For the geographically smallest county in the state, Rockland has done its best to keep existing businesses from crossing the state line to New Jersey and is proactively seeking new business to come into its borders.
Ron Hicks, who took over the county”™s economic development corporation as its president and CEO in 2008, said the county will benefit under the Excelsior program that New York created after the Empire Zone program expired on June 30.
“When I first heard about the program, I was on the fence,” said Hicks. “Now that I”™ve seen the details, it creates more accountability. I”™m pleased ESD chief Dennis Mullen indicated the Legislature agrees if we need more funding to attract more companies, they will work with us. One of the biggest criticisms of the program was that it was capped.”
While Hicks is not happy about the property tax credits proposed under Excelsior, he”™s confident Mullen “understands what we need, and I think he will help us out quite a bit. We need to shift the focus to companies who will truly provide good-paying jobs. I think Mullen has given us more time and has more experience than anyone I”™ve dealt with in the ESDC since 1995.”
Hicks, also president of Rockland”™s Industrial Development Corp., said the county”™s own incentive package hasn”™t changed. “We provide opportunities for PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) programs, give state and local tax exemptions and work with manufacturers do to bond financing,” he said. “I imagine we”™ll be doing more in conjunction with the Excelsior program.
“I”™ve always believed state shouldn”™t bear 100 percent of cost,” said Hicks. “The greatest benefit goes to the locality where the business moves ”“ if the community believes in the project, everyone should pitch in for its success. We don”™t mandate taxing jurisdictions to accept PILOT programs; we have a wonderful relationship with local municipalities and school districts, incredibly understanding and cooperative. The result is we have made the municipalities true partners when it comes to attracting new business or helping existing business expand.”
Hicks is waiting for Pfizer to finalize the status of its marketing plan for its Pearl River site. “Cushman and Wakefield is going to represent them; we”™ve had a number of leads,” said Hicks. “One of the problems we”™ve run into is the infrastructure on the campus. That”™s an issue Cushman & Wakefield will deal with. Then we will have a clear idea of what we”™re working with.”
Despite the loss of Pfizer”™s manufacturing component, Rockland”™s IDA has been busy: Hunter Douglas will be moving into the Blue Hill office complex in Pearl River; Empire Executive Inn is buying and refurbishing the Holiday Inn in Montebello; and ADH Health Plan will expand its manufacturing facility in Congers.
Rockland companies placed in the Empire Zone program before it sunsetted include Tri-Seal Holdings (a gasket and seal manufacturer) and Vits America Inc. (an engineering company focused on printing among other arenas), both in Blauvelt”™s Bradley Corporate Park; and Intercos America, a cosmetic manufacturer, planning to grow its Congers operations, creating new jobs and making a significant facility investment.
