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O&R Plan For $57.8 Million Two-Year Electric System Upgrade Approved By NYSPSC; Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty Appoints New Chief Growth Officer; Briefs

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O&R Plan For $57.8 Million Two-Year Electric System Upgrade Approved By NYSPSC

The New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) has approved Orange and Rockland’s (O&R) plans for a new, $57.8-million, two-year electric system construction project designed to improve electric service reliability and system resiliency for approximately 45,000 O&R customers by installing 5.5 miles of new electric transmission cable underground in the southwest section of Clarkstown.

                                                                         The Project

The new 138kV underground transmission line is to be installed mainly within secondary public roadways to connect O&R’s substation in Nanuet with O&R’s substation in West Nyack.

The new transmission line will provide an additional source of electricity for southern Rockland County, where increasing business development is creating additional electric system demand. In addition, the new transmission line’s connection to a new transformer bank in West Nyack will improve electric service reliability, resiliency, and capacity for a large number of Clarkstown and Orangetown customers.

O&R President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Sanchez said, “This project will enhance the resiliency of our system and add a clean electric supply source for a key part of the O&R transmission system.”

The Route

The proposed route goes from west to east from O&R’s substation access road in Nanuet, winding through mainly area secondary streets into the substation property in West Nyack.

This route will not require property easements over private lands other than from CSX railway. The project will be installed in the roadways within the public transportation rights-of-way, which would be a cost benefit to the proposed project.

No construction will occur within wetlands or forested lands. As a result, impacts to wetlands, wildlife, existing land use and cultural resources are not anticipated. Only temporary and minor impacts during construction are anticipated for streams and wildlife.

O&R is working closely with Clarkstown town government and its police department on this project and plans a collaborative effort to minimize construction disruption along the community’s roadways. However, motorists traveling on the roadways along the project’s route should expect periodic delays once the project begins.

Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, is a regulated utility. O&R provides electric service to approximately 309,000 customers in southeastern New York State (where its franchise name is Orange & Rockland) and northern New Jersey (where it’s Rockland Electric Company), and natural gas service to approximately 142,000 customers in New York.


Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty Appoints New Chief Growth Officer

Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty (“KWHVR”) has named Stacey Schick as the new Chief Growth Officer for the firm.

Schick comes to this new role with over 27 years of experience as a leader working with real estate agents. She is a NY State Licensed Real Estate Agent in New York, a National Relocation Specialist, a National Certified Leasing Professional and a member of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors®, the New York State Association of Realtors® and the National Association of Realtors®.

Schick has also served in various capacities with fundraising/support to some notable organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, HGAR Realtor® Foundation, Make-a-Wish and Hudson Valley Food Bank.

“I am very excited to be part of a group of dynamic leaders who share, encourage, and offer an array of tools to achieve success”, Schick said. “I look forward to building deep connections with our agents and identifying ways that I can contribute and bring value to the organization.”

Anna Gibbs, General Manager of the Keller Williams Hudson Valley and Upstate Group said, “We are delighted to be in business with Stacey. She is passionate about helping agents succeed and is very skilled at relationship building. She will be a great addition to our leadership team and an asset to our company. We look forward to the future together as she leads the brokerage and our agents to another level of success.”


April 12 Deadline For Applications for Empire State Development Capital Grant Funds

Through the Regional Council Capital Fund, capital grant funding is available for capital-based economic development projects intended to create or retain jobs; prevent, reduce, or eliminate unemployment and underemployment; and/or increase business or economic activity in a community or region.

Assistance generally falls into three categories:

  • Business Investment
  • Economic Growth
  • Strategic Focus Areas: Projects that Support Green Buildings & Sustainable Development; Childcare Projects; and Projects located in a Distressed Area

Deadline is Friday, April 12 by 4 pm.  More information about grants, which are accessed via the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process, can be found in the CFA Resource Guide.

Empire State Development Excelsior Jobs Program

The New York State Excelsior Jobs Program encourages businesses to expand in and relocate to New York while maintaining strict accountability standards to guarantee that businesses deliver on job and investment commitments.  Firms in the Excelsior Jobs Program may qualify for five fully refundable tax credits.  Businesses claim the credits over a benefit period of up to 10 years as established in the preliminary schedule of benefits.

Deadline is Friday, April 12, by 4 pm.  More information about these grants, which are accessed via the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process can be found in the CFA Resource Guide.

For more information about the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, visit: https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/mid-hudson