50th Edition: July 29th - August 2nd 2024 | |
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Orange County Partnership Takes Aggressive Approach to Business Retention Amid Market Challenges
Attraction, expansion, and retention are the three pillars of economic development. All three require constant care and attention – strategy, relationships, and grassroots engagement are commonalities. At the Orange County Partnership, we remain committed to driving new business to the market and leading the effort to bring new, sustainable sectors to the county. However, over the last three months, there have been a handful of closures in the market that are worth noting and addressing:
- Given financial issues within the company, Wineshipping.com decided to consolidate operations to their upstate New York warehouse;
- Pepsi/Popcorners downsized their workforce in an effort to modernize and automate their packing operations;
- Genpak is closing their Middletown facility given the statewide ban on the sale of styrofoam peanuts; and
- Amscan is reorganizing its global supply chain, outsourcing its production to China
These closures are growing pains in our market. Although out of our control, these closures reaffirm the need for a robust business retention and expansion (BR+E) effort. To that end, this summer our team is taking an aggressive, hyper-local approach to BR+E. We are prioritizing meeting with the top manufacturing employers in Orange County strengthening relationships, sharing information on available resources, and working to prevent retention issues before they begin. We have invested time with numerous businesses, taking tours and meeting with executives from companies like Blaser Swisslube, Goodness Gardens, Mechanical Rubber, and others to gain a better understanding of their current needs and future growth plans.
Business visitation is a core business practice at the Partnership, and we will continue to work with our local partners in government and the private sector to retain our existing business ecosystem while leading attraction projects. The uncertainty tied to our geopolitical, regulatory, and economic conditions are key variables impacting businesses of all sizes and sectors. Engaging with the business and corporate community at a grassroots level is the only way we can mitigate market pain points while gaining real-time data on how to best de-risk the investment environment.
To learn more about our free Business & Retention program and to schedule a site tour with the Partnership team, reach out to Conor Eckert: conor@ocpartnership.org or call: (845) 294-2323.
My very best,
Maureen Halahan
President & CEO
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Kelly Turturro, NYS DEC Region 3 Director, addresses audience at ABG Meeting on July 23rd. | Panelists (from left to right): Terresa M. Bakner, Partner at Whitman, Osterman & Hanna, LLP; Jim Bates, Managing Member at Ecological Analysis, LLC and Matthew Walter, Freshwater Wetlands Program Manager at NYSDEC | |
NYS DEC Officials Detail Proposed Freshwater Wetlands Regulation Changes and Impacts on Development | |
Continuing its efforts to provide information and promote discussion on critical topics and issues impacting the development and building communities, the Alliance for Balanced Growth held a highly informative meeting on July 23 to learn first-hand planned freshwater wetland regulation changes by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The session held at the Town of Wallkill Golf Club entitled “Navigating New Waters: Understanding the Impact of NYS DEC Wetland Regulations” attracted more than 140 professionals in the development, building, municipal government, real estate and environmental fields and was co-sponsored by the Orange County Partnership. The program centered on the draft rulemaking changes to Freshwater Wetlands Jurisdiction and Classification recently released by NYS DEC.
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Orange County Thrives as a Cost-Effective Industrial Real Estate Hub Amidst Uncertainty | |
By: Conor Eckert, VP Business Attraction
We are living in the “polycrisis era” of industrial real estate - numerous risk factors are impacting development, construction, and site selection activity in the local and macro environments. Political uncertainty, interest rate volatility, and an ever-changing regulatory landscape are all factors driving risk. However, Orange County is still growing its position as a cost-effective alternative to Northern New Jersey, boasting similar market access, the availability of sites, and the availability of buildings at lower rental rates than competitor markets. Despite headwinds, site selection interest remains generally steady in the market - but the impetus is on us in the economic development community to de-risk our market.
Tenant Activity:
We have seen an uptick in substantive site selection requests in Q3 and the resurgence of discussions with viable projects that have lingered in the market. The sectors that we’re seeing activity in are logistics, life sciences, packaging, cannabis, construction supplies, and energy-related projects. From a transactional perspective, it appears that the manufacturing-oriented projects are more interested in owning their real estate, while the logistics users are more interested in lease or lease-to-own opportunities. The energy projects that we are seeing are generally tied to the offshore wind supply chain/component parts and opportunities to access Inflation Reduction Act monies from the Federal Government.
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Conor Eckert, Vice President of Business Attraction - Orange County Partnership | |
Golden Triangle Rendering
535,000 SF spec industrial building - Town of Wallkill
| Aden Brook Business Park - Town of Montgomery recently awarded $462,500. | | |
Meghan Taylor, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations at Genting Americas Inc., named as the Orange County Partnership's 2024 'Woman of Achievement in Economic Development' honoree. | Resorts World Hudson Valley - Town of Newburgh | |
Meghan Taylor to Be Honored as 2024 ‘Woman of Achievement’ on Oct. 1 | |
The Orange County Partnership announced today that Meghan Taylor, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations at Genting Americas Inc., has been named the Partnership’s 2024 “Woman of Achievement in Economic Development” honoree.
