Orange County Partnership

08/19/2026

Long before Orange County became home to manufacturers, life sciences companies, and modern distribution networks, this was a place that made things, grew things, and built things. That history still matters.

Our agricultural roots, manufacturing legacy, historic downtowns, and generations of skilled workers have created a foundation that continues to evolve alongside new industries and new investment.

Economic development isn't about leaving the past behind, it's about building on what already makes a place strong. In Orange County, we're proud of where we've come from, and focused on what's next.

Considering your next project in the Northeast? Let's start a conversation about putting down roots in Orange County, NY.

08/17/2026

Big news for Orange County’s growing life sciences sector! 🧬

Last week, Garonit Pharmaceutical received Planning Board approval from the Town of New Windsor for its new advanced manufacturing and R&D facility, set to become the largest chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) manufacturing facility in the world.

✅ 170,000 SF of manufacturing & R&D
✅ 100+ high-paying pharmaceutical jobs
✅ $48 million capital investment

Our President & CEO, Conor Eckert, and Director of Business Attraction, Lucas Irace, provided public comment in support of the project, highlighting the Partnership’s role throughout the business attraction process, the jobs and investment the project will bring to Orange County, and its importance in further positioning the county as a destination for life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

08/13/2026

Congratulations to our Vice President of Operations & Strategy, Cassie Marie Garcia, on joining the Leadership Orange Board of Directors!

The Orange County Partnership has long been a proud supporter of Leadership Orange, and we believe strongly in its mission to develop and connect the next generation of leaders in our community. In fact, every member of our team has proudly gone through the Leadership Orange program.

We’re excited to see Cassie take the next step in her involvement by serving on the Board and helping shape the future of an organization that has had such a meaningful impact across Orange County.

Congratulations, Cassie! We know you’ll be a great addition to the Board! 👏

Cassie Garcia is the Vice President of the Orange County Partnership and has been with the company since 2022. In her role, she works closely with executive leadership, public officials, investors, and business leaders to support initiatives that attract commercial and industrial investment, foster regional growth, and create high-quality employment opportunities.

Cassie holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Berkeley College and is a graduate of the Leadership Orange Signature Program, Class of 2024.

A lifelong Orange County resident, Cassie lives in Middletown with her family. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones and is always looking forward to her next vacation.

08/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for our Alliance for Balanced Growth event at City Winery Hudson Valley!

A special thank you to our incredible panelists for sharing their expertise and giving us an inside look at the infrastructure, coordination, and planning it takes to power economic development across our region:
⚡ Emilie Nelson, Executive Vice President & COO, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
⚡ Stephanie Raymond, President & CEO, Central Hudson
⚡ Michele O’Connell, President & CEO, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.
⚡ Melissa Cobuzzi, President & CEO, M&R Energy Resources Corp

Reliable, available power has become one of the most critical factors in attracting investment and moving projects forward. Today’s conversation reinforced just how important collaboration between our utilities, grid operators, businesses, developers, and communities will be as Orange County continues to grow.

Thank you to our panelists, our ABG partners, and everyone who came out to be part of the conversation! And a special thanks to our sponsors: ADG Architects | Rhinebeck Bank | M&R Energy Resources Corp

08/10/2026

Making History at the 2026 Investor Breakfast! 🏆

For the first time, the Orange County Partnership will recognize three Women of Achievement in Economic Development: Maria Bruni, Valerie Maginsky and Cherisse Vickers, three “unsung heroes” helping drive the continued revitalization of City of Middletown, NY, City of Port Jervis, NY, and the City of Newburgh.

08/05/2026

🚨 New Panelist Added!

We're pleased to welcome Emilie Nelson, Executive Vice President & COO of NYISO, to our panel for "The Power Behind the Project" on Wednesday, August 12 at City Winery Hudson Valley.

Join Emilie and three utility/energy CEO's: Stephanie Raymond, Michele O'Connell and Melissa Cobuzzi for an important conversation on how New York's electric grid is powering economic development across the region.

RSVP today by contacting our team: 845-294-2323.

07/31/2026

The Orange County Partnership was proud to host Nick Bruno, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Workforce Development at MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, today for a great discussion on manufacturing workforce development and site selection efforts.

We also had the opportunity to tour Satin Ice in Chester and see firsthand the innovation and growth taking place within Orange County’s manufacturing sector.

Are you a manufacturing company in Orange County? We’d love to connect and explore how we can support your growth and workforce needs. Reach out to learn how we can work together.

07/28/2026

📅 Save the Date! Join us for the Orange County Partnership's 2026 Investor Breakfast on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8:00 AM at The Barn at Villa Venezia.

The Investor Breakfast is our opportunity to recognize and thank the Investors whose commitment makes our mission possible. Your support helps drive business investment, create quality jobs, and strengthen the quality of life throughout Orange County.

👀 Stay tuned! We'll soon be announcing the recipients of our highly anticipated, first-of-its-kind award, recognizing individuals and organizations making an extraordinary impact on Orange County's economic future.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

07/23/2026

⚡ The Power Behind the Project 🔌
What does it really take to power the next generation of economic development projects?

Join us on Wednesday, August 12 at 8:00 AM at City Winery Hudson Valley for The Power Behind the Projects, an important Alliance for Balanced Growth event featuring leaders from New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), Central Hudson, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., and M&R Energy Resources Corp.

Gain an inside look at how New York's electric grid, regional transmission system, and local utilities work together to support business attraction, expansion, and long-term economic growth.

Whether you're a developer, municipal leader, business executive, or simply interested in how infrastructure drives economic growth, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors: ADG Architects, Rhinebeck Bank and M&R Energy Resources Company.

We look forward to seeing you on August 12! Reach out to our Director of Events & Programming, Rebecca Wilson to RSVP: [email protected] or call (845) 294-2323.

07/15/2026

Today we had the opportunity to visit Aladdin Packaging LLC the Town of Newburgh as part of our new Orange County Business Pulse initiative.

A big thank you to Jesse Schultis, Director of Operations, for the tour and for giving us an inside look at their operation. It's always fascinating to see how many of the everyday brands you find on store shelves rely on flexible plastic packaging that's manufactured right here in Orange County.

We had a great conversation about the current challenges facing manufacturers, future expansion opportunities, and resources that may help support continued growth.

If you're an industrial business in Orange County and are planning an expansion, adding production lines, facing workforce challenges, or simply want to learn about available funding opportunities, we'd love to connect.

Reach out to our Business Retention & Expansion team to schedule an Orange County Business Pulse visit.