2023 42nd Edition: June 19 - June 23 | |
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Construction and Development in the New
Clean Energy Economy
We’re in the midst of a transformational shift in our economy. The reshoring and nearshoring of manufacturing is being experienced across the nation. As we prepare for manufacturing growth, the demand for power has significantly increased. That is precisely why the topic of our upcoming July 12th Alliance for Balanced Growth (ABG) meeting is titled “Construction and Development in the New Clean Energy Economy.” As we work to grow our economy, power and grid reliability are paramount. At the same time, the development community must be cognizant of the state and federal clean energy regulatory environment and the opportunities and challenges that come with it. Our upcoming ABG meeting will feature expert panelists from the utility, clean energy construction, and regulatory fields.
Our economy is changing – with that change comes opportunities. Power and clean energy are at the center of this change. For us to truly seize the opportunity, we must address the shift in energy demand head-on.
Energy affects each and every one of us, that’s why we strongly encourage you to join us on Wednesday, July 12th at 5:00 PM at the Country Club at Otterkill. Please RSVP to Cassie Garcia, 84.294.2323 or email: cassie@ocpartnership.org.
We hope to see you there!
My very best,
Maureen Halahan
President & CEO
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Nick Fitzpatrick, President of Aden Landholdings honored as 2023 Most Valuable Partner | |
Orange County Partnership Honors Nick Fitzpatrick | |
Approximately 350 business executives, county and municipal officials gathered on June 6 at the Barn at Villa Venezia in The Town of Wallkill to honor local farmer and entrepreneur Nick Fitzpatrick, the Orange County Partnership’s 2023 Most Valuable Partner award recipient, whose influence on the county’s economy was valued by Partnership officials in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Fitzpatrick, President of Aden Land Holdings of Montgomery, NY, leads the multifaceted family-run enterprise that includes Aden Brook (Farm), Aden Land Holdings, Aden Aggregates and the fast-growing Aden Logistics.
Maureen Halahan, President and CEO of The Orange County Partnership, said Fitzpatrick’s contributions to the county’s economy made his selection a unanimous choice by the Partnership’s Board of Directors.
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NYSDOT Previews Major Route 17 Exit Project; Updates on Possible Third Lane Expansion Effort | |
Officials with the New York State Department of Transportation held a public hearing at the Wallkill Town Hall on June 1 to update the public on its re-evaluation of planned improvements to Exit 122 on Route 17. They also provided an update on the environmental review of the possible expansion of sections of the roadway with a third lane in each direction from Harriman to Monticello.
The takeaway from their presentation is that there will be considerable project work beginning early next year at Exit 122 of Route 17 and on sections of the highway in late 2025 or early 2026 and for years thereafter, perhaps as far out as 2029 or 2030, as NYSDOT follows through on a $1-billion commitment for Route 17 improvements first announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in April 2022. The total value of the projects outlined by NYSDOT officials at Exit 122 and on three major projects to be let in 2026 approach that $1-billion figure.
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From left, Mark Tiano, PE, NYSDOT Regional Design Engineer, and Mark Kruk, PE, NYSDOT Project Manager | A map of the proposed improvements at Exit 122 (Crystal Run Road) on Route 17 in Orange County. | | |
Renderings for the new design of the Newburgh Mall | |
Reimagining the Newburgh Mall | |
Changes are underway at the Newburgh Mall to complement the recent opening of Resorts World Hudson Valley (RWHV), New York’s newest casino. After breaking ground in the Summer of 2021, the casino opened their doors to the public in December 2022. The casino grand opening was a tremendous success with visitors waiting in line from the casino doors all the way to the other end of the mall. The 90,000 sq ft state-of-the-art gaming facility is equipped with 1,200 machines and the lively Resorts World BET Sports Bar. With the casino as an anchor, the mall is now ripe for food, beverage, and entertainment venues that will benefit from the new foot traffic.
With two million visitors projected to pass through Resorts World Hudson Valley’s doors annually, the shopping center has seen a substantial uptick in traffic. Local residents have already commented on the bustling parking lot as they drive by. With the increase of local, regional and national tourism, the mall ownership is shifting some of its focus toward creating an authentic Hudson Valley destination by designating an area of the property for artisan shops where local craftsman can build and sell their products. A redesign of the interior and exterior of the property is in the works as well.
