Rockland Empire Zone Certifies 9 Businesses

(January 15, 2009) – Nine businesses received Empire Zone program certification in Rockland County during the final month of 2008. The New York State incentive program allows qualified companies to operate virtually tax-free for 10 years. Over the next five years, the projects will create 266 new jobs in the county and represent an investment of more than $61 million in facilities, payroll and equipment. Among major industrial projects are:

• Blue Beverage Group, a manufacturer of specialty soft drinks, purchased an 181,000-square-foot facility in Haverstraw and will create 25 new jobs.
• Energy Management Solutions, a Suffern-based company specializing in the implementation of “green” technologies, will create 53 jobs.
• Flavoring manufacturer Wynn Starr Flavors, an attraction from New Jersey to the new Kohl Industrial Park in Congers, will invest $1 million in an R&D facility that will create 26 new jobs.
• Three related companies, Kohl Asset Management, Kohl Industrial Park and JH Mack, will occupy a portion of the new 250,000-square-foot Kohl facility in Congers. Together, the property management and development businesses will invest almost $27 million and create 46 new jobs.