2020 8th Edition: June 22 - June 26
Gone, But Never Forgotten


This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of our friend and former board member, Bob Armistead, who left this world too soon at the age of 71. Bob’s monumental contributions to economic development were not only as an extraordinary businessman and proud American who served his country with honor, but also through his vision and positive can-do approach to life.  

Bob was devoted to progress and development and volunteered thousands of hours serving on powerful boards that drive the economy including: The Orange County Partnership, the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Construction Contractors Association of the Hudson Valley steering progress and job creation, which resulted in the strengthening of our local economy. He was a man of vision, inclusiveness and tolerance. His contributions live on through the successful projects that are a part of the landscape of Orange County, NY. 

He was a friend to all who knew him and on behalf of our Board of Directors, we offer our sincere condolences. 

Bob Armistead will not be forgotten. 

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Affordable Housing Development IS Economic Development
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are reports that downstate residents and businesses are looking to relocate to safer and less expensive locations, including the Mid-Hudson Valley.

The migration of downstate residents to the Mid-Hudson region is not a new phenomenon, but real estate experts contend that this  demographic trend could really take hold in coming years . However, there is one problem the region must tackle if it wants to be a truly feasible option for these millennials and others looking for a better quality of live—the affordable housing crisis.

Keep Calm! The Road to Recovery Starts with Tourism
As the world opens back up for business, many companies are adjusting to the “new normal” as they navigate their operations to accommodate health and safety guidelines. Inherently, the tourism is about attracting visitors and providing fun-filled activities that often involve mass gatherings and crowds.

Warwick Drive-In Movie Theater
Orange County Executive, Steve Neuhaus at Camp LaGuardia property in Chester in 2016

County Releases RFPs on Camp LaGuardia and Newburgh Properties
In a recent June 24th press release, Orange County announced that it had issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to developers and investors for the purchase of the massive Camp LaGuardia property in Chester and Blooming Grove. In a separate RFP the county is looking for developers to take over three iconic properties in the City of Newburgh on Grand Street. Both the Camp LaGuardia and Grand Street properties are county-owned.

Back on Track: Progress Post-COVID Shut Down
With the Mid-Hudson poised to enter phase four of the state’s reopening process by July 7, the Orange County Partnership reports that developers have once again assembled work crews to commence construction and dusted off plans for significant projects that will bring much-needed investment dollars, tax revenue and good paying jobs to the county.

LEGOLAND New York Aerial Rendering
New signage at the entrance to the former Orange Regional Medical Center, now Garnet Health Medical Center.
Major Health Care Provider Sees Name Change As Embracing its Commitment to Excellence
Earlier this month, employees began to change the signage of buildings at the health care provider’s flagship hospital property in Middletown and at its other holdings in Orange and Sullivan counties as part of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System’s rebranding to Garnet Health.

Economic Forecasts are a Mixed Bag
Forecasts for the hoped-for recovery of the U.S. and New York State economies are mixed with some offering optimistic views that a recovery is now in the works and will pick up steam in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc, numerous companies & local leaders have stepped up to assist our community. We'd like to recognize and keep you apprised of private businesses that are creatively supporting our community during these challenging times.


The Orange County Partnership would like to thank Alan Seidman of the Construction Contractors Association   who graciously donated PPE to our team so we can work safely from our office during the Phase 2 re-opening.
 
In response to the dire need for childcare services  for essential personnel  during these unprecedented times, the  YMCA of Middletown   is providing  Emergency Childcare Service for children ages 5-12  at a few locations in Orange County.
 
Decked out in masks and gloves, a small group of Realtors from the  Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation (HGRF)  recently volunteered their time to help pack groceries at the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley in Cornwall-on-Hudson.

From making well known retail displays to providing food packaging, Orange Packaging offers full retail solutions. Orange Packaging also seeks to help find a solution to the mask and face shields needed in the area. The company has been making face shields out of the plastic that they would usually be using for their packaging materials. Also, when they realized that other companies could not get access the plastic to make face shields as well, they donated their materials to them.

PRG is known for their dramatic set work, design, and entertainment. However, since the pandemic, they have been using their craftsmen skills for a different cause. PRG has been creating face shields to supply to those on the frontline.  

With their business growing, FPS Apparel needed to expand their operations and they chose to move to Chester in nearly double the space. Now, they are using this extra space to give back by making and donating over 8,400 masks for frontline workers.

The Orange County Association of Towns, Villages and Cities represents the 21 towns, 19 villages and three cities in Orange County. The organization realizes access to good, nutritious food is essential and understanding that supplies at many non-profits who typically provide food to those in need is down, The Executive Committee has approved sending a $1,000 check to each of the following organizations - RECAP, HONOR, Hudson Valley Food Bank, Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan and TOUCH.

