Volume 1, Issue 1
Table of Contents

Miscellaneous
• From The Publishers
• Last Look: Syd Farber

Cover Story:
Where’s Everybody Going?
What’s causing some small businesses to pack up and leave? And what should we
be doing to stop them?

Feature Story:
The Excessive Costs of Doing Business in New York
A productive Small Business Day in Albany, but worries still exist for Rockland-ites and other New York based businesses.

Feature Story:
How’d They Do That?
Follow Provident Bank CEO George Strayton’s strategies for success.

DEPARTMENTS:

Economics Roundup
• The Smart Investor
• Money Talk

Business Roundup
• Unlock Your Potential
• Marketing By Design

Retail Round-Up
• Talking Shop
• Odds & Ends

Ask the Expert
• Estate Planning
• Mortgage Advice

Invest in Your Community
• The Bottom Line
• First Annual Non-profit Leadership Summit

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
A new voice for Rockland County and a new advocate for its hottest issues and concerns.

Pinnacles of Success
RBA’s best honored at the
Third Annual Pinnacle Awards.

RBA Happenings
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members

A quality educational system that turns out skilled and knowledgeable graduates? Or is it a dedicated healthcare system providing services for all? And let’s not forget the arts and recreation.

Ask an economist and the answer will be, a little bit of each, yet many in the community would exclude things such as the arts and services because there is a general feeling that non-profits don’t contribute to the bottom line. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Various studies have shown non-profits contribute hugely to the communities they are in, from employing thousands of local residents to ancillary dollars spent on tourism, the arts, and more.

Some of the county’s largest employers and consumers are non-profit organizations, including Jawonio, BOCES of Rockland, and ARC of Rockland, and their impact is huge, says Paul Trader, Chairman of the Institute for Non-Profits at Cornell University Cooperative Extension in Rockland County.

“It’s clear that the not-for-profit businesses are a significant economic force in Rockland County,” says Trader, citing the results of a recent INP study. “They brought over $233 million into the county from outside and spent $208 million of that in Rockland. With close to 10,000 employees and a collective budget of $353 million, we hope that the community will see them as businesses which not only enhance the quality of life but serve as an economic engine.”

So investing in your community is good for all Rocklanders, and helps to ensure the best possible quality of life. One way to do this, obviously, is to contribute to a non-profit organization, for example, one that works on health and human service issues. Improving living conditions creates a stronger economy and economic growth that everyone can profit from. As a double bonus, contributions to many of the county’s non-profit organizations are tax deductible. 

United Way of Rockland leads the way
But have you ever found yourself wondering about how much good your donation is actually doing? Or have you ever thought about how to get the largest social returns from your charitable contribution? There are so many causes in need of donations – and so many charitable organizations working for those causes – that it can sometimes become overwhelming to make a choice.  

The United Way of Rockland County (UWRC) is a good place to start. It’s the only local non-profit “umbrella organization” for every health and human service non-profit agency in the county. This includes everything from the Rockland Family Shelter to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County, Meals on Wheels and the Rockland County YMCA. Their mission is “to serve people by raising resources and allocating them to agencies and groups to build a strong, vibrant, Rockland County.” 

UWRC makes significant, positive impacts throughout the community so that every donated dollar is linked to measurable results. They help everyone – from the smallest child to the most senior adult – with a variety of needs. United Way also leads a variety of activities that lead to self-sufficiency for the disabled, while also providing assistance in the classroom for Rockland’s children. 

In fact, according to Naomi L. Adler, President of UWRC, the key to the UWRC’s success is the Rockland business community. “The support of over 100 companies in Rockland is what helps us toward a nearly $1 million budget,” Adler says. “The money raised in Rockland, stays in Rockland.”

Some of the budget has gone to develop a new “211” phone line that allows users to dial three digits and get free, confidential referrals for drug addiction, elder care, child care, and more. The service is provided in over 150 languages.

The United Way’s “Day of Caring,” which will be held in September, is another way for businesses to reach out to community. As Naomi Adler says, “Give employees the day to give back to the community.” It’s a win-win situation for everybody!

For more information about the United Way of Rockland County and how you can contribute, visit their website at: www.uwrc.org, or call (845) 358-UWAY.

While on the website be sure to watch the video – it will be a great investment of your time. RBD

Dollars and Cents:
How much do non-profits contribute to Rockland?

During the spring of 2003, the Institute for Non-Profits, administered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland, conducted a survey of the county’s not-for-profit businesses to determine their direct and indirect economic impact on the community. The survey was developed and tabulated by Drs. Chris Cihlar and Don Tobias of the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University, and funded by Executive Compensation Planners Inc. of New City, New York.

How your business can work with the United Way:

If your business is in Rockland, and your company has fewer than 15 full-time employees, you can become a UWRC Community Business Partner ($500 annually). This relationship can provide invaluable publicity and networking opportunities (the Board of Directors is a great cross section of who’s who in Rockland), while contributing to the variety of programs supported by UWRC.

It includes some perks, too, such as:

• Your brand or logo positioned as a United Way Community.
• Recognition through United Way Community Business Partner advertisements in The Journal News.
• Special invitations to key networking and recognition events.
• A window decal identifying your business as a United Way Community Business Partner.
• United Way Community Business Partner logo imprint for your stationery, business card, and website.
• Visibility among the leading executives of major businesses.
• Additional exposure through RBA mailings and promotions.
• Partnership status and brand display on the United Way Community Business Partner web page.