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‘I feel like a Sullivan County native’ Sen. Bonacic reflects on Walter Rhulen Award, long career in politics
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Sullivan County Chamber Names New Prez See page 3
INSIDE: Josh Potosek earns Distinguished Service Award page 4E Partnership continues Entrepreneurial Program page 6E Advance Testing continues tradition of quality, reliability page 10E To the People: It's all in the numbers page 14E
DEMOCRAT FILE PHOTO BY MATT SHORTALL
Sen. John Bonacic was on hand for the grand opening of Resorts World Casino in Monticello earlier this year. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, Sen. Bonacic was instrumental in helping Sullivan County earn a gaming license. BY AUTUMN SCHANIL
S
ome of the greatest achievements in the world started with a simple thought and a small act of kindness.
For this year’s Walter A. Rhulen Awardee – New York State Senator John Bonacic – kindness and helping people is something he always had in him.
MAKING IT COUNT
“When you come out of law school you just think about getting a job and making money. But I always loved
Please see BONACIC, page 8E
24th Annual Partnership Meeting & Awards
JOIN US as we review and celebrate where we’ve been, and outline our plans for where we’re heading. Senator John J. Bonacic WALTER A. RHULEN AWARD WINNER
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2018 The Sullivan Event Center, Rock Hill • 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. MEET, GREET, BUILD, AND SOLIDIFY YOUR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
County Manager Josh Potosek DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNER
FOR MORE INFO, TO SPONSOR, OR TO RSVP, CALL (845) 794-1110 OR EMAIL JENN@SCPARTNERSHIP.COM.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE • Deadline for reservations is September 21
The Sullivan Catskills making a comeback! pages 16E Building a local, sustainable energy economy page 18E SCVA bring global awareness to Sullivan page 20E VHB looks to help Sullivan County grow page 22E Superior Surfacing: Paving the way for a smooth future page 24E
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Best wishes on your y retirem ment, Sennator Bonaciic
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Sullivan County Chamber names new President/CEO
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he Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board and Board of Directors are excited to announce the hiring of our new President/CEO, Jaime Schmeiser. After an exhaustive search the Board feels they have found the perfect fit in Jaime. She will start in her new role as the leader of the Chamber on October 1. Please see the following introductory letter from Jaime.
Dear Sullivan County Business Community, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I am Jaime Schmeiser, the new President/CEO of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. I’m incredibly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to assist, support, promote, and advocate on behalf of Sullivan County’s business community. I am a native New Yorker who comes from a long line of commerce profes-
sionals, teachers, artists, philanthropists, and altruists. The principles of continued growth, conscious benevolence, collective advocacy, equitable education and vocation, are tenets that I value highly. I am coming home to a state, a county and a community that I love after garnering twenty-four years of administration, leadership, and rural community economic development in Wyoming. I have worn many hats – from CEO to Board Member in a rural chamber of commerce, economic development partnerships, main street organizations, and non- profits concerned with affordable housing issues and poverty alleviation. I also have played an active role in community partnership development, grant writing, and volunteer management with such organizations as Habitat for Humanity and Main Street USA. These many roles allowed me to create successful programs which assisted in
the development and expansion of business-client relationships while building and strengthening coalitions, and working with community stakeholders. I am someone who supports inclusiveness, genuinely welcomes and celebrates diverse voices and perspectives, and enjoys working in a learning-centered environment. I am truly excited for the future of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I look forward to building upon the existing member offerings as well as working with the Board to initiate others; all in an effort to expand the capacity of the organization to advance its mission and vision. I am blessed to be joining a fantastic team and an inspiring community. I am excited to get to know the membership, meet the people, and explore the challenges that can make a true profound difference to our organization. I sincerely welcome you along for
Jaime Schmeiser
what will be a very engaging and fulfilling ride. I look forward to meeting you and working with you to further strengthen and galvanize an amazing business community. Please come and say hello. I would love to meet you! Sincerely,
Jaime Schmeiser
Jaime Schmeiser President/CEO Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc.
Published by Catskill Delaware Publications, Inc.
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Helping people a rewarding experience for County Manager Josh Potosek Distinguished STORY AND PHOTO BY AUTUMN SCHANIL
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he Distinguished Service Award is given each year by the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development to a person who has shown extraordinary service to the county, and with more than 11 years under his belt, Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek is being honored this year for his dedication and hard work. Potosek was offered the County Manager position in March of 2013, and upon accepting, has been steadily working on improving public safety for residents of Sullivan County, infrastructure and getting projects moving that are desperately needed for consistent economic growth. One of those projects, that has been a discussion at the table since the
early 80s, was a new county jail. “Building a jail isn’t necessarily what a politician or even the public wants but 10 percent of our workforce works there,” he said. “So how do we face them every day and say ‘no,’ we don’t care that you’re working in these deplorable conditions. “It’s something that has been needed for the better part of two or three decades.” After moving to Livingston Manor with his parents when he was just four or five years old, Potosek never really imagined himself in a position like County Manager. “My family and I were never really into politics. I could have probably told you just a handful of things about the government,” laughed Potosek, “like the DMV and the Board of Elections. So I went into the private sector after high school. I worked at
Recovering Your Receivables is all in the Approach.
