Hudson Valley Region, January 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 - Nothing to report.
Orange County
Takasago International Corporation recently purchased the former Manhattan Beer Distributors building in Harriman and plan to use it for its manufacturing and warehousing operations. The $13.5 million investment over five years will translate into 75 jobs initially and 100 more jobs in the near future.
Putnam County - Nothing to report.
Rockland County
After an expensive facelift at nearly $15 million, the former Holiday Inn in Suffern will reopen as The Crowne Plaza. No job numbers were available.
Sullivan County - Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Romeo Buick GMC has purchased the local Chevrolet franchise and is expanding on Ulster Avenue in Lake Katrine. The new dealership will have a Buick GMC showroom and a complete Chevrolet dealership with service, parts, accessories and a business office.
Westchester County
Dannon, the yogurt giant, plan to relocate their Research and Development department from Texas to White Plains. The company will hire 50 to 60 new employees for positions in R&D, sales and finance.
Dick's Sporting Goods will open a 55,000 square-foot store in White Plains. The new store is scheduled to open sometime in April 2011.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center, a renowned New York City cancer hospital is seeking permission from the State Department of Health to build a free-standing outpatient center in Harrison. If the state approved the project, construction would begin in spring 2012 and the center would open in early 2015. Initially, 140 people, including physicians, would work at the hospital.
Raymour & Flanigan Furniture plans to open a 58,000 square-foot store in Westchester County. The store is scheduled to open at the former Fortunoff location in White Plains. No job numbers were available.
New Last Month
Dutchess County - Nothing to report.
Orange County
(Update) Taylor Biomass was recently granted permission to start building its biomass gasification plant which will convert trash to electricity in the town of Montgomery. With the help of Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Maurice Hinchey, the company was able to secure a $100 million federal loan guarantee for the project. The new plant is expected to create 400 construction jobs and 80 full-time positions once the plant is in operation.
Putnam County - Nothing to report.
Rockland County - Nothing to report.
Sullivan County - Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union will build a 2,800 square-foot office in Port Ewen. They received tax breaks from the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency for the construction of the new facility. No final job numbers were available.
Westchester County
Intercos America Inc., a manufacturer of cosmetics for brand name labels, will relocate and expand its operation to a new facility in West Nyack. The company currently employs an estimated 200 employees at its Congers facility and expects to hire an additional 40 workers when the new facility opens in June 2011.
Lord & Taylor plans to open a new store in Yonkers. The 80,000 square-foot store will be part of the Ridge Hill outdoor shopping center currently under construction. A typical Lord & Taylor store employs 200 to 400. The new store is expected to open by 2012.
Nevaeh Cuisine, a health-conscious eatery celebrated its grand-opening in early December in Pleasantville. The restaurant is a 100 percent peanut-free establishment and it offers seating for 12 indoors and 25 outdoors. No job numbers are available.
Sabra Dipping, America's top selling hummus company plans to relocate from Astoria, Queens to White Plains. The company plans to settle in a 30,000 square-foot facility on Westchester Avenue. Sabra plans to move 33 jobs from its Astoria location to the White Plains office and create 32 additional jobs over the next four years.
Business Contractions
New this Month
Dutchess County - Nothing to report.
Orange County - Nothing to report.
Putnam County - Nothing to report.
Rockland County - Nothing to report.
Sullivan County - Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Dyno Nobel, a manufacturer of explosives will reduced its workforce at the Port Ewen plant by about 40 employees, with 29 of those layoffs coming in mid-February.
Precision Flow, a company that makes equipment for the solar and other high-tech industries will reduce its workforce by 50 people.
Westchester County
St. Anthony of Padua is one of nine local catholic schools that the Archdiocese of New York will close in June 2011 because of funding issues. The Archdiocese will close eight schools in Westchester County and one in Putnam. The local schools that will close at the end of the school year are: Christ the King, St. Mary's, St. Bartholomew all in Yonkers; St. Anthony of Padua in West Harrison; St. Joseph in Croton Falls; Sacred Heart School for the Arts, and Sts. Peter and Paul in Mount Vernon; St. John the Evangelist in Mahopac. No job numbers were announced.
New Last Month
Dutchess County
Less than eight months after it opened its doors, SpectraWatt, a solar cell manufacturer announced plans to close its operation in Dutchess County. Due to a reduction in demand for its product, the company will be laying off 117 employees beginning March 2011 and close the plant by April 4th.
Orange County
MTM Pharmacy Services-CCRx, a company that provides pharmacy services to skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities in 47 states and Canada will close its operation in Poughkeepsie and layoff 48 on March 11, 2011.
Orange County lost out to West Virginia in its bid for a Macy’s distribution center. The company opted for West Virginia because of a better incentives package. The distribution center would have created 1,200 jobs in the region.
Putnam County - Nothing to report.
Rockland County - Nothing to report.
Sullivan County - Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Northeast Solite Corp., which produces lightweight aggregates for concrete materials and other uses, has drastically reduced its workforce since the beginning of 2010. The company started the year with 35 employees and after some layoffs, its workforce has been reduced to eight.
Westchester County - Nothing to report.
Strikes and Labor Disputes
Nothing to report.