NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (June 10, 2015) — The Orange County Business Accelerator (OCBA) today unveiled new details on its planned Cut and Sew & Design Center at its Annual Reception and Open House. The Cut and Sew & Design Center will create opportunity for Mid-Hudson Valley entrepreneurs seeking to expand their ventures in the garment industry who require access to small but formalized space, manufacturing equipment and traditional OCBA resources, such as providing meeting space, mentoring and access to other experienced professionals and investors.
Vincent Cozzolino, managing partner of Galileo Technology Group, the new manager of OCBA, said the new manufacturing program will provide access to a production line that can create garment and related designs as well as produce small- to medium-sized batches of product in pilot projects. Equipment will be supplied on-site and maintained by OCBA, so it is always ready to go. A trained workforce is also on call to assist entrepreneurs in the manufacturing process.
Through OCBA’s SMARTT Center, tenants will have access to state technical and business resources, a connection to industry partners invited to the site and connections to key services, such as hourly access to a chief financial officer or attorney via SKYPE.
OCBA’s New Business Resource Center will provide meeting space, mentoring, investor connections and assistance with business plan development.
“Manufacturing in the U.S. is trending upward, so it is easy to see why The Cut and Sew & Design Center makes sense for the Orange County Business Accelerator,” said Cozzolino. “We are looking forward to providing an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek the advantages of the Hudson Valley, such as a more economical way of doing business, along with the attractiveness of working with the many garment industry businesses from New York City.”
With 900 fashion companies headquartered in New York City, the industry employs 180,000 people or 6 percent of the city’s workforce. In 2014, manufacturers contributed $2.09 trillion to the economy, having risen steadily since being $1.73 trillion in 2009. The sector currently accounts for 12.0 percent of GDP. Manufacturing supports an estimated 17.6 million jobs in the United States, about one in six private-sector jobs. More than 12 million Americans (or 9 percent of the workforce) are employed directly in manufacturing. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.37 is added to the economy, the highest multiplier effect of any economic sector.
The Accelerator was launched more than five years ago by the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and is designed to attract new entrepreneurial investment across various industries by providing businesses with below-market occupancy costs, mentoring programs, easy access to experienced professionals and a high-tech plug-and-play office environment.
“This Center brings a new dimension for OCBA and will foster job creation and economic growth in the important manufacturing sector,” said James R. Petro Jr., executive director of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, which supports the OCBA. “We’re so proud of what we are doing here. We hope this opens up opportunity for the entire Hudson Valley.”
About the Orange County Business Accelerator:
The Orange County Business Accelerator (OCBA) is a business incubator strategically located in New Windsor at Stewart International Airport with proximity to major interstates. The Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has championed both the creation and operation of OCBA. The incubator was launched more than five years ago and is designed to attract new entrepreneurial investment across various industries by providing businesses with below-market occupancy costs, mentoring programs, easy access to experienced professionals and a high-tech plug-and-play office environment. OCBA has served 43 companies that have directly created 125 new jobs. OCBA recently received official certification as a New York State Incubator and a sizable grant from New York’s Empire State Development to support additional resources and services for resident companies. For more information, visit http://ocaccelerator.com.
