Preparation and strategy are critical for attracting new and emerging sectors – the offshore wind supply chain positions Orange County to be on the ground floor of next-generation job creation. Last month, the Orange County Partnership was represented by Conor Eckert, our Vice President of Business Attraction, at the International Partnering Forum Conference in New Orleans – the largest offshore wind conference in the country. Many of the major developers, manufacturers, and consultants in the offshore wind industry attend – as do delegations of economic developers from states across the country. Over the last year, we’ve identified two sites along the Hudson River that are well-positioned for advanced manufacturing for the offshore wind supply chain – items such as secondary steel, specialized cables, and windmill blades. The opportunity for us is clear – our sites on the Hudson River with industrial infrastructure offer supply chain manufacturers a unique opportunity to not only achieve scale on a real estate basis but also offer the ability to barge finished products down toward staging areas near the Atlantic, the final destination for finished windmills.

Over the past few months, we’ve held a handful of site tours with international companies interested in locating a supply chain project in North America. At the IPF conference, Conor was able to reconnect with these companies, helping further advocate for our market and site selection opportunities. Opportunities to prop up an emerging industry don’t come often – especially industries that create well-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs. If a clean energy transition is going to happen, we’re going to work to make sure the component supply chain production locate in Orange County, NY!

My very best,

Maureen Halahan

President & CEO

Orange County Partnership