Empire State Development has Stewart on its radar

Stewart International Airport is essential to the mid-Hudson Valley region”™s economic growth, Aimee Vargas told the Stewart Airport Commission at its May meeting.

Vargas, appointed mid-Hudson regional director for Empire State Development Corp. in July 2011, spoke at length to SAC members of the airport”™s vital role as a linchpin in growing the region”™s overall economy. “The way ESD operates has totally changed under Governor (Andrew) Cuomo. Along with the formation of the 10 regional economic councils, we have the heads of nearly every state agency sitting at the table with us; it has been a tremendous game changer. We no longer have to try to seek out funding sources, they are right there with us.

“When you have economies as diverse as we have in the counties that make up our region ”“ Sullivan and Westchester are a perfect example ”“ the key is to keep the focus on job creation, both immediate and long term,” Vargas said.

Two major roadblocks for economic growth, she said, are the inability to access capital and impediments to current infrastructure ”“ particularly water, sewer and broadband ”“ needed to attract new business. Through the consolidated funding application process, municipalities, nonprofits and for-profit businesses can submit requests for funding for projects. The second round of funding is currently under way with a July 16 deadline.

A one-page outline of a project considered a priority should be submitted for discussion to the council. “The idea is tweaked to see if it is a regionally significant project,” she said.

Jim Petro, chairman of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, spoke on behalf of the town of New Windsor. It recently took back 140 acres originally leased to First Columbia to develop. “We have at least 10 old Army barracks that need to come down and the property”™s overall appearance is disheartening, to say the least. Is there any way to get funding to have this property spruced up to make it more attractive to site selectors?” Vargas told Petro to get the town”™s application in for consideration before the July 16 deadline.

Each county has its own challenges, Vargas said. “For example, Rockland”™s biggest threat is being right on the border of New Jersey. Our regional council focuses on the unique challenges in each of our member counties and is working to create incentives that will help them meet their individual goals. In turn, we will meet our region”™s goals: job creation and retention.”

The Mid-Hudson Economic Development Council ”“ Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties ”“ is co- chaired by Dennis Murray, president of Marist College in Poughkeepsie and Leonard Schleifer, president/CEO of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Tarrytown.

The next consolidated funding application workshop will be held at Marist June 25. For more information on the process, visit regionalcouncils.ny.gov.