Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus has earned accolades from the county’s business magnet for his economic development efforts.
The Orange County Partnership named Neuhaus its “Most Valuable Player” at its annual MVP breakfast on June 1 at the West Hills Country Club in the Town of Wallkill.
“Steve’s commitment to making Orange County a place where businesses don’t just survive but thrive has become an integral part of the culture of County Government,” Maureen Halahan, president and CEO of the Partnership, said in a press release. “County Executive Neuhaus works tirelessly to promote Orange County with new and innovative initiatives that keep the County on the cutting edge of business attraction and retention.”
About 6,000 jobs have been created in Orange County since Neuhaus took office on January 1, 2014, according to state Department of Labor statistics; in addition, the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in the County in 2013 and is now 4.3 percent.
Neuhaus appreciates the honor and credits the county’s “business-friendly environment that permeates in every municipality.”
“It has been the pillar of my administration to foster innovation and collaboration to make our county strong and accelerating, forward-focused and vibrant, healthy and nimble and poised for continued growth,” Neuhaus said. “This philosophy has been underscored by my successful promise to create 1,000 new jobs in my first 1,000 days as the County Executive.
“I’m proud that we’ve attracted several respected corporations, which has resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs for our residents, and I’m honored to receive this award from the Orange County Partnership.”
Halahan credited Neuhaus with helping attract many businesses, including a distribution center in Hamptonburgh for the health-care company McKesson, set to open this summer with 160 new jobs; an Amerisource-Bergen distribution facility in the Town of Newburgh with 120 jobs; and Pharmacannis, a medical marijuana business in Hamptonburgh.
