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A Roundup of Recent Ulster County Business-Related News, Views, and More

May 29, 2024

This month started big with Ulster Strong's second leadership summit, the Agriculture Summit - Discussing the Business of Agriculture in Ulster County. We had a fantastic panel discussion, great turnout, at a beautiful location. In addition to this event, Ulster Strong commenced a new county-wide survey of town planning boards. Specifically, we seek to understand their composition, motivations, interests, priorities, and function. We also co-hosted several presentations including Can Code's brilliant digital literacy program, and HITS Saugerties local economic impact.

In this month's newsletter you will notice additional coverage and information on the state of Ulster's agriculture industry, as well as the critical issue of staffing. Also, HUGE news on the iPark 87 front, more affordable housing announced for Kingston, and other good news. Ulster is on a roll - lets's keep it going!

This newsletter includes the following:

• Ulster County, Ulster BOCES, SUNY NP and Ulster sign iPark 87 leases

• Ulster Strong Agriculture Summit Big Success

• Economic Impact Report: HITS Saugerties

• Data Bites

• Ulster County took in 3% more sales tax revenue in 2023 - Comptroller’s report

• Lloyd wins grant to bury power lines

• New Kingston Tax for Open Spaces

• Kingston mayor proposes housing legislation

• Can Code Communities:

Digital Literacy Training Program Creates Opportunity

• ARC Mid-Hudson Agricultural Project

• A Look Inside Ulster's Agriculture Industry

• Ulster Strong Launches Countywide Planning Board Survey

• Attracting Talent During the "Great Stay"

• SPOTLIGHT: Mid-Hudson Works

• New affordable and workforce housing project planned in Kingston

• UCAT Route Optimization Plan and Public Survey

Ulster County, SUNY Ulster, Ulster BOCES and iPark87 officials hailed a new era of workforce development and training at an event Monday, May 13, announcing the signing of a series of leases at the former IBM site.

Leasing spaces at the location are the county, Ulster BOCES, SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz.

The largest portion of the space, 105,000 square feet, will be occupied by Ulster BOCES, which will move its Career and Technical Center for high school students and adults to iPark 87 from Port Ewen.

The county leased 20,000 square feet to move its offices of Employment and Training, Economic Development and Tourism, along with offices for the state Department of Labor and the organization Ulster Youth Build, to the site.

SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Ulster have leased an additional 20,000 square feet on the second floor

Ulster Strong presented its latest leadership summit event, the "Ulster Agriculture Summit". The very well attended and successful event was hosted at the beautiful Nostrano Vineyards in Milton. We discussed the business of Agriculture in Ulster County, how it has changed over generations, the challenges it faces in our current economy and how to make it sustainable for future generations. We discussed themes of what the future of agriculture will be if we don’t do more to sustain this vital sector of our economy, and how women have taken on an increasingly prominent role in the industry.

Thank you to the many public officials who also attended, including Sen. Michelle Hinchey for discussing her work on the issues of agriculture and food in NYS and Ulster.

Panelists Included:

Nic Bozzo

Nostrano Vineyards, Milton, NY

Samantha Boylan

Wrights Farm, Gardiner, NY

Helene Dembroski

Dembroski Orchards, Inc., Plattekill, NY

Alisha Albinder

Hudson River Fruit Distributors

Casey Erdmann

Fjord Vineyards, Milton, NY

Gail & Amy Hepworth

Hempworth Farms, Milton, NY

Moderator:

Lisa Berger

Director of Ulster County Tourism & Office for Film

A 2023 Economic Impact Report, presented by HITS CEO Peter Englehart, was held on May 24th, hosted by the HITS Saugerties Show Series team. Ulster Strong was invited, along with several local elected officials and organization representatives, to learn about the extensive growth and economic impact HITS is having on Ulster. Thank you HITS for the reception and opportunity to learn more about your business and positive impact upon our community!

Short Summary:

In 2023, over 30,000 out-of-town visitors enjoyed the season-long festivities at HITS in Saugerties, almost all saying they were initially attracted to visiting Ulster and Saugerties due to HITS events.

The total economic impact of the 2023 HITS Saugerties Show Series for Ulster County, NY is estimated to be $187,750,182.