Between working remotely for her clients, Deborah Garry, President & CEO of BBG&G Full-Service Integrated Marketing Agency  decided she needed to help. So far she has made about six dozen face masks and distributed them to Crystal Run Healthcare, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties as well as friends and family members. Her home “factory” consists of her sewing machine, an ironing board and a work table raised up on four bed risers left over from her sons’ college dorm days.
 
Walden Savings Bank  completed its 22 Days of Giving campaign and donated $11,000 in bank-matched employee donations to 32 community members and organizations helping those in need.
 
Clemson Bros. Brewery  set up a Small Business Relief Fund and donated $10,000 of their own money to the cause. They are also accepting donations from the community to go towards the fund to help small businesses throughout the Hudson Valley.
 
The Keller Williams –Chris Scibelli Team  is stepping up in a major way to help. As a team they have agreed to give back 5% of earnings (based on commissions earned from the sale or purchase of any home) from now until August 31, 2020. The money they will be giving back will be donated in their clients names to frontline workers in Orange County. Talk about a selfless act!

Milmar Food Group located in Goshen, donated 10,000 pounds of food to Orange County's Office for the Aging to benefit the county’s Senior Meals Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Servpro of North Orange County , a restoration facility located in Middletown, has been utilizing their services by helping our local first responders stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak including disinfecting the City of Newburgh's patrol cars and sanitizing the Goodwill Fire House located in Newburgh at no cost. 

Moroney's Harley Davidson located in New Windsor, graciously donated head covers to local nurses, doctors and medical workers at Highland Rehab & Nursing Center in Middletown. 

Mount Saint Mary College in the City of Newburgh has donated more than 7,000 disposable gloves and hundreds of masks and gowns from its School of Nursing supplies to regional hospitals, retirement homes and even the temporary hospital at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The college sent about 5,000 gloves to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, 1,500 to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern in Rockland County, and 500 to Four Winds Hospital in Cross River in Westchester County.

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery , in partnership with their sister business, Black Dirt Distillery have produced hand sanitizer for local hospitals and nursing homes throughout the region.

The Castle Fun Center , a popular family entertainment center in Chester, N.Y., is helping keep front-line healthcare workers safe by using its 3-D printer to manufacture components for face shields, a type of personal protection equipment in short supply. So far, more than 100 have been created; it will produce 500 to 1,000 or more, depending on the ongoing need.

From their home or classroom, local educators from Pine Bush Central School District , Minisink Valley Central School District and Goshen Central School Districts are creating face shields using 3-D printers as personal protective equipment for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Aurochemicals: The internationally recognized manufacturer of natural aroma ingredients in the flavor and fragrance industry, based in Washingtonville, has provided tens of thousands of hard-to-find surgical masks to protect healthcare and first-responder teams in the community. The company recently supplied Orange County Government with 50,000 surgical masks and provided 42,000 masks to Orange Regional Medical Center. 

Bonura Hospitality Group:  The wildly successful company, which owns and operates restaurants, catering halls and a hotel, has had to lay off more than 400 of their 1,000 employees during the pandemic. The family-owned business is making meals out of an otherwise closed facility to care for not only their employees but their families, providing a hot meals every day for curbside pickup.  

Konica Minolta and Laborers’ Local 17 LECET/Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council have donated a number of N-95 and N-99 masks to nursing homes and first responders throughout Orange County.

SUNY Orange: In response to requests from healthcare facilities in Orange County fighting COVID-19 on the front lines, the leaders of SUNY Orange Health Professions Programs recently delivered a donation of 4,505 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items to the Newburgh campus of Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.

DNA Entertainment hosted a live stream dance party and raised more than $6,000 to supply meals for workers around Orange County’s medical centers, nursing homes and urgent care facilities.

Fidanza Family Properties: The property, food and beverage management group based in Middletown, announced a food donation program for businesses who want to help supply meals to essential employees while on the job. Business can make a donation by ordering food from one of their restaurants (Pizza E Birra and Planet Wings) and the company will match that donation, up to $1,500 worth of food. To date, $2,0000 worth of food has been donated to the staff at Orange Regional Medical Center. To participate email: franco@planetwings.com .

Construction Contractors Association , Danskammer , Boyce Excavating and Focus Media were all instrumental in securing and donating to the emergency need of N-95 masks to protect medical workers from the Coronavirus.

Medline Industries , the nation’s largest privately-held healthcare manufacturer and distributor, has worked tirelessly with local hospitals and healthcare facilities to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) and has donated an abundance of supplies to the Town of Montgomery and Orange County.

Orange County Distillery was creative in turning a 55-gallon barrel of extremely high-proof spirits into hand sanitizer, which they gave out to Orange County residents for FREE.

Please help us recognize private-business leaders who are creatively contributing to the health and well-being of our community. Please share stories by emailing our Marketing Director, Sarah Brosnan to be included in next week's newsletter:


We are all in this together, the best of people come out
in the worst of times.

Stay Home. Stay Safe. Stay Strong.
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