MONTICELLO – Sullivan County’s unemployment rate was just under 10 percent in March, the highest of the nine Mid-Hudson/Catskills counties. The county and its various agencies continue to search for opportunities and to offer incentives that could mean more jobs.
“Currently there are four new possible applications in the pipeline,” Partnership for Economic Development CEO Allan Scott reported at Thursday’s Community and Economic Development Committee meeting of the County Legislature. “One is in Bethel, one is in Tusten and two are in Thompson.”
Scott did not go into detail about the applicants.
One big project he did mention is the Center for Discovery’s plans for a $42 million autism facility that could mean an additional 350 or more jobs.
The effort is also aimed at keeping business in Sullivan County.
Scott said they are making a concerted effort to keep Sutphen East, an Ohio-based company that refurbishes fire trucks, from relocating to Pennsylvania.
County IDA Director Jennifer Brylinski reported, again, that the long-planned red meat processing plant is still in the works, with a possible groundbreaking in the Town of Liberty later this spring.
“We’re still 100 percent,” Brylinski said.