Volume 1, Issue 5
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
The World is Flat
When it comes to Global business, the view looks good

RBD Round-Up:
RBD is On the Air!
WRCR teams up with RBD Co-publisher for weekly show
RBD Business Survey
Take part in RBD's 1st On-line Business Survey

DEPARTMENTS:

Economics Round-Up
• The Local Economy
Construction industry confidence rebounds, managers predict greater optimism
• The Smart Investor
Investing From Within: The key to becoming a smart investor
• Economic Viewpoint
It All Adds Up: The Fed takes delight in the economic numbers

Business Round-Up
• The Work-Life Minute™
Small business owners need innovation to battle burnout
• Marketing By Design
There Ought'a Be a Law: Marketing is nothing more than long-distance selling

Ask The Experts
• Business Start-ups
Negotiating a lease - from the tenant's view
• Expensing & Depreciation
Tax incentives for small business

Retail Round-Up
• Who's Hiring?
Summer employment program offers benefits to all
• New In Town

Invest in Your Community
• Provident Bank Charitable Foundation
Works to support help from People to People
• Red Cross Celebrates March
Partners with local business people for the good of all

Odds & Ends
• From The Publishers
• Letters to the Editor
• Rockland Newsmakers

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
The State of the RBA

RBA/United Way Golf Outing
The Rockland Open: Monday, May 21st

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

Do you remember your first job? It was probably after school or working during the summer, but undoubtedly it gave you a lot of pride, direction, and the knowledge of how businesses really works. You can offer the same opportunity to a young Rocklander by participating in The Rockland County Youth Bureau.

The Youth Bureau is looking for employers from the private sector, local government and not-for-profit agencies to participate in the 2007 Youth Employment Program. Rockland County employers willing to hire young people through the program will receive benefits including hiring enthusiastic, hard-working employees and being reimbursed fifty percent of their salaries.

County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef has appropriated $350,000 in the Youth Bureau’s 2007 budget for a year-round Youth Employment Program, which prepares eligible young people between the ages of 14 and 18 for the world of work. The program offers pre-employment job training conducted by University Cornell Cooperative Extension in conjunction with SUNY Rockland Community College, work-based learning experiences and job placement. Approximately 250 to 300 young people will have an opportunity to work during 2007.“

In its 14th year, the Youth Employment Program offers a wonderful opportunity for Rockland employers,” said Vanderhoef. "Businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations have the opportunity to increase work staff at a fraction of the usual cost, and the young people in our community gain knowledge and experience for a successful future.”

All youth participants are paid the new minimum of wage rate of $7.15 per hour. Businesses will be reimbursed $3.58 (fifty-percent) per hour throughout the year. The total cost to private businesses and municipalities would be just $41.22 per week (including FICA) for employing one young person for 10 hours a week during the winter, spring and fall phases. During the summer phase the reimbursement rate would be just $123.66 per week (including FICA) for employing one young person for 30 hours a week.

Not-for-profit agencies that participate will be reimbursed $3.58 (50-percent) per hour for up to a maximum of 10 hours per week during the winter, spring and fall phases. Summer phase reimbursement will be $7.15 (100-percent). The total cost would be just $41.22 per week (including FICA) for employing one young person for 10 hours a week during the winter, spring and fall phases. During the summer phase it would cost only $16.41 (FICA) for employing one young person for 30 hours a week.

In addition, the Rockland County Youth Bureau is also seeking potential youth employees to participate in the program. In order to be eligible for employment, participants must be a Rockland County resident between the ages of 14 and 18, whose family meets eligibility requirements. All young people are required to participate in three days of mandatory pre-employment training to introduce and review basic job skills.

Applications for the 2007 program are now available at the Rockland County Youth Bureau. To be considered for spring employment (April 15, 2007 – July 7, 2007), the application and all required paperwork must be returned to the Rockland County Youth Bureau by Friday, March 9, 2007. For summer employment (July 8, 2007 – September 1, 2007) the application and all required paperwork must be received by Thursday, May 24, 2007.

For more information about becoming an employer through this program or if you are interested in an application for employment, please call Marianne McCarney-Haesche or John Dolan at 638-5166. We actually deliver lunch to many businesses. It’s a whole different atmosphere.” RBD

The County Executive has appropriated $350,000 in the Youth Bureau’s 2007 budget for a year-round Youth Employment Program, which prepares eligible young people between the ages of 14 and 18 for the world of work. The program offers pre-employment job training conducted by University Cornell Cooperative Extension in conjunction with SUNY Rockland Community College, work-based learning experiences and job placement. Approximately 250 to 300 young people will have an opportunity to work during 2007.

New In Town

Rockland County:
Hudson Energy Services LLC will soon be moving to its new headquarters at 4 Executive Boulevard in Montebello as it expands its business. The company which supplies electricity and natural gas to both residential and commercial customers has outgrown its offices in Ridgewood, NJ. Hudson Energy currently employs 10 workers and expects to employ 10 more employees after the move.

Hunter Douglas North America Inc. (update), a manufacturer of window blinds, shades and shutters will begin construction on a $10 million, 75,000 square foot office building in Pearl River, in the first quarter of 2007. The company will relocate its headquarters from Upper Saddle River, NJ to the new facility in Rockland County by 2009. Hunter Douglas currently employs 115 workers at its current headquarters.

Orange County:
Coach USA plans to relocate the bulk of its commuter bus operations in 2007, from Mahwah, NJ to the Town of Chester in Orange County, NY. The company plans to invest $13 million to build a 250,000 square-foot facility for their offices, maintenance and repair operations and 150 buses. About 223 people will work at the new facility.

Stewart Airport which long struggled to rebuild its declining passenger service, is experiencing a change of fortune, with the arrival of two major carriers to the airport. AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways both began offering flights from the Orange County airport, starting in January, 2007.

If you’ve just opened or expanded a business in Rockland, please share the news. Send us the particulars at editorial@rbdigest.com.

Pictured from left to right: Senator Tom Morahan,
the Lucky Strike pin mascot and Dolf Berle,
President of Lucky Strike Entertainment.

Lucky Strike Lanes
February 1st Grand Opening VIP event at Lucky Strike Lanes on the 4th Floor of the Palisades Center. More than 800 guests attended the VIP party, and experienced first-hand the club’s innovative food and drinks, stylish décor and upscale bowling.