POUGHKEEPSIE – DocuWare, a software development company, wants to move its American headquarters from New Windsor to Beacon and the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency, Monday, approved a preliminary resolution to provide it with financial incentives to do so.
The proposal would see a developer purchase the site of the former Beacon City Highway Garage and construct a two-story office building for the company as well as eight residential units.
DocuWare, with current facilities on Crotty Lane adjacent to Stewart Airport, would bring with them their 63 current employees and hire another 87 two years after the move.
The economic benefits to Beacon and southern Dutchess go beyond just the employees, said company co-founder and President Thomas Schneck. “We have a requirement that everybody must come for certification to our location and be trained there in a week-long training course, which creates about 800 to 1,000 overnight hotel requirements and these people need to go out to dinner and go shopping,” he said. “It is going to be hundreds and hundreds of people going there every year to get recertified.”
Schneck said they chose Beacon because of the Metro-North train service there and the ability to bring their current workforce to the new location.
DocuWare is seeking a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the $8.7 million project on Creek Drive as well as a mortgage tax and sales tax exemption.
The next step in the process is to hold a public hearing and then a final vote by the IDA.
