Creating jobs in Dutchess County

In our current economy where unemployment remains high, people are looking to the government for solutions. While job creation is not a traditional governmental role, creating and fostering environments ripe for economic development and job creation has become an expectation among the electorate.In September and October, the County Legislature received reports from the county Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Workforce Investment Board on their efforts to revitalize the county’s economic health.Authorized by 1976 state law, Dutchess County’s IDA exists as a public benefit corporation to induce companies to invest capital in projects within the county that will ultimately grow the county tax base and create jobs. They do this through tax-exempt bond financing, authorizing lower interest rates than conventional financing, real property tax abatements and at times exempting projects from sales or mortgage taxes or utilizing payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) programs.The Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation focuses on attracting, retaining and expanding businesses and nonprofit organizations, which includes promoting tourism. The EDC led legislators on tours of some of their projects in October including the new Hudson Bailer single-stream recycling plant now under construction in Beacon. This will create 30 to 60 new jobs with hiring beginning in December.Also under construction in Beacon is a 50,000-square-foot addition to the Megatronics factory, a manufacturer of packaging for Gillette razors. This will permit the company to consolidate its entire workforce in Dutchess County. In Wappinger, Adams Fairacre Farms is building its new supermarket with assistance in financing from the IDA. Adams is expected to create 200 new jobs.In September the EDC announced that a Chinese solar technology company plans to relocate to East Fishkill, thereby creating 1,000 jobs.Health Quest has received IDA assistance with the $60 million financing of the Vassar Brothers Hospital expansion. Astor Services for Children and Families also benefited from the 22-square-foot upgrade to its Rhinebeck center. All projects use local contractors, so that the money is spent locally while creating area construction jobs.The IDA collects a fee from each project that is then distributed to nonprofits. In recent months the IDA awarded the Bardavon Opera House $120,000 for capital upgrades, $5,000 to highlight local wineries at the Dutchess County Fair and $25,000 to sponsor agribusiness, as well as additional funding to sponsor a trade show and upgrades to the Mount Gulian Revolutionary War site in Beacon.While the IDA and EDC work to create new jobs, the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) works to address local workforce development by helping individuals attain the skills necessary for employability. Acting locally, the WIB was created by federal statute under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Several times per year the County Legislature votes to receive federal funding that empowers the WIB to assist county residents with career counseling, resume writing and tutorials on soft and hard job skills. In 2010, the Dutchess County WIB readied 2,672 unemployed adults to find employment.Despite the grim economy, these county agencies’ local efforts are providing glimmers of hope. Michael N. Kelsey represents Amenia, Washington, Pleasant Valley, Stanford and the Village of Millbrook in the Dutchess County Legislature. Write him at KelseyESQ@yahoo.com.