ELLENVILLE – The Village of Ellenville has caught the eye of developers and site selectors to the point where the village has named a part-time economic development officer.

Village Manager Elliott Auerbach announced the appointment of Dan Hauspurg of Stone Ridge to the post, effective July 7.

His first project will be to launch a micro-enterprise, small business development program that will create both jobs and business opportunities, said Auerbach.

“There is a lot of interest in the village, especially with small emerging manufacturers and cottage industry folks who are ready to take it to the next level, and there is the repair of the loss of over 1,100 jobs in the course of the last 36 to 48 months with the closing of two major manufacturers,” he said. “We have several economic issues that we need to be addressing.”

He will be charged with energizing an entrepreneurial spirit and boosting the local economy by creating and managing a small business incubator in cooperation with the Small Business Development Center and the Ellenville Local Development Corporation

Mayor Jeffrey Kaplan said Hauspurg’s background reflects a diversity of business development skills and interaction with government. “Dan brings an ability to research and develop ideas and put them in motion.  We are anxious for him to get started and help us continues a wide range of economic and community development initiatives including ArtsWave and the Ellenville Farmer’s Market.”