Hudson Valley Region, August 2011
Firm Expansions and Contractions
This briefing is intended to provide information on firm-specific hiring and layoff announcements in the Hudson Valley. Information in this report is derived from press releases, newspapers, business journals, newsletters, and other public sources. It does not include all expansions and contractions in the region – only those for which public information has been obtained. An attempt is made to present only current information – events that have recently occurred or will in the near future.
Business Expansions
New this Month
Dutchess County
Mechtronics Corp, a manufacturer of point-of-sale display systems is expanding its facility in Dutchess by adding another 70,000 square feet of space. The expansion will allow the company to bring its Westchester county-based research and development and support staff, all under one roof. In early October, the company will relocate 30 jobs from its headquarters in White Plains to the Beacon facility.
Orange County
Nothing to report.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Nothing to report.
Sullivan County
The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority plans to move forward with its project to develop a Mohegan Sun casino and resort at the old Concord Hotel site in Kiamesha Lake. The company is moving full speed ahead to get financing in place by November. No job numbers were announced.
Ulster County
The Small Luxury Hotels of the World is scheduled to open for business in early October. The hotel will also feature a 500 seat conference center and restaurants. No job numbers were available.
Westchester County
Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville announced plans to build a 40,000 square-foot cancer treatment facility near its Pondfield Road West main entrance. The $24.75 million facility would create an estimated 114 construction jobs. The hospital envisions a 17-month construction period, beginning in January 2012 and ending in June 2013.
Pearlgreen Corp., a wholesale distributer and manufacturer of maintenance and contractor supplies, celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated New Rochelle facility on August 30th. The 111,563-square-foot building was purchased back in November 2009, and underwent a complete rehabilitation which included offices for the employees, and a warehousing and manufacturing space. Although the building has been in use since renovations were completed in 2010, the company held off its grand opening until it transferred its manufacturing operations from Mexico to the new facility. The move relocated 55 employees from NYC to New Rochelle, while also adding another 10 manufacturing jobs from its Mexico operations. The company is also a manufacturer and distributer of safety netting and fall protection systems, and operates a sports netting and batting cage business.
New Last Month
Dutchess County
(Update) Vassar Brothers Medical Center is moving forward with its $66 million expansion. The hospital is adding a four-story medical office building which will become home to a same-day ambulatory surgery center and office suites for physicians. The project's economic impact is estimated at about $145 million, with the expansion creating about 250 permanent jobs and another 300 temporary construction jobs. In addition, a two-story parking deck is planned for the site and it would have 266 parking spaces.
Orange County
Nothing to report.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Nothing to report.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
The owners of the former Hudson Valley Winery property have recently announced plans for a $300 million mixed-use development project on Route 9w in the Town of Lloyd. The project will include a 90 suite hotel and conference center and 50,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. No job numbers were announced.
Westchester County
H Mart, an Asian grocery will occupy the former Pathmark site on North Central Avenue. The store specializes in seafood, meat and produce. The store is scheduled to open in November or December and plans to hire 50 to 75 employees.
Lord & Taylor is undergoing a $1.6 million renovation at its historic landmark Eastchester store. No job numbers were announced.
Pepe Auto Group, a family-owned business with four dealerships in Westchester, plans to open a fifth one in Yonkers. The company plans to completely retrofit the former Reggie Pink Harley-Davidson building for its Infiniti dealership.
Construction recently began on a new Stop & Shop in the Town of Greenburgh. The new supermarket will be part of a shopping center called Premier Plaza. No job numbers were announced.
Construction recently began on a $7.5 million, 450 seat amphitheater on the Hudson River waterfront at Trevor Park in the city of Yonkers. The project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2012 and will create about 82 construction jobs. A grand opening is scheduled for June.
Westchester County has received a $1.1 million grant from the state Labor Department to help local businesses provide summer youth employment to an estimated 400 people. The grant, which is part of the labor department's Summer Job Express Pilot Program will pay the wages of the participants, as well as costs associated with supervising the program.
A South Korean company signed a lease to build a 40,000 square-foot spa called Westchester Renue Spa & Sauna. The facility will feature: massage machines, wading pools, hot baths, saunas, fitness center, lounge and a food court. No job numbers were announced.
(Update) Yonkers Raceway officials held a grand-ceremony on July 26 to formally kick off their $40 million expansion. The 66,000 square-foot project is expected to create 200 temporary construction jobs and 100 permanent jobs at the raceway.
Business Contractions
New this Month
Dutchess County
(Update) After closing its doors earlier this year, SpectraWatt has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to court documents, the company has $38 million in liabilities, including more than $500,000 in claims by unsecured creditors.
Orange County
Nothing to report.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Forty-five thousand unionized Verizon Communications Inc. workers from Massachusetts to Washington D.C. went on strike on August 7, 2011 after negations stalled with the telecommunications company over a new labor contract. About 2,000 workers from the lower Hudson Valley are walking the picket lines demanding a new contract. The striking employees returned to work on August 22 under the terms of the old contract that expired before the strike, while the phone company and the unions (CWA and IBEW) continues to negotiate terms of the new agreement.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Nothing to report.
Westchester County
Nothing to report.
New Last Month
Dutchess County
Nothing to report.
Orange County
Cardinal Health announced plans to lay off 56 people in its facility in Orange County. The affected employees are in the department that manufactures pre-packaged kits for hospitals. Those employees that are being laid off will have the opportunity to apply for other positions within the company.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Pfizer announced plans to lay off another 56 employees at its Pearl River facility in Rockland County. Pfizer filed a WARN notice with the Labor Department on July 19, 2011 in anticipation of its latest round of job cuts. The company has laid off several hundred employees at the Rockland facility since it completed its acquisition of Wyeth Pharmaceutical in October 2009.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Ulster County BOCES has cut 45 positions from its payroll heading into the 2011-2012 school year. It is possible that more layoffs will be announced in September.
Westchester County
(Update) Layoffs have begun at the Nokia facility in White Plains. An estimated 275 people will be laid off when the cell phone sales and service center is closed on December 2012. The layoffs began on June 30 and will continue through the end of next year.
White Plains City Hall laid off 12 employees in early July 2011. Two thirds of the layoffs came from Civil Service Employees and the rest were non-union.
Strikes and Labor Disputes
Forty-five thousand unionized Verizon Communications Inc. workers from Massachusetts to Washington D.C. went on strike on August 7, 2011 after negations stalled with the telecommunications company over a new labor contract. About 2,000 workers from the lower Hudson Valley are walking the picket lines demanding a new contract.
The striking employees returned to work on August 22 under the terms of the old contract that expired before the strike, while the phone company and the unions (CWA and IBEW) continues to negotiate terms of the new agreement.