Service Award Winner IBM for a while.” Potosek then began looking at some opportunities in Sullivan County, and with a Masters from Marist College, he took a civil service test. Six months later he was canvassed. “I was doing a lot of similar things at IBM, but once I started to move up here and got more into policy, I was getting into more rewarding and enriching things,” Potosek explained. “In a big company you don’t really see the end game of things and you’re so distant from the customer. “Here you can impact people’s lives more, and you can see it. A decision you make can improve someone’s life
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Deputy County Manager Dan DePew, left, and County Manager Josh Potosek inspect the progress of the new Sullivan County Jail earlier this summer.
and it’s much more rewarding to see that,” he said. Potosek went on to express that when he first took the job, he thought
his role would be more accounting and budgeting, but has clearly grown into something much more. “Everything you do, everything I do,
is through that lens of trying to help the public,” he said. “You’re helping your fellow neighbors and residents. But it's not just me. I could never
accomplish everything without a team of people behind me. So this award is just as much for them as it is for me. It’s very humbling.”
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SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
Partnership continues small business entrepreneurial focus
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AUTUMN SCHANIL | DEMOCRAT
From left to right are Jason Gorr, Chris Lockwood, Doug Cummings and Andrew Cummings.
he Sullivan County Partnership believes in the importance of small businesses and how they are a fundamental part of the economy. Christopher Lockwood, Marketing Outreach Coordinator for the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, has been leading the small business division for the Partnership. Recently the Sullivan County Partnership partnered with Jeff Bank to assist Beaverkill Landscaping LLC for the acquisition and expansion of an existing business. Beaverkill Landscaping LLC., is owned by Andrew Cummings, a young landscaping
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been in operation for the last 40 years. The new management will foster new relationships in the area allowing the business to grow. The Partnership focuses on giving technical assistance to incoming small business by utilizing tools such as technical expertise their relationships built over decades with business experts, financing entities, planning professionals, local officials and its own revolving loan fund. The Sullivan Investment Loan Fund along with the Incubator Without Walls Revolving Loan Funds are wonderful resources that can assist businesses in need of financing. The Partnership provides guidance for incoming businesses which is essential for a business to survive the start-up or expansion phase of a project.
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professional poised to plant entrepreneurial roots in Sullivan County and enhance his new business venture. The Beaverkill Landscaping is looking to expand the already existing business and hire more employees in the near future. Mr. Cummings graduated from SUNY Cobleskill and received a bachelor’s in Landscape Contracting; followed by extensive landscaping work while employed at a large Maine based landscaping company. “This was a great project to back for the Partnership and we hope for a continued and prosperous future for Beaverkill Landscaping moving forward.” said Chris Lockwood, Small Business and Economic Development Coordinator. Beaverkill Landscaping is located in Livingston Manor and had
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BUSINESS EDGE
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SEPTEMBER, 2018
BONACIC, from front page people and I always wanted to help people,” Sen. Bonacic stated. “I always had that in me.” Sen. Bonacic will be honored this year at the Partnership’s Annual Meeting for his commitment to community and the districts he represents, along with his service to the betterment of the people he stands for. A graduate of Iona College and later Fordham University School of Law, Sen. Bonacic professed that he wasn’t really ever sure where life would take him, but he’s happy as to where he’s ended up. In February of 1990, Bonacic was elected to the New York State Assembly and was re-elected four times, remaining in the Assembly until he was elected to the New York State Senate in 1998, being re-elected every two years ever since. “If I had to do it all over again, I absolutely would. I have no regrets
on anything, and I’ve been a very fortunate human being,” he expressed. “There are so many people that have touched me in my life, and I’ve touched them.” During his time as Senator, Bonacic brought a lot of his focus to Sullivan County, as he felt it was a county that needed it the most, working to secure grants and monies to aid in the revitalization throughout many of its parts. “One thing that I knew how to do, that maybe some of the Senators before me didn’t quite focus on, was following the money,” laughed Bonacic. “So I concentrated on Sullivan County because the people needed it the most. “The people were really struggling and now, today, there is a strong economic heartbeat with job creation and more,” he said. Just this year alone, Bonacic has secured $75,000 for the Town of
Just this year alone, Bonacic has secured $75,000 for the Town of Thompson and a $1 million grant for the Center for Discovery.
Thompson and a $1 million grant for the Center for Discovery. He supported a Senate Resolution that invests $1 million to combat lyme and tick-borne diseases, something that has been a growing issue for the past few years, as well as supported a Senate Resolution that would add $5 million in additional funding for critical women’s health initiatives. And although Bonacic has announced that he will be retiring at the end of this year, he plans to continue to help and serve the people, just in other ways. “I think this is the premiere award
in Sullivan County,” Bonacic said when asked about how he felt receiving the award. “You know, I looked at the 19 people that have received this award since 1990 and they are all Sullivan County people. “So this award makes me feel like I’m a native, that I’m accepted as a part of the people, and that makes me feel good,” he said. “And if you ask me what my greatest achievement would be… it would be my family. They’re good people and they do good things. I’m looking forward to spending more time with them.”
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SEPTEMBER, 2018
Advanced Testing worked on the Tappan Zee Bridge project, which is one of the largest in New York State history and will serve as a landmark for many years to come.
Advance Testing continues tradition of quality, reliability, professionalism and integrity BY FRED STABBERT III
J
immy Smith will never forget how Advance Testing got started. Smith worked hard, first earning an associate’s degree from Alfred State College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After college, he found a job working within a division of Yonkers Contracting, eventually working his way up to Chief Quality Control Technician. When he was hired, Smith told his employer that he could commit to five years, and when that time was up, he was going to start his own company. “Nobody believed me,” Smith says, “but in five years, I stuck to my plan, and after I trained my replacement, much to their dismay, I moved on.” So he ventured out on his own – armed only with his station wagon and some credit cards, and in 1984 founded Advance Testing. It took several years before Advance Testing would become a serious player in the Mid-Hudson region, and by then the company had cemented a reputa-
tion of knowledgeable employees who worked tirelessly to make sure the job was done right and done on time. “It’s all about customer service,” Smith said recently “You are only as good as your last at bat. Our state-of-the-art laboratory facility is open 7 days a week, offering 24-hour service to our clients when needed” Smith said. If Advance Testing’s line-up of projects is any gauge, the company has a great batting average. “We are really happy to be involved in the growth of Sullivan County,” Smith said. “We’ve worked at SUNY Sullivan, the Monticello Motor Club, Crystal Run Healthcare, Catskill Regional Medical Center, Resorts World Catskills and the Kartrite Water Park.” It was the Resorts World Catskills project, for which planning started more than a decade ago, that was a catalyst for renewed economic development in Sullivan County. Chris
The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark in Monticello is set to open in early 2019 and is another Advance Testing project.