Of that total, $53,745,569 was spent by visitors on food and beverages, transportation, entertainment, and retail.

Over 70,000 total room nights were used (hotels and other lodging types).

About HITS:

Owned and managed by HITS, LLC, the largest producer of Hunter/ Jumper as well as Dressage events in North America, HITS-on-the-Hudson holds 15 weeks of competitions between May and September each year. Competitions include some of the Nation’s most prestigious events, ranging from CSI FEI Showjumping, World Championship Hunter Rider Competition (WCHR), USHJA International Hunter Derbies, and USDF Region 8 Dressage Championships.

Located on over 200 acres, the showgrounds consist of 14 permanent barns with over 1,100 stalls. There are 10 outdoor competition rings, including two feature rings with stone walls and grass berms surrounding. Beyond equestrian competitions, HITS-on-the-Hudson offers dining, shopping & hospitality experiences sure to delight spectators and exhibitors.

Births in the Hudson Valley

New birth data suggest that people might have been doing a little more than working from home during the pandemic. Births throughout the Hudson Valley took a noteworthy jump in 2021, the year that followed the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This reversed a longstanding trend toward fewer births in the region. Data and new stories suggest that other parts of the country and the globe have seen a similar spike in post-pandemic births.

(Source: Pattern for Progress)

Ulster County Income Change in 2021 vs 2013

(by Zip Code)

The Times Union used the IRS data alongside Social Security cost-of-living adjustments to identify the parts of the country that have grown wealthier or poorer in adjusted 2021 dollars.

In New York, the biggest increases were in the Catskills and the Hamptons.

The Hudson Valley also saw significant spikes in income, which has driven a higher cost of living in the form of housing expenses. Adam Bosch, CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, a regional research nonprofit, said rents have roughly doubled wages year-over-year in nearly every county in the region since at least the start of the pandemic in 2020.

The mid-Hudson region has the state’s highest number of cost-burdened households outside New York City, according to a state comptroller’s report released earlier this year. That means many renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. But it’s also a statewide issue. New York has consistently ranked as one of the states with the highest cost burden for renters and homeowners, according to the report. Renters, however, have borne the brunt of it, with residents of all income levels having become more cost-burdened since 2012.

Remote Work Spurs Surge Into Small US Towns

An estimated 291,400 people last year migrated from other areas into America’s small towns and rural areas, which Lombard defines as metropolitan areas with 250,000 people or fewer.



Remote Work Spurs Surge Into Small US Towns | Domestic migration into small metro areas exceeded bigger ones in 2023

© University of Virginia Demographics Research Group; US Census Bureau

Ulster Strong, along with SUNY New Paltz School of Business and Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) were delighted to host Annmarie Lanesey, founder and CEO of Can Code Communities. She shared with us the invaluable work Can Code does in its mission of offering digital literacy training, innovative education programs and employer pipelines to in-demand talent.

ABOUT CAN CODE COMMUNITIES

CanCode Communities brings people and possibility together in a way that can serve individuals, employers, and entire communities.

At CanCode Communities, we see opportunity everywhere. We are dedicated to empowering individual growth, raising average salaries, increasing diversity in the tech sector, creating skilled digital users, and building stronger communities. We help low-income, underemployed, women, veterans, people of color, immigrants and refugees gain digital literacy, confidence, and opportunities. We invest in non-traditional talent, raising the earning potential of often-overlooked individuals, and work to build a more equitable tech economy that benefits everyone. Every day, we’re working to strengthen the tech workforce in your local community. We help employers find the qualified, in-demand talent they need.

We design and deliver workforce training courses, hands-on K-12 coding programs, and basic computer training workshops, in alignment with the needs of employers, educators, talent, and the community in general. Our mission is to shift mindsets about who can work in technology, remove cultural and economic barriers to joining the tech workforce, and establish and promote pathways to tech careers throughout the region.

By fostering a more inclusive and equitable tech community, we are taking significant steps toward a brighter future for all. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion ensures that everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

We connect employers, funders, fellow nonprofits, and higher education partners with our trainees to create a robust hiring pipeline. Many of our adult trainees report a significant increase in yearly earnings after completing just one of our courses. Our hands-on courses get people coding in weeks, not years. Four-year degrees can be unattainable for many, but we make tech education accessible to all. 95% of our trainees pay nothing to go through our training.

