The State of Our County: Hard Fought Progress

The state of Rockland is becoming stronger and more robust; with great progress being made over the eight years I have been in office, despite significant challenges.

I am required by the Rockland County Charter to update the Legislature once every year on the State of the County and was happy to hold this year’s address inside the chambers of the County Legislature as I unveiled our incredible accomplishments in revitalizing Rockland’s economy.

Our Department of Planning set a record in their reviews of development applications. Last year, the number of reviews they completed were 25% higher than the five-year average. Now that’s what I call progress with responsible oversight.
Thanks to our commitment to sustainable development, we have increased our total value of taxable real estate by $7.4 billion in five years – that’s a 21% increase. This growth ultimately brings good jobs to Rockland, stabilizes our tax base, and shields families from the double-digit tax increases of the past.

I’m proud to say everything we have accomplished is a result of our government, private sector, and supporting agencies working together.

One of those supporting agencies, the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency, received 17 applications for new projects last year, which is another record high. These projects involve every town in the County across a range of industries.

The investment from all these projects is estimated to be $981 million and is expected to generate 400 good paying jobs, not including the thousands of jobs in construction involved in the building or expansion process.

All these new and expanding developments demonstrate the momentum we are building here in Rockland, which is also reflected in Rockland’s rebounding workforce. Rockland’s unemployment rate is down to 3.3% and, I’m happy to say, is among the lowest in the Hudson Valley. That number is vastly improved from the 13.3% unemployment rate during the worst of the pandemic two years ago in April 2020.

Let’s not forget, the County’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism is continuing to increase Rockland’s visibility and put our beautiful county on the map.

Despite the challenges the pandemic presented, the department managed to bring in $958,000 in filming revenue last year from 32 productions on County property alone. This is just one of the many ways your government is working to earn money for a brighter and more sustainable future in Rockland. Productions we welcomed here last year include FBI: Most Wanted, A journal for Jordan and the Good Fight.

I want to mention Lucy Redzeposki my Director of Economic Growth and Tourism, Al Samuels, President of the RBA and Steve Porath, Rockland County Industrial Development Agency, just a few of many who have and continue to work very closely to bring new businesses into the county and help retain or expand current businesses.

The volume and variety of rightsized development across Rockland is exactly what will place us on the map and continue bringing great wealth to our County, that my administration pledges to not waste.

While much has been accomplished, more is yet to be done. Together we will achieve great things for our beloved county.