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Putnam County IDA reports new projects and local hiring; Business Council to publish outreach pamphlet
Summary
Putnam County’s Economic Development & Energy Committee heard that the IDA is fully staffed, reported several commercial projects and a roughly 50% workforce increase at one site, and that the volunteer Putnam County Business Council will publish a pamphlet summarizing business feedback ahead of the fall NYSAC conference.
Paula Hernandez, executive director of the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency, told the Economic Development & Energy Committee on April 27 that the IDA is fully staffed, submitted its NY State PARIS report on time and has several local projects progressing.
"For the first time in many years, the IDA was able to submit their NY State PARIS compliance reporting on time," Hernandez said, and she listed active or proposed projects including a Kinsley Group expansion at 20 Fields Lane, APAP Land Management relocating to Southeast, and ongoing work for Hanna Hospitality and Ace Endico. She also said the new owners of 101 Pugsley Road have increased their workforce by about 50% after taking over that property.
The committee asked follow-up questions about ownership and potential tenants for 201 Pugsley Road; Hernandez said Sage Hall now owns 101 Pugsley (housing Lesser Evil Snacks) and Lincoln Logistics owns 201 Pugsley Road and is pursuing one or two tenants or a possible single purchaser.
Nat Prentice, government liaison for the volunteer Putnam County Business Council, said the council recently added two board members, widened how it engages the business community and plans to publish a pamphlet of findings toward the end of the year to summarize local business priorities and reactions to state mandates. "We are trying to be additive to the work of Putnam County EDC, IDA and Tourism," Prentice said, and he said the pamphlet could be shared with the county and with stakeholders ahead of New York State Association of Counties discussions this fall.
Committee members praised the projects and local hiring but also raised caution about workforce and services. Legislator Montgomery noted a 1% increase in unemployment and said workforce loss is a concern; Legislator D’Angelo said it is important Putnam residents have opportunities to work locally.
The IDA said its audit had been filed with Finance Commissioner William Carlin and that two recent public hearings in the Town of Southeast produced no public opposition to the applications discussed. The IDA did not provide specific timelines for final approvals on all projects.
The IDA and the Business Council indicated they will return with further updates to the Legislature in coming weeks.
