Ron Hicks wore a huge cowboy belt to signify his willingness to work with the Rockland Business Association. It was his way of letting association President and CEO Al Samuels (a Western-wear aficionado) know he was ready to work with the business group.
Hicks addressed 100 business people at the Holiday Inn in Suffern June 21.
Hicks, once Hudson Valley regional director for the New York State Empire Development Corp., left in 2005 and headed for Fort Lauderdale, Fla. While there, he helped that city put together a business-improvement district as its new economic development director.
The change of scenery worked out well for Hicks, who was ready for a change as the Pataki administration wound down. Holly Friedman was vacating at the Rockland Economic Development Corp. (REDC) and Hicks came back to apply.
The Hyde Park native is no stranger to the region or to Rockland, previously working with the county to establish an Empire Zone before leaving his state development position. Now, as president and CEO of the REDC and will also head Rockland”™s Industrial Development Agency, Hicks said he may be new to the REDC, but he is a strong supporter of Rockland”™s recently established Empire Zone.
The Rockland Business Association”™s Samuels, welcomed Hicks while taking aim at Westchester”™s Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. Brodsky is calling for a six-month moratorium on approval of any new Empire Zone programs.
Samuels told the assembled that since the Empire Zone came to Rockland in 2006, the county has attracted and retained five businesses and created 280 new jobs through the program. The most recent addition is the Schreiner Group, a German pharmaceutical manufacturer, scheduled to open in Blauvelt”™s Bradley Corporate Park next year. “That means another 70 to 80 jobs coming to our county,” said Samuels. One major reason Schreiner chose Rockland, said Samuels, was its Empire Zone designation.Â
Hicks agreed with Samuels, saying the Empire Zone was a needed tool for Rockland, which is competing with bordering northern New Jersey for both jobs and companies.
Just four days into his new position, Hicks acknowledged he has a lot to learn and needs to sit down with his board of directors before mapping an agenda for the agency. One thing is clear, however: While there may have been friction between the Rockland business association and the Rockland development corporation in the past, that”™s going to change for the more-commodious now that Hicks is on board.
“I”™m pleased to work with Al (Samuels) and the RBA,” Hicks told the group. That”™s when he unbuttoned his jacket and proudly displayed his western-style belt buckle, which drew laughs from the audience, as a nod to Samuels”™ love of Western apparel. “We are going to work together as a team to bring business to Rockland,” Hicks said confidently. Hicks and Samuels pledged to keep close tabs on the Tappan Zee Bridge project and expansion of the 287 corridor in Westchester, which directly affects Rockland. ?In addition to the Empire Zone, Samuels also encouraged Hicks and association members to reach out to Les Neumann, founder of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation in Kingston, who is working to create an “international landing zone” incubator in Rockland County. “We need to attract more quality businesses to Rockland. Neumann”™s program is one way to do it,” said Samuels.
Samuels also predicted the business association membership would hit the 1,000 mark by September. After the luncheon was over, Samuels blasted Brodsky for his moratorium bid on the Empire Zones. “Yes, we had problems and there were some outright abuses going on in some parts of the state, but that”™s been cleared up and has been for some time,” said Samuels. “We need new companies to come in. It was a major attraction to Schreiner.” Schreiner”™s acceptance into the Empire Zone will be contingent on state approval. If all goes according to plan, the pharmaceutical label will be a feather in Rockland”™s economic cap by early 2008.
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