The Orange County Business Accelerator in New Windsor has a new name ”” The Accelerator.
Orange County Industrial Development Agency officials said the name change reflects the state-certified accelerator”™s new focus and expanded marketing to reach all seven counties in the Hudson Valley region.
Financially supported by the county IDA, the facility at Stewart International Airport is focused on bringing back manufacturing to the mid-Hudson Valley. It works to attract entrepreneurs looking to expand their business ventures in fashion design and production, bottling, artisan manufacturing and artisan foods. The accelerator offers below-market occupancy costs for small companies, workforce training, mentoring programs, access to manufacturing equipment and experienced professionals, and a high-tech, plug-and-play environment.
Laurie Villasuso, associate executive director of the Orange County IDA, said the new name “better reflects the new dimension of this organization, which will foster job creation and economic growth in the manufacturing sector. There is a tremendous opportunity to bring manufacturing back to the Hudson Valley ”” due to its prime location just outside of New York City ”” and we”™re very excited about this new initiative.”
Villasuso said The Accelerator has welcomed its first client, Unshattered, an organization that makes handbags out of used clothing. It is the social enterprise arm of the Walter Hoving Home, a residential rehabilitation center in Garrison for women dealing with drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution and other problems.
Unshattered will hire women full time in New Windsor after they complete their program at the Walter Hoving Home, which receives all sale proceeds from the handbag business.
