LAKE KATRINE – iPark 87, the former IBM complex in the Town of Ulster, has been awarded a $10 million ReStore New York grant for a workforce innovation center.
Governor Kathy Hochul came to the property Monday to make the announcement.
She predicted when the two old buildings to be rehabilitated are up and running, over 1,000 jobs could be created by the center.
“It’s all about the workforce, training tomorrow’s workers and not just those who have been in this community and the kids who were born here can now stay here, but attracting people from other parts of our state or other parts of our country,” she said.
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said the center “will break down barriers and create opportunities for all especially underserved communities by providing important support like onsite childcare and public transportation.”
Metzger praised the efforts of the governor and the state for investing in this former industrial site.
“iPark 87 is really the embodiment of what the New York ReStore grant is meant to do – to help communities reimagine and transform long abandoned properties in line with the vision of what our communities need now,” she said.
Joe Cotter, co-founder if iPark 87 parent company National Resources, said this former IBM site was in the worst condition of all of their properties and her termed it “the Big Ugly.”
But, he said they have a number of companies already lining up to locate there.