SEPTEMBER, 2018
McCracken, Director of Business Development at Advance Testing, said, “We forged a close relationship with Empire Resorts [management] and we hit it off. There was something about this project that we truly embraced and in the end it was very exciting to see them selected for a gaming license,” McCracken said. “We are honored and fortunate to be involved with the project’s construction. We have worked on it since the very early phases, from shortly after tree clearing to building an interchange and now, Chalet Road and the casino itself.” Smith added, “Our work on the casino brought our presence full bore into Sullivan County. It’s been years since we had the opportunity to work on a job the size of the casino. It was a perfect opportunity and we did our best to live by the motto, ‘buy and hire local’,” Smith said. “It started with the infrastructure phase when we printed the plans locally. Then, we purchased company vehicles, equipment and even attire for our workers from local vendors,” he said. “We continued our efforts to reach out to the community through the Sullivan County
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Partnership and SUNY Sullivan. “A good portion of our team who worked on the project are Sullivan County residents,” he said. “For the last 10 years we’ve been involved in the Sullivan County Partnership and it’s an exciting organization to be a member of,” Smith. “They are dedicated to their investors and help keep everyone united – they are the fabric of the community. And with the help of the Partnership, Sullivan County Visitors Assn. and Sullivan County Chamber, Sullivan United was born, an organization which fully supported the casino project.” Today, Advance Testing is headquartered out of Campbell Hall in Orange County, and during the peak building season will employ upwards of 160 people. They have also opened up offices in Harpursville, NY; West Stockbridge, MA; Fort Myers, FL and Newtown, CT. Last year Advance Testing worked on 1,100 different projects in the Northeast, with durations ranging from two days to five years.
Please see ADVANCED, page 12E
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Advance Testing is a strong supporter of High School Mentoring. Here members of the Monticello High School Mentoring Group had a meeting with Partnership President and CEO Marc Baez, left, and Partnership Marketing Outreach Coordinator Chris Lockwood, second from right, and Sullivan County Deputy Manager Dan DePew.
ADVANCED, from page 11E
come,” he said.
Smith is also proud of the role that Advance Testing had as part of the NYS Thruway Authority Owner’s Engineer Team, charged with oversight of the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement Project (Mario M. Cuomo Bridge). “It’s going to be a landmark for many, many years to
Employees are strength of Advance Testing culture Talk with Advance Testing President and CEO Jimmy Smith for any length of time and the words dedication, involvement and enriching are sure to come up. Smith not only believes in
his own employees but is working hard to develop the next generation of Advance Testing team members and managers. “I was a one-person operation for a year, and we still have our first employee, Mark Clark, who’s been with us 34 years,” Smith said. “We have 20 employees with over 15 years of tenure with the company. “We are
really structured for further growth,” he said. One way which Smith is building the leaders of tomorrow is through Advance Testing’s High School Mentorship Program. Last year they A brought in students from Monticello P High School and Newburgh Free w Academy for a 7-week program. “They M were treated like any other employee, D including completion of the formal 10hour OSHA Construction Safety course M whereby they earned a nationally recognized certificate,” he said. “They learned about Advance Testing and were able to develop professional demeanor and soft skills,” Smith said. The program extended to SUNY Sullivan where students learned interview skills and prepared a resume, and
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Advance Testing CEO Jimmy Smith, center, is a big supporter of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development. Here he attends a monthly meeting and networks with, from the left: Thompson Education Center CEO Sherry Li, Richard McGoey from
McGoey, Hauser & Edsall Consulting Engineers, Empire Resorts EVP Charlie Degliomini and Dr. Gerry Galarneau, who is the President of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System Medical Group.
to the Sullivan County Partnership where students learned about economic development and career opportunities in the County. Smith said the program has been in place for several years and is an excellent way to build future leaders of industry. As an added bonus, Advance offers the students a $1,000 scholarship to put towards
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SEPTEMBER, 2018
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Q&A with Resorts World Catskills’ Charlie Degliomini
It’s all in the numbers…
• What exciting new developments are happening in and around the casino since its opening earlier this year? Since opening our doors earlier this year, we have opened most of our amenities that our integrated casino resort has to offer. In addition to our 332 all-suite hotel which features 27 premium accommodations, we have launched the opening of the Crystal Life Spa, the RW Epicenter, our 2,500 seat event venue that has welcomed the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Gavin DeGraw and Sebastian Maniscalco, and the exclusive Palace High Limit Gaming area, which is designed for top-tier players and features private gaming salons, an experience you cannot find anywhere outside of Las Vegas and Macau. We also look forward to opening our second hotel in December which will allow us to increase the number of guests we can host, in turn, bringing more people to Sullivan County.
