L-R: Molinaro, Astorino, MPI Inc. President Bruce Phipps
POUGHKEEPSIE – Fresh off announcing a run for reelection, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro was joined Wednesday by Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino, area manufacturing executives, industrial and economic development officials, and local and regional elected leaders for a roundtable at MPI in Poughkeepsie to discuss the state of manufacturing in the region.
Molinaro said the session, attended by 25 people, was a conversation that rather than focus on any individual industrial segment was intended to understand challenges facing manufacturing businesses that exist here today and to try to create opportunities for them.
“Seventy percent of new jobs are created by businesses already in our community – creating opportunities for them to grow their businesses,” Molinaro said.
After a tour of MPI, the county executives sat down to caucus with area manufacturing experts and economic developers about industry needs and ways county government could support workforce development and manufacturing.
While concerns were expressed for high energy costs, quality infrastructure, property tax relief, affordable places for workers to live, and the need for a well-prepared workforce, including assisted by the region’s community colleges, a main focus of conversation was red tape and the need to overcome obstacles of local home rule and multiple government jurisdictions.
Manufacturing executives cited extended development reviews and antiquated or inflexible local zoning, such as that which impede the siting or expansion of modern manufacturing, often which is specialized and does not represent smokestack industry.
“Impediments to agility” is how Astorino described the issue of business growth in the state. “We need a complete revamp of how New York deals with business. That’s how we’re going to expand the economy here. That’s when entrepreneurs are going to put capital. But if you have to go through a 10-year process, to get something approved, you are going to take your money elsewhere, because time is money.”
Molinaro recently reorganized Dutchess’ economic development administration. Ronald Hicks, Dutchess’ Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Planning and Economic Development, said the current focus is on supporting existing manufacturing businesses that are at risk, especially ones which could do business anywhere, to help keep them here as well as grow here. The business retention initiative has a budget of $250,000 of County funds and Hicks noted that business attraction initiatives are also being planned, with extensive repurposing analysis performed to date covering 2.5 million square feet of buildings available for industrial and manufacturing type uses, including in the Route 9 corridor around former IBM sites.