Opportunity is everywhere, and open to everyone. All you need to do is step forward today.

·      If you are an employer learn how we can assist your employees upskill their tech or digital skills or you can join our Employer Network. Please contact Luke Scarchilli: lscarchilli@albanycancode.org.

·      If you are an individual interested in software or digital training, new courses are starting soon, please visit us at https://cancode.org/courses/ to learn more. 

Learn more at https://cancode.org/

The ARC Mid-Hudson Agricultural Project is blossoming! This innovative initiative will empower individuals with developmental disabilities by fostering meaningful connections with the rich agricultural landscape of the Mid-Hudson region. It's more than just farm training; it's about unlocking potential, building confidence, and creating a more inclusive community.

Growing Skills and Confidence

Participants engage in the entire farm-to-market journey, planting seeds, nurturing crops, processing harvests, and selling their bounty at vibrant farmers markets. This hands-on experience equips them with valuable life skills, a sense of accomplishment, and the confidence that comes with contributing to a tangible project.

Building a Stronger Community

This project isn't just about growth in the fields; it's about fostering growth within the community. Participants connect with local farms, farmers markets, and the larger community, promoting positive attitudes and a deeper understanding of the abilities individuals with developmental disabilities possess. They become not just participants, but vital contributors to the local

agricultural economy.

A Sustainable and Equitable Harvest

The project extends its impact beyond the farm. By partnering with local farms to assist in creating value-added products, we’re able to move into more dynamic and sustainable skill sets. A gleaning initiative tackles food insecurity by collecting surplus produce and distributing it to those in need. Additionally, exploring year-round production through greenhouses creates opportunities for continued learning and growth throughout the year.

More Than Just Training

The ARC Mid-Hudson Agricultural Project stands out by offering a holistic experience. It goes beyond traditional vocational programs by incorporating kitchen skills and product development, fostering creativity and expanding participants' skillsets. Retail experience at farmers markets further strengthens community connections and fosters a sense of accomplishment

Aligning with Local Values

The project aligns perfectly with Ulster County's economic drivers, realizing the synergy between agriculture and tourism. By contributing to local farms and farmers markets, participants actively contribute to the region's economic vitality.

A Vision for the Future

The ARC Mid-Hudson Agricultural Project is rooted in the principles of diversity, inclusion, sustainability, equity, and belonging. By integrating individuals with developmental disabilities into the agricultural landscape, the project fosters a more inclusive community and contributes to the overall well-being of participants.

Join us in celebrating the launch of this groundbreaking project. Together, we can cultivate a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

(Photo by Bond Brungard: Will Leibee’s 42-acre Back Home Farm produces vegetables and soon hopes to move into retail cannabis sales by growing his own products)

HIGH FALLS – Will Leibee, of Back Home Farm on Lucas Turnpike, is expanding his 42-acre farmstead into retail with two locations, one for vegetables and another for cannabis. And the latter has Leibee optimistic about his future with one of the newest crops being harvested in the Ulster County.

Vegetables were being planted, and work is ongoing constructing the indoor growing facilities for cannabis, which he hopes to sell at his proposed dispensary at the corner of routes 213 and 209. “I have hopes for the dispensary as it’s the next logical step,” said Leibee, during a mid-afternoon walk around his farm.

Leibee is hoping for approval soon by the Town of Marbletown planning board to open his dispensary, possibly as soon as a few months. And if that doesn’t work out, the nearby Town of Rochester, where he’s building  another retail facility, has approved cannabis sales.

“Some farmers are exploring opportunities to diversify their crop into cannabis cultivation to capitalize on the evolving cannabis industry in NYS and regionally,” said Kevin Lynch, director of economic development for Ulster County. “Unsure on projections for the next 5-10 years, but I believe the momentum is accelerating as local stakeholders are beginning to develop and implement their business plans. The county is currently contracting with NY Small Farmer and Season Gives on a consultant basis to support this effort.”

