Today”™s technology may provide instant help-wanted ads, but in the worst economy since the Great Depression, creating and retaining jobs is moving at a snail”™s pace.
Maureen Halahan, president of Orange County Partnership, said her organization chose the county”™s Industrial Development Corp. as its Most Valuable Partner for 2010 “for the innovative and ”˜out of the box”™ ways they have worked to attract and retain jobs in Orange County.”
Halahan, addressing more than 250 business leaders at a breakfast at Anthony”™s Pier Nine June 8, asked the audience what New York state is doing to encourage business to move or stay here. “Nothing,” said Jim Smith, president of Advance Testing.
Halahan pointed to nearly a dozen projects and over 1,100 permanent jobs created, as well as construction jobs in Orange County that resulted in the enhanced PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) programs created by its IDA.
“As we fight our way through this economic downturn, they have come up with ways to attract or retain business. Other states are giving away land to lure business ”“ that will not close a deal in New York,” said Halahan. “The 10-year enhanced PILOT and the 15 year ”˜super”™ PILOT created by the IDA have let businesses know there are incentives here.”
Jim Petro, the IDA chairman since 2006, accepted the award on behalf of the all-volunteer organization and credited IDA attorney Phil Crotty with convincing him that the Orange County Business Accelerator was going to help advance the county”™s business growth.
“It took him six months to sell me on the idea,” said Petro, who worked in real estate development and sat on New Windsor’s planning and zoning boards for nearly two decades, “but he was absolutely right. In just six months, we are going to see it at nearly 90 percent capacity. It is not just a real estate deal. We have a great team that interviews the candidates led by Mike DiTullo, and the goal is to get these startups out there to create high-paying jobs right here in Orange County.”
Petro also stressed the IDA”™s ability to create “any type of PILOT program. We are working with CPV Valley Energy on a 22-year PILOT program ”“ two years for the construction phase and 20 years for the actual business.” CPV Valley Energy is proposing to build a 630 megawatt natural gas/electric powered generator in the town of Wawayanda.
CPV, which offered an overview of the project prior to Halahan”™s comments, hopes to break ground on the $800 million power plant by 2011. “We have Wawayanda ‘s supervisor in the room,” said Petro, pointing to John Razzano. “Let him know you like this project.” Applause erupted from the audience.
“When you”™re chairman and you do something right, you get the credit,” said Petro. “When you”™re the chairman and you do something wrong, you get the credit,” referencing an idea floated to have a custom-built Orange County chopper for the IDA, an idea that was short-lived and shot down within a matter of days. (A picture of Petro superimposed on a motorcycle with the IDA logo emblazoned on the gas tank was flashed on the screen.) “If you have a coffee cup in front of you, you”™re going to win a motorcycle when you leave this room,” laughed Petro.
Then it was back to reality. “Seriously,” said Petro, “I am working with a terrific group of dedicated people. As Maureen said, many of us are thinking about retirement. We”™d like to have an economy that is going to make it possible for the next generation, our children included, to have a job and raise a family here in Orange County.”