To the People: What a difference a year makes! This timeless adage could not be more true in Sullivan County today. Just one year ago there was no Resorts World Catskills CEO/President Marc Baez or YO1 Nature Cure. Also, Kartrite Indoor Water Park is now nearly completed, Entertainment Hotel is under construction, and the Eldred Preserve project, Hampton Inn project, and multiple housing projects are all in the making. Today our unemployment rate at 3.9% is the lowest it has been in 28 years. It is lower than the New York State average and lower than the United States figures. Who saw that coming? We did. There have been completed investments of approximately $1.5 billion dollars with much more to come. Sales tax collection is up over $3 million dollars from this time last year.There has been job creation in the thousands, with more to come. For the first time in decades fully employed workers are seeking better jobs than their current one in a significant way. We have gone from a labor surplus county to a labor importer. And we still need over 800 new employees to fill anticipated openings in the very near future. While that creates its own set of challenges, which we must certainly address, I much prefer it over where we were just three years ago. This is just one example of growing pains we must overcome in order to experience the full return of a vibrant sustainable Sullivan County economy. Yes, housing, schools, workforce training, infrastructure are among many critical areas we continue to work on. Yet, I remind everyone that collectively we are methodically addressing each one relative to what growing resources allow us to do. It took forty years to completely bottom out. Now we are well into our comeback story. It is not perfect and no one claimed it would be. And there remains those, including some in the media, that will focus on every negative thing that can highlight. Unbelievable! It is clearly obvious that the Sullivan County economy is thriving. Those are not just words, the actual numbers speak volumes. Most all businesses are busier than they have been in years and we are only at the very beginning of this remarkable journey. Hang in there folks there will be a lot more to come in 2019. Sincerely,
Marc Baez President, Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development
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Resorts World Catskills casino in Monticello has been open for 6 months and now employs 1600 team members. The $900 million project is continuing to spur development in the area with the building of the Kartrite Indoor Waterpark and several new businesses opening along Broadway, Monticello.
Jeff Bank opened its new Anawana Rd., Monticello branch last year with an open house. The state-of-the-art branch includes many of the latest features in banking, including a cash counting machine, and Universal Bankers who can handle a customer’s every need.
Cranes, concrete and steel were a big part of the Sullivan County landscape the last few years as nearly $1.5 billion of new construction was put into the ground in Sullivan County. These two photos show the building phase, left, and the completed YO1 Wellness Center in Monticello.
The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark is currently under construction, just minutes from the Resorts World Catskills casino. The impressive facility is sure to attract many visitors to Sullivan County all year long, including families wanting to enjoy a dip in a warm pool during the cold winter months.
• Resorts World Catskills has already had a tremendous impact on the Sullivan County employment scene. What opportunities are there for residents to join your staff and what qualifications should they come with? Resorts World Catskills currently employees over 1,600 team members, with over 63% of that number coming from Sullivan County. As we look to 2019, we plan to employee over 2,200 people throughout our campus. The positions available at Resorts World Catskills provide a unique opportunity to begin an exciting and rewarding career that offers opportunities for continued career growth , great benefits and development and we encourage Sullivan County residents to visit the careers page of our website to apply. We are looking for enthusiastic new team members who exhibit a positive attitude and a desire to provide our guests with unparalleled experiences. • What new attractions and promotions are being offered inside the casino to attract new visitors? This summer, Resorts World Catskills introduced a series of incredible promotions for our guests that speak to the caliber of our brand. Since July 1, we have hosted “Imagine a Million,” giving guests the chance to win their share of millions of dollars in prizes each day they play, including four players who won VIP experience packages, and one lucky winner who will take home $1 million, guaranteed on Saturday, September 15. In addition to the exceptional promotions that we will continue to offer our players, we look forward to opening our second hotel, restoring the Monster Golf Course and welcoming the Kartrite Waterpark and Lodge to our campus, all of which will put Resorts World Catskills on the map as a top integrated destination. • What restaurant do you recommend for the perfect night out ? With 10 eclectic bar and restaurant outlets, Resorts World Catskills is the perfect place for a night out. Whether you are indulging in dinner and a glass of one of our 500 varieties of wine at Cellaio, an Italian inspired steakhouse with a menu curated by celebrity chef Scott Conant, or enjoying drinks and live entertainment at Bar 360, located in the center of the action of the casino floor, we are truly able to offer a unique experience for every guest.
15E
14E
BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
SEPTEMBER, 2018
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Q&A with Resorts World Catskills’ Charlie Degliomini
It’s all in the numbers…
• What exciting new developments are happening in and around the casino since its opening earlier this year? Since opening our doors earlier this year, we have opened most of our amenities that our integrated casino resort has to offer. In addition to our 332 all-suite hotel which features 27 premium accommodations, we have launched the opening of the Crystal Life Spa, the RW Epicenter, our 2,500 seat event venue that has welcomed the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Gavin DeGraw and Sebastian Maniscalco, and the exclusive Palace High Limit Gaming area, which is designed for top-tier players and features private gaming salons, an experience you cannot find anywhere outside of Las Vegas and Macau. We also look forward to opening our second hotel in December which will allow us to increase the number of guests we can host, in turn, bringing more people to Sullivan County.