A census profile of Ulster County by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2022 revealed we had 486 farms at the time covering 73,026 acres with the average size of 150 acres. Only six of those farms were 1,000-acres or larger, while the majority, 186, were 10-49 acres, like Leibee’s farm and others. And little more than1,000 people were employed by agriculture in 2022 in the county.

Apples and fruit farming generate the majority of income in the count, with nearly $750,000,000 in sales out of total of $1,005,520,000 as the second-largest producer of this kind in New York state. Vegetables, melons, potatoes and sweet potatoes are the second largest group of crops grown and the county, with nursery, greenhouse and floriculture offerings being third.

“Agriculture remains the second major economic driver in the county,” said Lynch. “However, based on USDA’s 2022 census, average net cash farm income of $17,786 represented a 20 percent decline from 2017 levels.”

The majority of farms, 153 or 31%  of the total, earned less than $2,500 annually, while 103, or 21 percent of the total, earned $100,000 or more annually in sales.

“I think the agriculture sector in Ulster County is under some stress and is facing cross currents from a number of directions, inflation, constrained financial capacity, worker housing, competition, greenflation (climate) coupled with the cost of adapting sustainable-farming practices,” said Lynch. “However, I believe the sector can steadily overcome these issues with increased operational and financial support.”

Affordable housing Ulster County is ongoing issue in the county as $1,000 studios are now common, and the those costs were greatly exasperated by the 2020 pandemic and the flow of new residents, some temporary and some now permanent, coming upriver from New York City.

And the county has become more popular for those in agriculture, too. There has been a 15 percent increase in the number of farms since 2017, according to that 2022 federal census, as acreage has grown 24 percent and average size has grown 7 percent since then.

Leibee senses that climate change and the overall warmth coming from it benefits the state overall – even though his greatest hope is growing cannabis indoors and away from the whims of Mother Nature. “The (state) has been encouraging small farms to get into in,” he said, “and that’s encouraging.”

This May Ulster Strong commenced a new county-wide survey of town planning boards. Specifically, we seek to understand their composition, motivations, interests, priorities, and function. As an important component in achieving community sustainability, we want to better understand how local planning boards function, and the processes in which decisions are made. To achieve this, Ulster Strong has developed surveys tailored to understand three key perspectives - town supervisors, planning board members, and secretarial/clerical staff.

This survey aims to enhance overall transparency, identify commonalities and differences, and see where opportunities may reside within our local towns. Since a survey like this has not been done in recent times, it will form an invaluable baseline of data and information for all of us to access.

If you have any questions about this survey, are a member or staff of an Ulster planning board and did not receive an email survey, or if you have questions about Ulster Strong, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The “Great Stay” is a challenge for small businesses owners who want to attract top-notch talent. When small businesses compete directly with large corporations for the same talent, it can feel like an insurmountable hurdle. Small businesses need to position themselves as top employers if they want to appeal to candidates who may be content in their position and who may be afraid to move to a smaller, and what is perceived by some as less secure, company. Attracting talent today is possible. 

Employer Branding

Managing your reputation among job seekers and internal employees is a crucial element of attracting talent. Your workplace culture impacts current employees and job candidates, but your digital presence is an important first look into the company. Your digital footprint – website to social media – should reflect the company’s mission, vision and values. More specifically, the career page makes the biggest impression for the job candidate. Audit your content and look at it through the lens of your top-notch candidates. These digital first impressions could be enhanced with testimonials, day-in-the-life videos and clear job descriptions.

Compensation and Benefits

Small businesses will not likely compete toe-to-toe with larger corporations on the salary front, but there are strategies to employe to make your business more attractive to top talent. A competitive overall compensation package is important, but other benefits that may appeal to more talent include work-from-home or flex work options, health and wellness programs, financial wellness programs and robust retirement plans. As a small business, you are more agile and can potentially offer flexible benefits packages that can be tailored to meet the needs of employees at different life stages, which is appealing to many candidates.

Referrals

Employees are your greatest tool when it comes to attracting the best talents. People want to work with people they like and at an office they enjoy. Personal referrals show the job candidate that their friend likes working for your organization, plus it highlights that the referring employee thinks they would be a good culture fit.

