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Industrial Development Agency
 

Is My Business Eligible?

Is my organization or business eligible for Industrial Development Agency assistance?
The IDA was created to help businesses and organizations retain and increase jobs in Westchester County. The following businesses, organizations or projects are eligible:

  • Existing Westchester firms that need to expand or modernize their facilities, or add new employees.
  • New construction projects involving the building of commercial space or rentable residential space, including affordable housing and senior/senior care facilities.
  • Firms that are considering relocation out of New York State.
  • Not-for-profit organizations looking to expand or rehabilitate their facilities or refinance existing debt.
  • Developers of affordable housing.
  • Certain health and senior-related facility developers or operators.

Are retail projects eligible?
Not usually. The firm must not be considered a retail operation, legal practice or type of business that directly serves the public. New York State General Municipal Law (Article 18A) specifically forbids the usage of IDA benefits for retail projects* in most cases. However, in situations where the retail project is located in a distressed census tract or adjacent to a distressed census tract, it is possible for the IDA to undertake a retail project.
*Retail is defined as business whose customers go to the location of the business. This includes traditional retail establishments, food establishments, law firms, and doctors’ offices.

Can I get benefits for an earlier project or lease I’ve already signed?
No. The Agency must be able to show that, without benefits, the project would not have occurred in Westchester. Furthermore, no leases can be signed prior to an IDA inducement resolution.

Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Many benefits have gone to firms with fewer than 25 employees. Westchester County-based businesses with an income of less than $20 million a year that plan to spend $100,000 to $1,000,000 may be eligible if the benefits will help the company improve its competitiveness, remain in the county, create new jobs, or retain existing jobs. Click here to see our Small Business Fact Sheet.
(Note: You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view the Fact Sheet. If you don't have a copy of the Reader, click here to download it for free.)

Do you think you're eligible? Click here for a copy of the IDA Project Work Sheet, and fax it back to us at (914) 995-3044. A representative of the IDA will contact you after it has been reviewed.

Westchester County Industrial Development Agency
Room 903, Michaelian Office Building
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
Phone:914.995.2916, Fax: 914.995.3044, E-mail mgg8@westchestergov.com

job creation ... job retention ... bond financing ... use and sales tax exemptions ... payment in lieu of taxes ...