To the People: What a difference a year makes! This timeless adage could not be more true in Sullivan County today. Just one year ago there was no Resorts World Catskills CEO/President Marc Baez or YO1 Nature Cure. Also, Kartrite Indoor Water Park is now nearly completed, Entertainment Hotel is under construction, and the Eldred Preserve project, Hampton Inn project, and multiple housing projects are all in the making. Today our unemployment rate at 3.9% is the lowest it has been in 28 years. It is lower than the New York State average and lower than the United States figures. Who saw that coming? We did. There have been completed investments of approximately $1.5 billion dollars with much more to come. Sales tax collection is up over $3 million dollars from this time last year.There has been job creation in the thousands, with more to come. For the first time in decades fully employed workers are seeking better jobs than their current one in a significant way. We have gone from a labor surplus county to a labor importer. And we still need over 800 new employees to fill anticipated openings in the very near future. While that creates its own set of challenges, which we must certainly address, I much prefer it over where we were just three years ago. This is just one example of growing pains we must overcome in order to experience the full return of a vibrant sustainable Sullivan County economy. Yes, housing, schools, workforce training, infrastructure are among many critical areas we continue to work on. Yet, I remind everyone that collectively we are methodically addressing each one relative to what growing resources allow us to do. It took forty years to completely bottom out. Now we are well into our comeback story. It is not perfect and no one claimed it would be. And there remains those, including some in the media, that will focus on every negative thing that can highlight. Unbelievable! It is clearly obvious that the Sullivan County economy is thriving. Those are not just words, the actual numbers speak volumes. Most all businesses are busier than they have been in years and we are only at the very beginning of this remarkable journey. Hang in there folks there will be a lot more to come in 2019. Sincerely,
Marc Baez President, Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development
BUSINESS EDGE
Resorts World Catskills casino in Monticello has been open for 6 months and now employs 1600 team members. The $900 million project is continuing to spur development in the area with the building of the Kartrite Indoor Waterpark and several new businesses opening along Broadway, Monticello.
Jeff Bank opened its new Anawana Rd., Monticello branch last year with an open house. The state-of-the-art branch includes many of the latest features in banking, including a cash counting machine, and Universal Bankers who can handle a customer’s every need.
Cranes, concrete and steel were a big part of the Sullivan County landscape the last few years as nearly $1.5 billion of new construction was put into the ground in Sullivan County. These two photos show the building phase, left, and the completed YO1 Wellness Center in Monticello.
The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark is currently under construction, just minutes from the Resorts World Catskills casino. The impressive facility is sure to attract many visitors to Sullivan County all year long, including families wanting to enjoy a dip in a warm pool during the cold winter months.
• Resorts World Catskills has already had a tremendous impact on the Sullivan County employment scene. What opportunities are there for residents to join your staff and what qualifications should they come with? Resorts World Catskills currently employees over 1,600 team members, with over 63% of that number coming from Sullivan County. As we look to 2019, we plan to employee over 2,200 people throughout our campus. The positions available at Resorts World Catskills provide a unique opportunity to begin an exciting and rewarding career that offers opportunities for continued career growth , great benefits and development and we encourage Sullivan County residents to visit the careers page of our website to apply. We are looking for enthusiastic new team members who exhibit a positive attitude and a desire to provide our guests with unparalleled experiences. • What new attractions and promotions are being offered inside the casino to attract new visitors? This summer, Resorts World Catskills introduced a series of incredible promotions for our guests that speak to the caliber of our brand. Since July 1, we have hosted “Imagine a Million,” giving guests the chance to win their share of millions of dollars in prizes each day they play, including four players who won VIP experience packages, and one lucky winner who will take home $1 million, guaranteed on Saturday, September 15. In addition to the exceptional promotions that we will continue to offer our players, we look forward to opening our second hotel, restoring the Monster Golf Course and welcoming the Kartrite Waterpark and Lodge to our campus, all of which will put Resorts World Catskills on the map as a top integrated destination. • What restaurant do you recommend for the perfect night out ? With 10 eclectic bar and restaurant outlets, Resorts World Catskills is the perfect place for a night out. Whether you are indulging in dinner and a glass of one of our 500 varieties of wine at Cellaio, an Italian inspired steakhouse with a menu curated by celebrity chef Scott Conant, or enjoying drinks and live entertainment at Bar 360, located in the center of the action of the casino floor, we are truly able to offer a unique experience for every guest.
15E
16E
BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
The Sullivan Catskills is making a comeback!
S
ullivan Catskills is growing steadily in tourism spending, making Sullivan County one of the fastest emerging destinations for tourism growth and investment in New York State and the entire Northeast. The Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) and its economic development partners are at the forefront of this development. Time, strong partnerships and well thought out strategic planning is the recipe for successful tourism progress. Roberta Byron-Lockwood, President of the SCVA, her Board of Directors and partners used this formula and worked diligently for the past decade to attract smart and sustainable tourism investment such as: Resorts World Catskills, Yo1 Luxury Nature Cure, Kartrite Hotel & Indoor Water Park, Eldred Preserve and many other projects that are in the pipeline for 2019-2021. Collaboration with the Sullivan County Partnership, local governments, Sullivan County Legislature as well as SCVA member businesses are the viable partners who have been instrumental to the success. As a result of the strategic planning, tourism spending increased 7.3 percent between 2016 and 2017 after an 8 percent growth from 2015 to 2016. This number
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Community events like the Annual Trout Parade in Livingston Manor attract thousands of visitors to Sullivan County each year and are instrumental in keeping our Main Streets vibrant.
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BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
concierge service, the SCVA Visitor Center is busy daily with traveler requests of where to stay, eat and visit, as well as interests in itineraries and the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Guides. The objective is to drive visitors to members’ businesses. Last year, 100,000 guides were requested from travelers throughout the United States. Stats are not in for 2018, but anecdotally they report that requests are up from 2017. Each week, staff mail out up to 3,000 guides to inquiring visitors. “We are thrilled that we have strong member support. Our membership is increasing, which adds to our database of recommended places for our new and returning visitors to patronize. New restaurants, lodging and even service businesses are signing up to become a member of the SCVA”, Byron-Lockwood said. “They see the value in our membership and our offerings. We keep the cost low so everyone can become a valued SCVA member.” To find out more about the SCVA membership contact Holly Gassler, hlg@scva.net. There is more to come with the SCVA. New staff are hired to handle the tourism demand and a progressive marketing plan is now being implemented to further their visitor reach and awareness of the Sullivan Catskills.
