Columbia Hudson Partnership Columbia Hudson Partnership (CHP), formed in 1995, is the lead economic development agency for Columbia County in New York State. It is an alliance of County economic development partners focused on strengthening the area’s tax base through new business investment and job creation. Located in the heart of the Tech Valley Region, which includes 17 counties in New York’s northeast corridor, Columbia County is about a half-hour drive from Albany and a two-hour drive from New York City. CHP acts as a facilitator and single point of contact for businesses seeking to expand their current operations in the County or to locate new facilities in the area. Its mission is to assist businesses by identifying appropriate sites that meet their requirements and by providing easy access to financial and technical assistance made available through the State of New York and CHP’s County economic development partners as well as private sector financial institutions.
Partners
Columbia Economic Development Corporation Provides site leasing arrangements, administers low-interest revolving loan funds, manages the MicroBusiness technical assistance program for people starting new businesses, and provides a full package of tax credits and loans for businesses that locate their facilitates within the County’s Empire Zone areas. The Small Business Administration to provide micro loans of $2,000 to $35,000 to small businesses.
Columbia County Industrial Development Agency Works with new and existing companies to provide necessary assistance to bring about successful location or expansion for business throughout Columbia County and provides industrial revenue bonds for major projects.
NYS Resources
Empire State Development Designates Empire Zone areas and provides loans and grants.
NYS Department of Labor Provides job creation incentives and technical assistance.
Commerce Park Columbia County’s Commerce Park is a “shovel-ready,” 250-acre, broadband-enabled business campus with all the infrastructure in place to support the smart buildings needed for high-tech R&D, and commercial and light industrial facilities.
Columbia-Greene Workforce Investment System Columbia-Greene Community College is the location of the Columbia Greene One-Stop Career Center, established under the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) as part of the Columbia-Greene Workforce Investment System. The One-Stop Career Center serves both job seekers and employers. Core services provided through the One-Stop system include labor market information, job listings, employer information, résumé software, workshops, computer and Internet access, initial assessment and eligibility for services under WIA, and information on service providers and agencies. Education and employment training services are available to customers who meet certain requirements. The Columbia-Greene One-Stop Career Center is aware of the importance of the business community as customers in the workforce investment system. The local area uses appropriate funding to provide incumbent worker training through Columbia-Greene Community College, Questar III BOCES and other contracted providers. For more information on the Columbia-Greene Workforce Investment System and One-Stop Career Center, contact Mary Alane Wiltse, Associate Director for Employability Development, at 518-828-4181 x5510, or via e-mail at wiltse@vaxa.sunycgcc.edu.
Columbia County has nearly fifty country farm markets and orchards, many of them specializing in organic produce.
The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company is the largest sheep dairy farm in the United States.
Census/Demographics
The estimated population of the County is 63,668.
Hudson, once a busy port city frequented by whalers, is the Seat of Columbia County.
Arts & Culture
PS/21 - Performing Spaces for the 21st Century, is a new venue under the direction of Gwen Gould, offering classical sings under an open-air tent in Chatham. www.ps21chatham.org.
What's New
Migrant Farm Workers Get New Housing Through Innovative Program
Migrant workers on several farms in Columbia County are receiving new living quarters thanks to a unique program created by the Columbia Hudson Partnership.
