The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors staged its “Orange County Day” earlier this month that included updates by key economic development and tourism officials on new projects and initiatives that will foster economic growth now, and in the years ahead.
Participants at HGAR’s Economic Development Panel staged at the Salisbury Mills Fire House on Oct. 11 were: Steven Gross, Economic Development Director for Orange County; Amanda Dana, Director of Tourism and Film; and Conor Eckert, Development Officer and Vice President of Business Attraction for The Orange County Partnership.
Gross related that one of the issues facing economic development and tourism in Orange County is the lack of conference center space. He said that the Neuhaus Administration believes that the county is uniquely positioned to provide conference center space to the hundreds of associations and business groups outside of New York City.
He revealed that the county is awaiting a final report from a Chicago-based consultant on the feasibility of developing a conference center in Orange County. The study was financed from a $55,000 grant from New York State, according to a Mid Hudson News report.
“We already know so I will give you a head’s up, Orange County is in a prime position for a conference center,” Gross said. “We have the geographic location and we have the demographics to support it. Not only one, but possible two facilities.”
He later stated that the consultant plans to discuss the feasibility of locating a multi-use high end conference center/retreat development in Orange County.
Dana noted that visitation in Orange County is outpacing hotel growth. “On the weekends from May to November it is tremendously difficult to get a hotel room in Orange County,” she said.
The feasibility study will also delve into whether there is a need for a conference center that can host business meetings, graduation ceremonies, sporting events and concerts.
Another possibility is a high-end hotel/conference center/retreat facility.
She related that the county is currently assisting with an unnamed prospect that is ‘very interested” in locating a facility in the county that would feature 250 hotel rooms, conference center space, breakout rooms and other lodging options.
Eckert of the Orange County Partnership noted that the organization continues to pursue its high-growth sectors in the Life Science/Pharmaceutical Distribution, Advanced Technology-Semiconductor and Clean Energy industries.
At present, the Orange County Partnership has been working on more than 54 project requests so far in 2023, involving approximately three million square feet of space.
While noting several recent project victories, including the multi-phased $30-million expansion of plastic manufacturing firm Poly Craft Industries that will eventually involve the relocation of the company’s current corporate headquarters in Hauppauge, NY to its new complex on Industrial Place in the City of Middletown, Royal Wine Corp.’s 700,000-square-foot manufacturing development project in Goshen and Tesla Corp.’s relocation to 927,000-square feet of space in the Town of Newburgh. The facility with approximately 300 employees will be the company’s Northeast distribution hub for car parts, Eckert noted.
In the pipeline as possible new transactions include a 200,000-square-foot plastics manufacturing firm out of New Jersey that would add 200 high-paying jobs to the county and a 300,000-square-foot construction materials assembly and distribution company also from New Jersey. Eckert said the latter requirement would be occupying an existing speculative building and the deal could be finalized and announced before December of this year.
He concluded that there is also a large car electric battery manufacturing firm looking for a large development site in the county. If the prospect does choose Orange County, it could add approximately 300 jobs to the county’s workforce.
“Orange County is becoming a power house in the Northeast in the manufacturing and distribution sector,” Eckert said.