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is anticipated to rise exponentially by 2020, at a rate of 10 percent to 15 percent per year. By the end of 2018, strategists project that the Sullivan Catskills will have 4 million visitors, which will boost to over 5 million within the next couple of years. This number could even exceed to 7 million or more by the end of 2019, as the SCVA, Bethel Woods Museum and partners prepare for the 50th anniversary of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was held in Bethel. The SCVA has already hosted numerous domestic and international media who are writing about this momentous event; so far, the current media exposure is over 7 million readers globally. Roberta Byron-Lockwood attributes the success of the Sullivan Catskills to her partners. “We are an amazing county. Everyone works together for a common goal of increased visitor revenue and new quality development,” Lockwood said. “Together we work strategically and are patient because we know it pays off in the long run. I have never worked in a place where there is so much collaboration. I am proud to work for the businesses and people in the Sullivan Catskills.” The SCVA office staff has firsthand experienced this growth. Serving as a
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BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
Building a local, sustainable energy economy for Sullivan County
BY JENNIFER M. FLAD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SULLIVAN COUNTY IDA
S
olar energy is an integral component of Governor Cuomo’s “Reforming the Energy Vision” initiative, which seeks to transform New York State’s energy economy by 2030, and Sullivan County is at the forefront of this transformation. In particular, Sullivan County is home to several Community Distributed Generation (CDG) projects, each in various stages of planning and development, which will allow us to produce and use clean, renewable power right here.
What is Community Distributed Generation (CDG)?
In a nutshell, CDG is a system that allows local residents and small businesses who are not able to site renewable energy production facilities on their own property to get their energy from off-site solar facilities. Based on their electric usage, residents and small businesses subscribe to a percentage of the facility’s output. The facility generates electricity and offloads that
power back to the grid. Customers who sign up receive credits which are distributed through their NYSEG bill, and these credits reduce the subscribers’ electricity charges. So in effect, CDG allows the public to buy locally generated power from renewable sources at a discount while offsetting its carbon footprint at the same time.
How is the IDA involved? The IDA recognizes the importance of transitioning to a more renewable, sustainable, and independent energy economy, so in December 2016 the IDA adopted a Community Distributed Generation Tax Exempt Policy to assist in the development of CDG installations. Since that time, our Board of Directors has approved five projects – two in the Town of Delaware, two in the Town of Thompson, and one in the Town of Liberty. All five of these projects are being developed by Delaware River Solar. With offices in New York City and Callicoon,
Delaware River Solar is a solar development company working to build dozens of CDG facilities throughout the NYSEG and RGE electric service territories. As with all IDA tax exempt policies, the CDG policy offers a mortgage tax abatement, sales and use tax abatement, and partial real property tax abatement for qualifying projects. What sets the CDG policy apart is that municipalities receive more revenues than they would, if CDG projects were built without IDA involvement. Under New York State law, CDG facilities are entirely exempt from payment of new real property taxes for a fifteen-year period. In contrast, through the IDA program, projects make an annual payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the IDA for twenty years. Each year the IDA distributes the entire PILOT payment to the County, the host town, school district, and village (if applicable). So, with IDA involvement, CDG projects contribute more to the municipalities’ cof-
So how does this help the companies building the CDG projects?
CDG project developers, and their lenders, prefer the certainty and simplicity of an IDA agreement that sets forth the r estimated PILOT payments to be made over a twenty-year period. i The additional costs in the form of a PILOT payments are outweighed by the j ability to more accurately predict expenses d over the lifespan of the solar installation. c In addition, the IDA provides CDG projw ects an exemption from local sales and use taxes for any goods and services pura chased to construct a CDG project. l (Most of these expenses are exempt a from state sales and use taxes under New a York State law.)
How does all of this help Sullivan County?
t a The IDA’s program helps our municipal- T t ities by providing payments in lieu of t taxes that they would not otherwise
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fers than they would if the IDA were not involved. (The exception is that any municipality may opt out of Section 487 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, which provides the fifteen-year exemption on all new real property taxes. In this instance, a CDG project would not realize a real property tax abatement.)
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SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
BUSINESS EDGE
19E
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
At left: Last week ground was broken on the 5 MB Sackett Lake solar array, which will supply enough electric for 800 households. At right: Delaware River Solar finished building the Baer Rd. 2 MG solar array in the Town of Delaware this year. The array is the largest Community Distributed Generation array in the state and generates enough electric for 450 homes and small businesses.
receive. It’s important to note that any municipality can develop its own PILOT program, and some local municipalities are doing just that. But the IDA’s program is designed to provide the maximum financial benefit to all taxing jurisdictions where a CDG facility is located. And IDA assumes responsibility for administering the PILOT agreement, calculating and disbursing PILOT payments, and complying with any applicable rules and laws. While the IDA strongly supports this type of solar development, we recognize and respect variations in local policy. Thus, we will not entertain any applications from projects located in municipalities that have opted out of Section 487 of
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the Real Property Tax Law as described above. Moreover, we require that each CDG project application include a letter from the host town, affirming its support for the project. Our program also helps Sullivan County residents. In return for the incentives we provide, CDG projects must commit to offering local preference to Sullivan County residents wishing to buy their electricity, and they must provide that electricity to local customers at a discounted rate of ten percent less than the utility company’s default rate. More broadly, our program is designed to stimulate Sullivan County’s transition to a sustainable energy economy. Delaware River Solar, the developer cre-
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ating the Sackett Lake Solar Farm in the Town of Thompson, estimates this project will serve almost 800 households, resulting in a total savings of $1,380,000 over 20 years for those customers. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions – equal to the carbon emissions of over 1,000 cars per year, or over 544,000 gallons of gasoline consumed per year. The Sackett Lake Solar Farm is just one of many planned CDG projects in development in Sullivan County, which will have a significant cumulative impact on our economy, our health, and our environment. Sullivan County really is at the forefront of reforming New York State’s energy vision. The County is a certified Climate Smart
Community, designated by the Department of Environmental Conservation, and a Clean Energy Community, designated by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Leaders and staff at the county and municipal levels have made a commitment to local, sustainable energy, and the IDA is proud to be a part of their efforts. You, too, can make this commitment by signing up to get your power from local sources. For more information on the CDG projects working with the IDA, or to sign up to get your power from these local sources, please contact Delaware River Solar at 845-397-0134 or visit www.delawareriversolar.com.
