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Montefiore Nyack Hospital is the Largest Employer in Rockland County With Nearly 70% of its Employees Living In Rockland County
By Mike Oates
Montefiore Nyack Hospital isn’t just a place Rockland County residents go when they’re sick or injured. It’s an engine of economic stability – and increasingly, of economic growth. As President and CEO of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC), I spend my days talking with business leaders about what keeps them here, what helps them expand, and what threatens their ability to hire and retain talent. Again and again, one factor rises to the top: access to high-quality healthcare close to home.
That’s why the continued investment in Montefiore Nyack Hospital – and the strength of the Montefiore Health System across the Hudson Valley and New York State – matters so much to our regional economy.
Economic development is often framed around industrial parks, tax policy, and infrastructure. Those things are important. But the foundation beneath every successful economy is people. When employees can get timely care, when families trust that emergency and specialty services are nearby, when preventive and chronic care are accessible, productivity rises, absenteeism falls, and businesses feel confident making long-term investments. Healthcare is workforce infrastructure.
Montefiore Nyack Hospital is also a major employer in its own right – and in fact, the largest employer in Rockland County. Nearly 70% of its employees live right here in Rockland, which means wages and spending stay in the community, supporting local small businesses, strengthening neighborhoods, and anchoring the county’s economic base. The hospital’s workforce needs also sustain an ecosystem of vendors, service providers, and partners, creating additional jobs and economic activity far beyond its walls.
But the story doesn’t stop at jobs. The most important economic impact is what strong healthcare enables: a healthier workforce and a stronger business environment.
Over the last several years, Montefiore Nyack Hospital has made meaningful investments in equipment, technology, and modernized care delivery – improvements that translate into better outcomes and better experiences for patients. Advanced diagnostic imaging, updated surgical capabilities, and enhanced emergency and inpatient resources reduce delays and allow people to receive high-level care without leaving the county. Modern monitoring systems and clinical technology support quicker decision-making and safer care. Digital tools improve coordination, reduce duplication, and help patients move more smoothly from hospital to recovery and follow-up.
For employers, those advances are not abstract. They show up as fewer days lost to untreated conditions, quicker return-to-work after injuries, and better management of chronic diseases that can quietly erode productivity – diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and more. When employees can access reliable specialty services and follow-up care locally, they’re more likely to stay on track with treatment. That’s good for families – and it’s good for the businesses that depend on those employees.
The Montefiore Health System’s regional strength adds another layer of value. In economic development, networks matter. A system that connects community-based hospitals with academic medicine, research, and specialized expertise creates a continuum of care that attracts residents and reassures employers. It signals that the Hudson Valley is a place where families can build a life and where companies can build a future.
This is especially critical as we compete for talent. Businesses deciding where to locate or expand weigh quality-of-life indicators heavily: schools, housing, commute times, recreation – and healthcare. For many families, the presence of a trusted, well-resourced hospital and an integrated health system can be the deciding factor in choosing a community. Healthcare access is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive necessity.
It’s also a resilience necessity. The last few years reminded us how quickly a public health challenge can become an economic crisis. Regions with strong healthcare capacity and coordinated systems are better equipped to respond to emergencies, maintain continuity of care, and support the broader community when it matters most. That preparedness protects lives – and it protects livelihoods.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because leadership chooses to invest: in modern equipment, in facility upgrades, in technology that improves safety and efficiency, in recruitment and retention of skilled professionals, and in partnerships that expand access. It happens because a health system like Montefiore brings scale, expertise, and a commitment to serving communities across New York State.
At HVEDC, our mission is to strengthen the Hudson Valley economy by helping businesses grow and communities thrive. To do that, we need to champion the institutions that make growth possible. Montefiore Nyack Hospital is one of those institutions. It anchors Rockland County’s healthcare landscape, supports jobs, and – most importantly – helps keep our workforce healthy, present, and productive.
When we talk about the future of Rockland County and the Hudson Valley, we should talk about innovation, investment, and opportunity. We should also talk about healthcare – because without it, the rest is far harder to sustain.
Supporting Montefiore Nyack Hospital and recognizing the importance of the Montefiore Health System isn’t simply a healthcare issue. It’s an economic development imperative for the Hudson Valley and for New York State.
For those who want to connect to the Montefiore Nyack Foundation please go to montefiorenyackfoundation.com.
Mike Oates is President and CEO of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
