REDC Annual Report_06 (Page 1) - Rockland Economic ...

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT4ATTRACTION, RETENTION & EXPANSIONANKA Tool & Die, Inc. expanded its existing Congersfacility, totaling 18,000 square feet of space. The expansiongenerated an estimated $37,000 in annual propertytaxes, retained its 35 employees with plans to add threenew jobs over a three-year period. Over the past 36years, ANKA has established itself globally as a producerof high quality tooling products and services.Dominican College's Granito Center (forefront) and Prusmack Center(background).With continued assistance of the County of RocklandIndustrial Development Agency (IDA), Dominican Collegefinanced its 2006 expansion project with tax-exemptbonds. To date, Dominican has financed three projectswith the IDA as it continues to accommodate its highereducation needs and expansion of new and existingfacilities. Located in Orangeburg, it's an independent,four-year and master's-level liberal arts college currentlyserving 1,800 full- and part-time students. It currentlyemploys 350 people.Hunter Douglas Inc. announced that it will relocateits North American headquarters to Pearl River fromBergen County, New Jersey. It plans to construct a 60,000An aerial view of the future home of Hunter Douglas in Pearl River.square-foot facility on 23 acres of undeveloped land by2009. The maker of custom window coverings, it's a divisionof Hunter Douglas NV, based in the Netherlands. Itcurrently has 115 employees.S&A Industries, located in the Garnerville Arts &Industrial Center, is Rockland's first company to be certifiedto receive Empire Zone benefits. Founded in 1999,in Queens, New York, and relocated to Rockland Countyin 2002, S&A operates www.karatedepot.com andwww.magsdirect.com, with its principal activities beingwarehousing, shipping and customer service. With itsZone certification, S&A will be hiring 16 new employeesover a five-year period and investing more than$100,000 to expand its Garnerville-based operations.With REDC's assistance, Times Square Lighting (TSL),a family owned and operated business located in StonyPoint, NY, was approved for a $65,000 grant from EmpireState Development Corp. to help offset the purchase ofnew machinery and equipment. TSL has been a leadingmanufacturer of theatrical lighting and accessories forover 70 years. Currently, it has 31 employees.In 2006, TSL received an Economic Development Award. Pictured are (1 tor) William F. Helmer, REDC Chair, Robert Riccardelli, President, TSL andHon. C. Scott Vanderhoef, Rockland County Executive.Facilitated by REDC, Zagwear, an Orangeburg-baseddistributor of promotional items, was approved for a$60,000 grant from Empire State Development Corp.The grant will be used for improvements to its facility, aswell as for computer upgrades and additional equipmentmaking it possible to add employees to its current staff of20. Zagwear, which also received benefits through the IDAwhen it relocated to Rockland in 2002, is a beneficiary ofREDC's aggressive account management program.Photos by Bob Vergara, APS.

EMPIRE ZONE PROGRAMIn July, Rockland County received its long awaitedEmpire Zone designation, following its initial applicationin 2002. In 2005, the Rockland County Empire ZoneCommittee, including representatives from REDC, theCounty Executive's Office, Rockland County PlanningDepartment, the County Legislature, Rockland BusinessAssociation, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., andconsultant, Camoin Associates, Inc., worked arduously tocomplete the voluminous application resulting in the July2006 announcement.In Rockland County, REDC administers the Program inpartnership with Empire State Development (ESD), NewYork State's economic development agency, and theState Departments of Labor and Taxation and Finance.Zone AdministrationThe proposed structure for the administration of theRockland County Empire Zone was established inCounty of Rockland Local Law No. 11 of 2005, adoptedSeptember 7, 2005 by the Rockland County Legislature.• Zone Administrative Entity: Rockland EconomicDevelopment Corporation (REDC)• Zone Coordinator: Steve Porath, Director,Economic Development, REDC• Technical Advisor: Michael N'dolo, AssociatePrincipal, Camoin Associates, Inc.• Zone Certification Officer: H. Chris Kopf, RocklandCounty Commissioner of Finance• Zone Administrative Board (ZAB)The ZAB is an 11-member board appointed by theRockland County Executive and approved by theRockland County Legislature.To view the Rockland County Empire Zone maps, go to www.redc.org,click on Empire Zone Program.ZAB Members (Appointed October 16, 2006)• Chair, Hon. C. Scott Vanderhoef, Rockland County Executive• Hon. Harriet D. Cornell, Chair, Rockland County Legislature• Nelson Weinstein, DHS (Local Business Representative)• McCalvin Freeman, Innovative Plastics (Zone Resident)• John Maraia Jr., IBEW Local Union #363 (Organized Labor Representative)• Eric Tommasi, M&T Bank (Financial Institution Representative)• Paul Trader, Rockland Cornell Cooperative Extension (Community Group Representative)• Stephanie Gouss, Rockland BOCES (Educational Institution Representative)• Vice Chair, Doug Brusa, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (At-Large Member)• Secretary, Dorothy Filoramo, Dominican College (At-Large Member)• Paul Mapelli, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (At-Large Member)7