Even though the Great Stay has employees camping out in their current jobs, small businesses can compete for talent. Authenticity in your employee brand, along with opportunities for employees to grow while doing meaningful work, can entice talent to take the leap and make a substantial impact at your small business.

Alex Robinson is a business performance advisor with Insperity, a leading provider of human resources and business performance solutions. For more information about Insperity, visit www.insperity.com or contact Alex directly at alex.robinson@insperity.com or 917-548-1357.  

Mid-Hudson Works (MHW) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that was conceived in 1947, by Dause Bibby, General Manager of IBM Corporation. The goal was to establish a workshop which would employ and train the physically handicapped soldiers returning from WWII. MHW today has expanded our mission and provides underserved populations with workforce development training and workforce reintegration support programs. Our primary focus is assisting veterans and individuals with physical and/or medical disabilities. Many of the individuals we serve have suffered a life-altering event or have served in the military where workforce reintegration is a crucial part of returning to life back home. This, unfortunately, is not always an easy resource to find and is sometimes easier said than done.

There are many other challenges we face in our community, such as combatting skyrocketing homelessness, especially for our veterans. We have partnered up with several local agencies and together we help serve these individuals with life-altering opportunities and fresh starts. Together, we can make a difference and improve the lives of those we serve collaboratively! We plan to continue offering programs that provide individuals with a comfortable workplace to learn and become acquainted, or possibly reacquainted, with a healthy work life balance in the workforce.

Some of the training opportunities offered are manufacturing, assembly, wiring, soldiering, co-packing, test products and manufacturing of LED lighting systems. MHW also offers fulfillment services, where we can store, pick, pack and ship your orders across the world. We are proud of the variety of work we do each day and the flexibility to support many types and sizes of businesses. These outsourcing services don’t just benefit the MHW team, it also helps the businesses that entrust us with their work by allowing them to scale. By handing off some of the responsibilities to MHW, those business owners now have the time needed to focus on development and growth of their business.

Today MHW is creating programming opportunities through businesses owned by the workshop. In 2022 North River Roasters (NRR) coffee company was donated to MHW. NRR not only produces amazing coffee that can be found in local coffee shops and supermarkets it is teaching entrepreneurial skills to our team. Our team must understand all aspects of running a business from inventory of green coffee beans sourced from all over the world, to the skilled craft that it takes to roast, and blend coffee, to the packing and distribution of the finished product.

Through our 76-year history the workshop has gone through several expansions and upgrades. From the original 10,000 square foot facility we started in on Washington Street in Poughkeepsie to the 52,000 square feet we have today at the original sight. MHW has to ability due to our size to bring on various types of clients and projects. We have supported hydroponic greenhouses manufacturing up to large municipal aeration systems for water treatment plants. We are looking forward to what’s ahead as our mission continues to evolve to support our community. 

For more information visit: midhudsonworks.org

Or contact: Ronald Ferris Jr., Director of Business Development

(Photo - A Baxter project in Poughkeepsie on Maple Street.)

Company President Eric Baxter said the 60-70 units will be constructed at 615 Broadway at the site of a former motel. The city is the current owner of the property....

“It’s not that the population in the area is growing so fast, it’s that the demographics have shifted to where family sizes are smaller, there is less people in a household, which therefore creates additional need for housing units,” he said.

Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) and the Ulster County Transportation Council (UCTC) are partnering on the UCAT Route Optimization Plan to examine how the existing bus system — including its routes, schedules, and services — can be improved to better serve the public.

Public input is vital to the success of this effort, and residents are encouraged to fill out a brief Transit Survey, whether or not they utilize UCAT services. The Survey is available online in both English and Spanish, HERE(link is external)

 and at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SHHQWT2(link is external)

. Additionally, information can be found on the Participate Ulster site HERE and at https://participate.ulstercountyny.gov/ucat-route-plan.

[Businesses need to be able to attract and retain employees. That’s never been as challenging in our lifetimes as it is now. Public transportation not only connects the workforce to local businesses looking to fill positions, but also helps greatly expand the pool of potential applicants.

The relationship between public transportation and local businesses could best be described as a symbiotic one. Local businesses benefit from strong public transit to stay connected to the local workforce and those same local businesses and employees help support and grow public transit. It truly is an economic win-win..... read more]