CATSKILL – Key infrastructure investments are advancing as Greene County Government plans to expand accessible health care services to its residents at the Exit 21 West Business Park located in the Town of Catskill.
The Greene County Industrial Development Agency established a 60-acre business park in 2019 located on Route 23B west of Thruway Exit 21 and branded the site Exit 21 West.
To date, the Greene IDA has invested over $3 million in preparation of the site to include acquisition of eight parcels, the demolition of multiple residential structures, completion of an environmental impact statement under state environmental laws, and mitigation of archaeologically sensitive areas such that the land base is ready for development.
Officials said the location of this property makes it an ideal site for expanded community health services, and the county is now working with Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation to extend natural gas service from Jefferson Heights. The new natural gas service will not only serve the Exit 21 West and Exit 21 East sites (former Quality Inn Site), but provides an opportunity for hookups to homes and businesses along Route 23B as well as vacant lands for additional economic development. The estimated cost of this investment is $1.5 million to be funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The county also plans to replace the old Mental Health Building currently located adjacent to Angelo Canna Park in the Town of Cairo with a new Community Health Center. The current Mental Health Building was never designed to accommodate modern office space and has become inefficient and costly to maintain. The new Community Health Center will not only support community and mental health services but will be designed for delivery of public health services. The building design will provide a centralized location for vaccinations, clinical testing, and pandemic or other emergency responses supporting the county’s ‘Continuity of Operation’ plans. The new Community Health Center will be supported by public transportation delivered by Greene County Transit.