MARKETING - EVENTSTOP EMPLOYERS LUNCHEONIn May, REDC hosted an outreach luncheon meetingfor Rockland County's Top Employers, with the CountyExecutive, representatives from Empire StateDevelopment Corp. and Orange and Rockland Utilities,Inc., REDC's Executive Committee, and guest speaker,Ramesh Mehta, New York Division Director, NYSThruway Authority. The luncheon provided the opportunityfor company leaders to discuss Rockland's businessclimate and to learn how to access Rockland County andNew York State's cost-saving programs and services.(l to r) Walter Czachorowski, Helen Hayes Hospital, James B. Tully, C.B.Richard Ellis, Inc., and Peter Alexandro, Wyeth.ROCKLAND COMMUNITY BUSINESS WEEKWith its business partners, REDC hosted a week long event throughout Rockland County to promote the many resourcesavailable to the business community. Held July 24-28, the effort underscored the importance of Rockland's small businesssector to the health of the local economy.Attendees discuss financing assistance and business incentives with (left) Peter Gordy, Rockland County SCORE, (center) Jerry Kobre, New York State Small BusinessDevelopment Center, and (right) John King, New York Business Development Corporation.FORTY UNDER 40 PROGRAMIn September, more than 200 people gathered forthe 5th Annual Forty Under 40 Program - to recognizethe forty Rocklanders under the age of 40,who are making a positive impact on the Rocklandcommunity. Held at The Nyack Seaport, TheJournal News sponsors the Program.Sr. Mary Eileen O'Brien, President,Dominican College andForty Under 40 Co-chair.(l to r) 2006 recipient, Kevin Doherty, andDr. Cliff Wood, President, SUNY RCC andForty Under 40 Co-chair.8

CONNECTIONS 2006In November, REDC hosted its 12th annual economicdevelopment conference and awards luncheon,Connections 2006, “A Rockland County SmallBusiness Summit.” Chaired by Steve Dormer, ExecutiveVice President, Assistant to the Office of the President,Strategic Planning & Commercial Lending Office,Provident Bank, the event provided insight and debateon the current state of Rockland County's small businesscommunity and entrepreneurial development. ProvidentBank sponsored the attendance of students and facultyfrom local area high schools and colleges.Held at the IBM Palisades Executive Conference Center,the morning program featured keynote speaker MarcGoloven, followed by panel discussions focused on smallbusiness, entrepreneurship, financing, energy costsavingsand cost-effective technologies for small businesses,moderated by Steve Dormer and Steve Porath,Director, Economic Development, REDC, respectively.Panelists included:• Cedric A. Carter, Assistant Vice President, New YorkBusiness Development Corporation• Tanya Ehrlich and Michelle Violetto, Founders ofLittle Scoops• Michael Garvey, Founder/Chairman of LicenseMonitor Inc.• Phyllis Levine, Manager of Marketing andAdministration, Hudson Valley TechnologyDevelopment Center• Joseph Littmann, Jr., Manager, New York CityRegional Office, New York State Energy & ResearchDevelopment Authority• Patrick J. MacKrell, President and CEO, New YorkBusiness Development CorporationAt lunch, special guest speakers Jeff Marks, Partner &Managing Director, Westchester Business Accelerator(WBA) and Jeffrey Zink, Partner & Managing Director,WBA, discussed commercialization and funding advisementfor early stage companies.The Awards luncheon recognized those who havedemonstrated a commitment and substantially enhancedthe local business climate.2006 AWARD RECIPIENTS• The Flynn Group LLC• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory• Rockland Bakery• Tappan Wire & Cable, Inc.• Times Square Lighting CompanySteve Dormer, Connections 2006 Chair2006 Certificates of Recognition were given to:• ANKA Tool & Die, Inc.• Bel-Bee Products, Inc.• Iron Horse Antiques & Restorations, Inc.• Sentry Industries, Inc.• Signature Accessories, IncDuring the day, the “Research in Rockland” showcasefeatured some of Rockland County's innovators exhibitingtheir newest developments to the more than 200attendees.William Schmeelk (r), President of WellingtonEnterprises, showcases his magic switchboard at“Research in Rockland.” Wellington's productsare developed, engineered and constructed inGarnerville, NY.9

REACHING OUTSTRATEGIC ALLIANCES• County of Rockland IDA• Department of Defense• Dominican College• Empire State Development Corp.• Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc.• Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation• Hudson Valley Municipal Purchasing Group• Hudson Valley Technology Development Center• The Journal News• MetroPool• New York Business Development Corporation• New York State Department of Labor• New York State Energy Research &Development Authority• New York State Small Business Development Center• Orange County• Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.• Provident Bank• Rockland BOCES• Rockland Business Women's Network• Rockland County Department of Planningand Public Transportation• Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority• Rockland SCORE• Tomorrow's Workplace• Westchester CountyFINANCIALSRockland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) is a contract agency of the County of Rockland. Programs andservices are made possible with financial support from the County of Rockland, the U.S. Department of Defense, corporategrants and private sector contributions. A detailed statement of REDC's financial position as of December 31, 2006along with related statements detailing activities changes in net assets and cash flows was prepared and audited by Korn,Rosenbaum, Phillips & Jauntig LLP. A copy may be obtained by contacting REDC.RevenuesEarned Income 16%General OperatingSupport 7%DonatedServices 2%Grants 3%Rockland County44%Business Development*34%ExpensesAdministration*12%Loan Program 4%US DoD 14%DoD Match 14%PTAC 28%Marketing 22%* Includes attraction, retention and expansion.11

One Blue Hill PlazaP.O. Box 1575Pearl River, NY 10965-1575Bulk RateU.S. PostagePAIDMAILWAYPermit No. 70Monsey, NY 10952Looking Ahead . . .• Haverstraw Business Day• Top Employers Luncheon• Rockland Community Business Week• College Directory - 7th Edition• Stakeholders Meeting• 6th Annual Forty Under 40 Program• Connections 2007Design: Annie Lombardi, Universal Marketing845.735.7040 tel 845.735.5736 fax e-mail: info@redc.org www.redc.orgCover Photo: Richard Wantula/John Vallencourt, Wyeth