly budget. A building that leaks air or has weak insulation can be harder and more expensive to heat. Equipment that is poorly maintained may also use more energy or fail when demand is highest.

New York offers several programs connected to efficiency and home upgrades. The company’s website includes information about the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Comfort Home program, which supports certain air-sealing and insulation improvements. Homeowners should review current eligibility rules and obtain clear written estimates before beginning work.

People considering upgrades can also use NYSERDA’s official Comfort Home page to learn about available improvements, participating contractors and program requirements. Incentives can change, so residents should confirm current terms directly with the agency.

Ribbon-cutting details

The 90th anniversary ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at Fred F. Collis & Sons, 5092 Commercial Drive in Yorkville. The event is intended to bring together employees, Chamber representatives and community members.

More information about the company’s history and services is available at the official Fred F. Collis & Sons website.

The milestone recognizes both continuity and change. The company began in an era when home systems were simpler and energy choices were different. Its anniversary arrives in a market shaped by heat pumps, efficiency programs, air-quality concerns and rising interest in whole-home performance. Through those changes, its base has remained in the Mohawk Valley.