Taylor, who started her impressive career in economic development with the Orange County Partnership as its Director, Business Attraction in 2011, shortly after graduating college, will receive her award at the Orange County Partnership’s Investor Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at The Barn at Villa Venezia in Middletown. The event will begin at 8 a.m. with the program starting at 8:30 a.m.
Taylor has worked on major development projects such as LEGOLAND New York, President Container, Newburgh Brewing Co., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and countless others in her roles at the county level in Orange and Putnam counties and as a regional director for the Mid-Hudson Region for Empire State Development that have fostered billions of dollars in investment and tens of thousands of jobs in the Hudson Valley. Under Taylor’s leadership as the Vice President and Regional Director for the Mid-Hudson, the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council secured more than $258 million in state funding to fund 327 projects.
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Passenger and Commercial Operations Continue to Expand at NY Stewart International Airport | |
A palpable sense of positive momentum is now being felt by business and political leaders about the future fortunes and beneficial impacts of New York Stewart International Airport.
After years of fits and starts and setbacks, in a span of a little more than two months, three major announcements concerning passenger and commercial airline growth at New York Stewart International Airport will expand passenger service at the airport and also herald millions of dollars in new investment on the commercial operations at the airport.
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Allegiant Airlines will be providing new service from New York Stewart International Airport to Fort Lauderdale, FL beginning on Nov. 15. | One of the many plans Cornwall has in store for its NY Forward upgrades. | | |
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Have Your Say on Route 17: NYSDOT Seeks Public Input from Orange County Residents and Businesses | |
How to Get Involved!
We need your help, now! NYSDOT is collecting public input on the Route 17 project. It is extremely important that the state hear from residents and businesses in Orange County. There are multiple ways how you can submit comments. NYSDOT will set up information tables at community events over the next year and we encourage you to stop by and fill out a form with your thoughts/ideas. Additionally, you can write to them directly or send them an email. The Coalition has created a one-click form for your convenience: https://elec825.quorum.us/campaign/61409/
Simply click the link and fill out the top of the form, which is followed by a letter of support for adding a third lane on Route 17.
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Former County Legislator, Businessman Who Helped Shape Montgomery’s Future Passes Away at Age 88 | |
Recently, the Town of Montgomery lost a native son and a true political and business icon whose dedication and love for the community helped it grow and prosper.
F. Edward Devitt, who served in municipal and county government and was a successful real estate executive for nearly half a century, passed away on May 1 at the age of 88.
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THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA SPONSOR: | |
Welcoming our New Investors to
"The Orange County Partnership Circle of Success Investor Program"
July 2024
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2024 RENEWED INVESTORS:
"Back in the Circle Where Renewed Investors Thrive"
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LeChase Construction named ENR New York 2024 Contractor of the Year | |
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ENR New York, a key publication covering the regional engineering and construction industry, has named LeChase Construction Services its 2024 New York Contractor of the Year.
The publication is the regional edition of Engineering News-Record, which is regarded as one of the construction industry's most authoritative publications. Each year, ENR New York selects one firm to spotlight based on criteria that include business success, key projects and community engagement across the state.
LeChase, which eclipsed $1 billion in revenue in 2023, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. The firm consistently ranks as upstate New York’s largest contractor and has seven offices across the state, including its New York Metro office in Armonk.
LeChase’s recent and current projects in the region include:
- Renovation and expansion of the Open Door Medical Center in Ossining,
- Office renovations for Westchester County,
- A parking deck for a NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital site off I-287 in White Plains,
- Expansion and renovation of facilities for the Rockefeller Archive Center to process and store records in Sleepy Hollow, Pocantico Hills and Armonk, and
- The replacement of two generators for Verizon switching stations in Greenwich, Connecticut and Ossining.
As Contractor of the Year, LeChase will be profiled in ENR New York’s July issue, and will also be honored at the publication’s Regional Best Projects Awards ceremony this fall.
About LeChase Construction Services, LLC Established in 1944, LeChase prides itself on offering the capabilities of a large firm while maintaining the personalized service of a small firm. Today, the company ranks among the nation’s top contractors – providing general construction and construction management services in a wide range of industries and on projects of all sizes. With a dedicated team of talented professionals striving to deliver excellence, the firm has earned a reputation for quality, safety and integrity. In addition to serving customers from its operations across the East Coast, LeChase can provide resources to meet the unique needs of clients no matter where they are located.
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