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20E
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
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SCVA brings global awareness & visitors to Sullivan Catskills
T
Serving Sullivan County Since 1953
SEPTEMBER, 2018
he Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA), the official tourism promotion agency for Sullivan County, is experiencing substantial results from the implementation of their strategic marketing plan. The goal is to attract visitors from around the globe to the Sullivan Catskills, increase visitor spending, overnight stays and county bed tax collections. Why are new visitors coming to the Sullivan Catskills? The concept of “build and they will come” in the global completive tourism market doesn’t work anymore. Destinations are competing more than ever to attract tourism dollars. They now must be creative, focused and tactical when going after new audiences and returning visitors. The SCVA is doing just this. They have developed a strategy with a team of marketing and advertising experts to create a progressive plan that has produced results. “Our plan is a roadmap to success. It is
well thought out and targeted. However, we realize that we must be flexible and adaptable as trends change. We have great success so far and expect this to continue. Or numbers demonstrate this!” commented Roberta Byron-Lockwood, President of the SCVA. The numbers do show that their strategy is working. Since 2015, the Sullivan Catskills has experienced up to a 16 per- S cent increase in visitor expenditures. Tourism spending was over $449 million for 2017 and is expected to continue this upward trajectory in the years to come due to new development of Resorts World Catskills, Yo1 Luxury Nature Cure, Kartrite Hotel & Indoor Water Park, Eldred Preserve and other projects set for 2019-2021 openings. In addition, media and tour operators from around the globe are taking great interest in the 50th anniversary of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival and other tourism opportunities in the Sullivan Catskills, such as farm to table cuisine, health & wellness, gaming, outdoor adventure and much more.
Both national and international media are invited to enjoy the Sullivan Catskills and here a group of young writers enjoyed a day of fly fishing and sightseeing with Roscoe Fly Fishing guide Phil Eggleton.
SEPTEMBER, 2018
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Signs at New York Stewart International Airport in Newburgh help to promote the Sullivan Catskills to a growing audience. Nearly 500,000 people arrive at the airport annually. They are discovering the Catskills because of the SCVA’s focused efforts of marketing and promotion. Just in 2018, the SCVA is targeted to receive up to 4
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Visitors, tour operators and media are finding out about the Sullivan Catskills and its distinctive tourism opportunities – and not just by chance.
million visitors. By 2019-2020, it is projected that the Sullivan Catskills will receive up to 7 million or more visitors. Some of SCVA’s ROI accomplishments in 2018 include: • Attendance at Meeting & Convention, Travel Trade and Consumer shows: Reach was to over 25k tour operators, media and potential visitors. • Hosting a variety of international and domestic travel writers and bloggers: Articles on the Sullivan Catskills were published in The Irish Times; Scottish Times; Daily News, UK; Wall Street Journal; Architectural Digest; New York Post to name a few. Reach was to over 12 million people and media value worth $6 million. • Increasing Social Media awareness: The SCVA is becoming an influencer on social media platforms. In the first 5 months of 2018, compared to 2017 stats, SCVA’s social media grew 64 percent in daily engaged Facebook users, a 978 percent increase in retweets (Twitter), an 864 percent increase in Instagram reach, and a 25 percent increase in followers. • Promotional exhibits of the Sullivan Catskills at New York Stewart International Airport: Over 500,000 people arrive to this airport annually. • Partnering with I Love New York
BUSINESS EDGE
21E
International offices in China, Australia, UK and Germany on various marketing and promotion initiatives that encourage visitors from these markets to visit the Sullivan Catskills. People are rediscovering the Catskills! The marketing and advertising strategy is working. The success is also due to SCVA’s partners and members. The SCVA is a membership driven organization. “We are successful because of our members. Without them and their support, we wouldn’t have the quality experiences visitors are looking for,” stated Roberta Byron Lockwood. “We have many more exciting things in store for the Sullivan Catskills. “We have hired more staff to handle the influx of visitor interest. We expect to be New York State’s and the Northeast’s premier destination for gaming, luxury, family and outdoor adventure travel,” Byron-Lockwood said. “We are confident we will accomplish this because of our commitment to the Sullivan Catskills as well as all of the support we have from our Board, politicians and membership.” Interested in becoming a member of the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association to attract new and returning visitors to your place of business? Contact Holly Gassler at hlg@scva.net or 845-747-4447.
22E
BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
VHB looks to help Sullivan County grow BY FRED STABBERT III
V
HB partners with clients to improve mobility, enhance communities and economic vitality, and balance development and infrastructure needs with environmental stewardship. With offices in 30 locations along the East Coast, VHB is available to both business and government clients at a moment’s notice. That’s why they recently joined the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development to find out what is happening in one of the
Patrick O’Leary
Mike Tucker
busiest counties in the Hudson Valley. “There’s a new casino that opened and that certainly spawned some new development,” VHB Managing Director Mike Tucker, of the Albany office, said. “We are starting to get involved in Sullivan County because we have the experience necessary to help it grow.” Whether designing a new office complex, facilitating approvals for a new building project or working with local governments to balance developmental and infrastructure needs with envi-
VHB worked on the Silo Ridge Project in Amenia by helping to design an environmentally-friendly stormwater management system and improvements to site access. ronmental stewardship, VHB’s 1,350 employees have the experience. VHB’s engineers, scientists, plan-
ners and designers partner with their clients in a myriad of projects, ranging from transportation to healthcare, industrial to energy,
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SEPTEMBER, 2018
O’Leary, PE, of the White Plains office, said. “We have done a lot of multi-housing projects, lowincome housing as well as small box retail.” O’Leary believes that experience, along with building strong personal client relationships, will bode well for VHB’s future success in Sullivan County.
