Greene County’s vision for revitalizing Cementon is moving forward. On April 16, the County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution to initiate a formal study for the Cementon Rebirth Plan and to seek state funding to implement it. That effort paid off—New York State has awarded Greene County $400,000 through the FAST NY program to support the project’s early planning and development.
“The products of Cementon have been used to build infrastructure from Albany to New York and beyond,” notes Patrick S. Linger, Chair of the Greene County Legislature. “Production in Cementon created good-paying jobs contributing to the prosperity of Greene County. Over the years, those products have diminished, along with the jobs. It’s time to work together to create a comprehensive plan to best address Cementon’s underutilization and attract new businesses.”
One of the goals of the Cementon Rebirth Plan is to better understand the development capacity of underutilized properties in the area known as Cementon. The shortage of large-scale mega sites throughout New York State, coupled with the advantageous geographic location of the parcels (accessible by road, rail and the Hudson River) represents a significant opportunity for new business development.
“New York is positioned to become one of the country’s leading manufacturers of technology components,” says James Hannahs, Director of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Planning. “High-tech employers increase the population of the communities in which they locate, therefore increasing local business sales as well as the county and local tax bases.”
The plan will create a public-private partnership to determine the best way forward for Greene County. This partnership will gain input from community members, local businesses, property owners, and experts in development as it seeks to develop a General Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) on potential redevelopment strategies. The final GEIS process will be made up of various planning-focused factors including site-selection, manufacturing, the environment, transportation, energy, infrastructure, housing, community development, education, and recreation.
“The Cementon site offers a unique opportunity for manufacturing and technology corporations to invest right here in Greene County with accessibility to roads, rail and water,” notes Matthew F. Luvera, Majority Leader of the Greene County Legislature. “Successful high-tech manufacturers attract workers with good pay, and work-life balance. Compared to major cities, our communities offer quality housing, exceptional recreational opportunities, and strong public schools for those workers and their families.”
“The next step is to work together to produce a comprehensive plan that identifies all of the opportunities and challenges involved in setting up Cementon for redevelopment,” states Harry Lennon, Minority Leader of the Greene County Legislature. “This will essentially create a roadmap for the rebirth of Cementon, and put us on our way to creating good-paying jobs for years to come.”
As the process proceeds, the Greene County Economic Development Corporation will post continuous project updates on GreeneCountyEDC.com.