Hudson Valley Region, June 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
SunWize Technologies, a solar manufacturer based in Kingston has recently signed a lease for 63,800 square feet of industrial space for a distribution center in the Town of Wallkill. No job numbers were available.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Provident Bank Park, the home of the Rockland Bolders minor league baseball team celebrated its grand-opening on June 16, 2011. An estimated 400 jobs were created during the construction phase of the project. The stadium is hoping to create about 100 more game-day jobs.
Sullivan County
Nothing to report.
Ulster County
Nothing to report.
Westchester County
Acorda Therapeutics, a company that develops and markets therapies for neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries recently announced plans to expand in Westchester County. The company recently signed a 15-year lease to house its corporate headquarters in the Ardsley Park life science campus in Ardsley. Acorda currently employs about 159 people and expect to create another 190 jobs, with an average salary of $120,000 over the next five years.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. announced plans to keep its headquarters in Westchester County. The company will retain its estimated workforce of 460 employees and create 50 new full-time positions at its current facility in Purchase, N.Y. The company received aggressive incentive offers from several other states but choose to stay in New York. Atlas Air will receive up to $442,000 in sales tax exemptions from the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency.
Forever 21, a women's clothing store will expand in White Plains. The store will add 20,000 square feet on the ground floor to its existing 7,000 square feet space at the Galleria Mall. No job numbers were announced.
Kimber Manufacturing, a local gun manufacturer is asking the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency for tax breaks for its $1.7 million expansion at 1120 Saw Mill River Road, which would become the company's third location in Yonkers. The new facility is expected to create 82 new full-time jobs.
The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency recently approved a tax deal for Yonkers Raceway's $40 million expansion. The raceway's expansion includes 66,000 square feet of space, 400 new gaming tables, 350 video lottery terminals and about 100 new permanent jobs.
New Last Month
Dutchess County
Hudson Valley Baylor Corporation will soon begin construction of its new recycling facility in Beacon. When completed by the end of the year, the $17 million project is expected to generate 150 construction jobs and 50 permanent full-time positions.
Orange County
After almost 2 years of negotiations, Coach USA has signed a contract with Orange County to relocate its operations from New Jersey to Tetz Industrial Park in Chester. The bus company will build a 192,000 square-foot office and garage complex, and will employ 225 people.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Nothing to report.
Sullivan County
Concord Associates and Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority have agreed to terms to develop a $600 million Mohegan Sun casino, harness racetrack, and a 258 room resort hotel in the Town of Thompson. The mega complex will be built on the old Concord Hotel site and is expected to create an estimated 1,000 jobs.
Ulster County
Nothing to report.
Westchester County
Life Time Fitness Center Inc. plan to build a fitness and recreation center on Westchester's Platinum Mile Corridor. The company recently applied for approval to build a 209,000 square-foot facility at the former Journal News headquarters in Harrison. The proposed fitness center will be the company's second in New York. Life Time Fitness opened a new center in Syosset, Long Island in January. It is estimated that the new facility will create more than 200 jobs.
Metropolitan Plaza, one of a few multi-million dollar projects that have sprung up in White Plains calls for a mixed-use retail and office space and a 130-room hotel. A 130-space garage will also be built underground. The project is expected be completed in 15 to 18 months.
Westy Self Storage, a 20-year old higher-end self storage company based in Stamford, Connecticut plans to open a 117,000 square-foot facility on Westmoreland Avenue in White Plains. No job numbers were available.
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
Crystal Run Healthcare announced plans to terminate its contract with insurance company Aetna, Inc., effective July 31, 2011. The medical practice, which operates several offices in Orange and Sullivan Counties was unable to reach an agreement with the insurer over payments for services.
Westchester County
Journal News eliminated 47 positions on June 21, 2011 as part of a grand plan by its parent company Gannett Newspapers to reduce its workforce nationwide by 700 people.
New Last Month
Dutchess County
The Hudson River Psychiatric Center will close its doors for good in the fall of 2011. The office of Mental Health announced plans to close the facility as part of the State's budget cutbacks. All of its patients will either be transferred to the Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg or to other local community residences, depending on their needs. No announcements have been made as to the fate of the 375 employees that work at the facility in Poughkeepsie.
Orange County
Nothing to report.
Putnam County
Nothing to report.
Rockland County
Pfizer announced plans to lay off another 119 workers at its Pearl River facility. Pfizer filed a WARN notice with the Labor Department on May 12, 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
Nothing to report.
Westchester County
Nokia, the world's leading manufacturer of mobile phones, will close its U.S. office in White Plains as it carries out a global consolidation and shrinks its workforce by 7,000 employees over the next two years. In the U.S., approximately 500 jobs will be eliminated as the company reduces its research and development activities at its offices in San Diego, CA and White Plains, NY.
Strikes and Labor Disputes
Nothing to report.