Hudson Valley Region, July 2010
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
Array Optronix, a company that specializes in photo detectors used in medicine and home security markets, will set-up shop in the Orange County Business Accelerator at Stewart Airport. It’s estimated that the company will create 25 high-tech, high-paying jobs in its first three years and up to 100 jobs within five years.
Coach USA's plans to relocate the bulk of its commuter bus operations from Mahwah, NJ to the Town of Chester in Orange County, is one step closer to reality. Having been granted approval by the Town of Chester's Planning Board, the company will soon begin construction on the $16 million, 200,000 square-foot facility which will house its administrative offices, as well as its maintenance and repair operations. An estimated 225 people will work at the new location.
After receiving nearly $6 million from businesses and alumni, New York Military Academy will be open for the 2010-2011 school year. The 122-year-old military-style boarding school had earlier in the year announced plans to close after failing to restructure its debt and raise enough money to keep operating.
Quick Chek Food Stores, a New Jersey-based chain of large convenience stores, plan to open a new gas station and convenience store in the Town of Wallkill. The store is scheduled to open at the end of August. No job numbers were available.
Walgreens, the nation's largest pharmacy chain announced plans to open a new store in Montgomery around Christmas and another in New Windsor in the fall of 2011. The retailer is quickly building a strong presence in the mid-hudson region. They opened a store in March in the Town of Newburgh and another in April in Kingston.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Nothing to report.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Kingston Hospital recently received approval from the State Health Department to open a new wing. The new addition will provide an extra 30 beds, while helping with the overflow of patients from the Emergency Department. No job numbers were available.
(Update) New Jersey-based SolarTech Renewables LLC will open a new manufacturing facility at Tech City in Ulster County. The company will create 100 jobs immediately and will likely expand to 300 employees over the next five years. Solartech will receive over $5 million in benefits from the Empire State Development Corp and NYSERDA.
Westchester County
EpiCept Corp., a Tarrytown-based pharmaceutical company is seeking to win approval from the federal government to sell Ceplene in the United States. Ceplene is a drug that is capable of maintaining remission and preventing relapses in people with acute myeloid leukemia. Upon winning approval from the FDA, the company expects to double the size of its workforce to 30, while expanding its manufacturing operations. EpiCept would be looking to fill positions in sales, and manufacturing.
Key Food Marketplace recently celebrated the grand-opening of its store on W. Broad Street in Mount Vernon. No job numbers were available.
San-Mar Laboratories was awarded a $750,000 grant from the Empire State Development Corporation to keep its operations in New York. The company will now expand its manufacturing facilities in Elmsford and increase its workforce by 115 over the next three years.
NEW LAST MONTHDutchess County
Nothing to report.
Orange County
Continental Organics will begin construction later this year on a 90-acre, three-part agricultural business in the Town of New Windsor. The Orange County IDA recently approved the company’s application for property and sales-tax exemptions, as well as a $7 million tax-exempt bond. Within the next five years, Continental Organics will spend $35 million and create 188 construction jobs. By 2015, the company is expected to create 116 permanent jobs, with about 50 percent of those jobs going to veterans.
Takasago International, a fragrance manufacturer, plans to relocate some of its operations from New Jersey to Harriman in Orange County. The company will invest $14 million and create an estimated 100 new jobs within three years.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Nothing to report.
Sullivan County
Catskill Regional Medical Center recently began construction of its new emergency room. The $6 million project which is expected to be completed in about 18 months, will more than double the existing ER space. No job numbers were available.
Ulster County
Nothing to report.
Westchester County
American Christmas Inc. will relocate its headquarters from the Bronx and consolidate its metropolitan operations in Mount Vernon. The company will bring 33 full-time jobs and 80 seasonal positions to Mount Vernon. Two more full-time positions will be created with the move.
Buffalo Wild Wings will soon open a new store on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains at the historic building formerly occupied by Zanaro's. Four M Capital, a Valhalla-based Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee quickly jumped in to take over the coveted location which back in 1925 was occupied by Home Savings Bank. Buffalo Wild Wings expects the store to open in September. No job numbers were available.
Diversified Heat Transfer, Inc. has been offered up to $6 million in financing assistance by the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency to relocate from New York City to a facility formerly occupied by Precision Valve in Yonkers. The company is considering buying or leasing space in Yonkers and expects to employ about 65 people, some of which would be new local hires.
Greater Hudson Bank expanded into Westchester County with the recent opening of a new branch on North Broadway in White Plains. The bank currently operates branches in Orange and Rockland County. No job numbers were available.
Quincy Amusements, Inc. will open its $15 million cinema next year at the Ridgehill shopping center. The 12 screen cinema complex is expected to create 10 permanent full-time workers and 110 part-timers and 75 construction workers.
The Westchester Center for Independent and Assisted Living will build a $24 million, 141 unit complex at the former Jewish Guild for the Aged Blind at 78 Stratton Street South. The project will create an estimated 75 permanent jobs and about 20 construction jobs. A grand opening is scheduled in 2011.Yonkers Honda recently signed a long-term lease to move into a complex formerly occupied by Yonkers Avenue Dodge. The car dealership will relocate its parts and services operation to 500 Yonkers Avenue, and expand its current workforce to 41 employees. The company will invest $3.5 million and employ nine temporary construction workers for renovations and facade improvements.
BUSINESS CONTRACTIONS FOR THE HUDSON VALLEY REGION
NEW THIS MONTHDutchess County
Nothing to report.
Orange County
Liz Claiborne announced plans to close all its outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. The majority of the stores will close in the next few months. The company has an outlet store in the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. No job numbers were available.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Nothing to report.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Nothing to report.
Westchester County
Nothing to report.
NEW LAST MONTHDutchess County
W.W. Smith Humanities Magnet School closed its doors after nearly 100 years in the city of Poughkeepsie. The school board voted to close the school after voters last month rejected a proposed 2010-2011 budget that would have kept the school open but increased the amount to be raised through property taxes by 5 percent. No final job numbers were available.
Orange County
Nothing to report.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Dress Barn, the women’s clothing retailer will relocate its distribution operation from its headquarters in Montebello to another facility that it owns in Columbus, Ohio. The company plans to lay off as many as 50 employees by March 2011. Dress Barn currently employs about 240 people at its Rockland facility.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
The Uptown Cigar Company will join the ranks of long-gone locally owned businesses at the end of June. The store, which has operated in Kingston for 12 years will close shop and relocate to Palm Beach, Florida. No job numbers were available.
Westchesster County
OSI Pharmaceuticals’ plan to move to Westchester County has been stopped in the wake of its purchase by Japanese pharmaceutical giant Astellas Pharma. The company halted construction work on its new Westchester county facility, which resulted in the layoffs of several hundred building trades workers in the area. In mid-June alone, 130 electricians were laid off.
STRIKES AND LABOR DISPUTES
Nothing to report.