VHB has done work at Cornell University in Ithaca, above. The company also helped The Summit at Saratoga in Wilton, at right, by providing integrated site planning and engineering services for the senior community consisting of a 110-unit apartment and 92-unit assisted living facility. commercial to governmental. “We have all the services inhouse to get your project done,” Managing Director Patrick
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BUSINESS EDGE
23E
“We help developers get projects done,” Tucker said. “We see population growth coming to the area and want to be part of that success story.” Tucker and O’Leary can be reached by emailing mtucker@vhb.com or poleary@vhb.com.
24E
BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
Paving the Cosimo’s Brick Oven Restaurant parking lot in Middletown was an intricate project that required attention to detail and a quick turnaround to insure the restaurant remained open.
BY FRED STABBERT III
S
uperior Surfacing Systems Ltd.was formed in 2002, primarily performing asphalt repairs and sealcoating services. Since that time the company has steadily grown into one of the area’s most highly-respected commercial paving contractors. Serving Orange, Sullivan, Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess Counties in New York State and Northern New Jersey, Superior Surfacing Systems concentrates on private commercial paving projects, much of it for large
Paving the way for a smooth future; facilities, corporate complexes and condo communities throughout the Hudson Valley. The firm also offers sealcoating, cracksealing, excavation, drainage work and any related construction services associated with their projects. Recently, the company added the construction of sports courts and has worked on numerous private and municipal projects including the rebuilding of a new basketball and volleyball complex at Sullivan County Community College,
Boulder Point development’s roads and parking were a big project for Superior Surfacing, a big job which the company has all the equipment and manpower to handle.
the paving of an eight-court tennis court complex at Middletown High School as well as the resurfacing of the Running Track at John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen. “This is a nice niche market for us and yet another attribute that separates us from our competitors,” says Keith Reardon, President of Superior Surfacing Systems. “We have the expertise within our organization, it’s part of our history and it’s profitable when targeting the proper client.”
Kevin Murphy, Superior Surfacing Systems Project Superintendent, has been personally involved with countless sports courts in his 35 years in the industry. “Kevin has been a valuable asset to our company and his experience and “old school” work ethic have been extremely helpful in successfully completing many of our more intricate projects. Although our relationships takes us out of the area on a regular basis we are actively concentrating on a greater involvement in Sullivan County.
Sports courts, like this tennis court, are now in Superior Surfacing’s offerings. They have done basketball, track, volleyball and tennis courts.
SEPTEMBER, 2018
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
BUSINESS EDGE
25E
Superior Surfacing does milling at the Westage project.
Superior Surfacing keeps its customers happy
“Kevin and I, as well as many of our employees, are ‘home grown’ and live in Sullivan County. With the explosion of growth, we see opportunity to expand our presence in our local construction market,” Reardon said. Superior currently enjoys active relationships with Bethel Woods Performing Art Center, Catskill Regional Medical Center, SUNY Sullivan, The Resnick Group and many other Sullivan County clients. With all the major/substantial new
facilities and attractions (ie; Resorts World, YO1, Hotels, Kartrite Waterpark, etc.) dotting the landscape, we see great potential on partnering with them as a long-term maintenance contractor and future paving as they expand. “We excel at delivering quality workmanship, maintaining clear communications and establishing long-term relationships,” Reardon said. “These attributes
Please see SUPERIOR, page 26E
Superior Surfacing has worked at Orange Regional Medical Center, Catskill Regional Medical Center and Westchester County Medical Center to repave their parking lots.
Project Superintendent Kevin Murphy, left, goes over the plans of an upcoming job with company President Keith Reardon last week.
26E
BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
SUPERIOR, from page 25E
65660
have fueled our growth and we hope they will continue to attract potential clients within Sullivan County. “We are unique in that we are big enough to handle the large projects and nimble enough to work around the toughest deadline schedules,” Murphy said. Two recent examples of Superior Surfacing's agility in the marketplace was its repaving of the Cosimo’s Brick Oven Restaurant in Middletown. “They told us they ‘didn’t want to be down’ and somehow our great team had them paved and open for business the same day,” Murphy said. “The other project was the repaving of the Westchester County Medical Center parking lot,” Murphy said. “It was another example of how we put the customer first and did the parking lot in sections over a period of several days to minimally effect both the patients and staff of the hospital. They were very satisfied.” In this challenging time of attracting and keeping employees, Superior Surfacing Systems offers a good work environment, steady work and opportunity for growth within its ranks. “It’s not easy work and takes a certain type of individual to dedicate themselves
This track at Goshen High School is now ready for the season, thanks to Superior Surfacing.
and settle into the process. Once engaged… I think many of our guys find a home and develop a great sense of pride in our reputation and high standard of work,” says Murphy. “We certainly would like to open more doors in Sullivan County and show the business community our quality work and great service,” Murphy continued. “We are a full-service company who strives to make our customer’s happy.” To find out more about Superior Surfacing go to www.superiorsurfacing.com or call 845-733-5507.
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SEPTEMBER, 2018
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
BUSINESS EDGE
27E
28E
BUSINESS EDGE
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
SEPTEMBER, 2018
65495