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Storm King Art Center Improvement Project Secures $11 Million in State Funding | |
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced significant new state funding for the campus-wide improvement project at Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre outdoor museum in New Windsor that includes a $7.5-million New York State Council of the Arts Large Capital Improvement Grants recipient.
The governor, at the groundbreaking ceremony on June 6, reported that in addition to NYSCA's support, Empire State Development has awarded more than $3 million in funding to Storm King Art Center in the form of a $2-million capital grant and a $1.2-million Market New York grant based on the recommendation of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. NYSERDA has also contributed $600,000 to the project, bringing New York State's total support for the Storm King Art Center facility to more than $11 million.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the groundbreaking ceremony on June 6 at the 500-acre property in New Windsor. | Gov. Hochul, was joined by Storm King Art Center and other public officials in turning the first dirt at the $45-million expansion project. | | |
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Logistics Giant Prologis Predicts Industrial Rents Will Increase | |
Prologis, a global leader in logistics, believes that in the coming months industrial rents will increase and vacancy rates will rise in the short term, before falling once again in 2024.
The company recently released its Industrial Business Indicator activity index which bounced back in April. The index averaged 59.7 in the first quarter of 2023, but readings in the last two months of the quarter coincided with broader market volatility and revealed resilience. In March, the index fell to its lowest level in 30 months alongside bank failure-fueled financial market volatility and overall economic uncertainty. The April reading increased to 56.2, a normal expansionary reading for activity, according to Prologis.
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Over 50 Innovative STEM Projects Win O&R Grants Totaling About $50,000; Awards Support Studies in Rockland, Orange, Bergen, Passaic and Sussex | |
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Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) has awarded grants totaling approximately $50,000 to support over 50 creative, cutting-edge classroom projects that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
O&R’s STEM Classroom Grants were awarded to proposals from Orange, Rockland, Sussex, Passaic, and Bergen counties, all located within O&R’s service area. O&R operates in New Jersey under its affiliate name Rockland Electric Company.
To see the STEM grants in action, please click here.
Talented, hard-working, thoughtful teachers have crafted ambitious, interesting, ingenious, sparkling lesson plans that dazzle. These dynamic proposals are designed to challenge students to think, plan, act and achieve --- and have fun doing it.
O&R President and CEO Robert Sanchez said, “O&R is proud to support our teachers and students with STEM grants that can help to create future leaders in science, technology, engineering and math.”
Over the past nine years, O&R has awarded 365 STEM Classroom Grants totaling over $341,000. Those grants ranged from $185 to $1,000.
The grants were awarded based on a review of teacher-submitted proposals by the O&R STEM Education Advisory Council, a panel of educators and engineers assembled by O&R expressly for this purpose.
The 2023-2024 Orange County, N.Y. winners are:
- Chester Academy --- Chester Union Free School District --- Chester
- Circleville Elementary School --- Pine Bush Central School District --- Circleville
- George Grant Mason Elementary School --- Tuxedo Union Free School District --- Tuxedo
- Lahti Kids Club House Corp.--- Private School --- Pine Island
- Monroe-Woodbury Middle School --- Monroe-Woodbury Central School District --- Central Valley
- Monroe-Woodbury High School --- Monroe-Woodbury Central School District --- Central Valley
- North Main Elementary --- Monroe–Woodbury Central School District --- Monroe
- North Main Elementary --- Monroe-Woodbury Central School District --- Monroe
- Northern Academy for the Arts --- Private School --- Middletown
- Orange Environment, Inc. --- Private School --- Central Valley
- Orange-Ulster BOCES --- BOCES --- Goshen
- Pine Bush Central School District --- Pine Bush Central School District --- Pine Bush
- Pine Bush Elementary --- Pine Bush Central School District --- Pine Bush
- Pine Tree Elementary --- Monroe-Woodbury Central School District --- Monroe
- Smith Clove Elementary --- Three grants awarded --- Monroe-Woodbury Central School District --- Central Valley
- TuxedoSTEM @ George F. Baker --- Tuxedo Union Free School District --- Tuxedo
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies. O&R is a regulated utility. It provides electric service to approximately 300,000 customers in southeastern New York State and northern New Jersey (where it’s Rockland Electric Company) and natural gas service to approximately 130,000 customers in New York.
|  | These dynamic proposals are designed to challenge students to think, plan, act and achieve and have fun doing it. | |
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MEDIA SPONSOR: | |
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