Whatley: “We are here to do deals”
NEW WINDSOR – The state’s StartUp NY program to attract new businesses and jobs was formally launched at Stewart Airport on Thursday.
The airport was designated months ago as a StartUp zone and top state officials came to the facility to announce the effort to attract new businesses has begun in earnest.
Leslie Whatley, executive vice president of the program, said any business that located at the airport would be linked to an area college.
“We are going to try to use that as another means of developing this for economic purposes and hoping that can help bring companies,” Whatley said. “If the companies locate here in conjunction with a university and create net new jobs, net new jobs is the key, then they operate tax-free for 10 years. Right now it looks like it could be Mt. St. Mary, it could be Orange Community College, it could be New Paltz. It really depends on what type of company it is and who is most suitable to affiliate with them.”
There are some 270 acres of land available for business development at Stewart.
“We are here to do deals,” said Whatley.
