The IDA Has New Leadership

by Bond Brungard

KINGSTON – Hillary Nichols became the new executive director of the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency earlier this fall, and one the biggest issues facing the county, housing, will likely be the focus of an IDA board meeting in December.

 Housing, especially the lack of affordable and workforce housing, has been an issue for many years. And it was further exacerbated during the pandemic when Ulster County became a refuge as home and rental prices soared.

 The problem, however, has not subsided.

Hillary Nichols

 As the IDA worked to develop a workforce housing policy in 2021, which was thought to be completed within three months, a moratorium was adopted in September, 2021, when $26.1 million worth of tax breaks were awarded to the developer of a slightly upscale Kingstonian mixed-used project in the city’s colonial era Stockade District. A policy change, approved the same day as the project eight months earlier, allowed for the tax breaks. The public, in-turn, objected to the IDA’s decision, and the IDA changed course and adopted the moratorium. Since then, the moratorium has been extended more than two years, hamstringing the IDA’s ability to provide housing tax breaks that help in its mission of economic development in the county, which includes the availability of housing for workers.

 Only two members of the original seven-member board that originally adopted the moratorium 26 months ago remain, and a new, different board has agreed to vote in December to end extending the moratorium.

“They review any projects that come before them and have great questions, and feedback,” said Nichols, of her board. “They are the ones who ultimately vote on the consensus of any given project. And creating more housing, with tax breaks as an incentive to focus on affordable and workforce housing, goes to the core of the IDA’s mission.

“Our mission is to help the community, create jobs, and bring economic vitality here to Ulster County,” she said. “We do that through tax incentives and other economic development tools that we have in order to drive that mission.”

 There are many issues facing Ulster County’s drive to improve its economy, and housing is just one of many factors, such as transportation, that make our area desirable for companies to locate and help the IDA meet its mission goals.

“The goal is to bring good jobs here to Ulster County,” Nichols said.

 Nichols is a native, growing up and educated in heart of Ulster County. After graduating from Rondout Valley Central High School, she earned degrees from SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz before embarking on a career to help those with disabilities.

Before she became the IDA executive director in September, Nichols had worked at the Resource Center for Accessible Living (RCAL) since 2007, and most recently serving as the director of vocational and OPWDD services.

“I just think it’s so exciting to be doing that same work here, but for everyone and not just a certain population,” she said. “I love this community, first and foremost. I am really passionate about creating opportunities. To me that drives successful communities.”

The service and hospitality industries are part of most communities in Ulster County, as is agriculture in the fertile Wallkill and Rondout valleys. But it’s opportunities for more industrial and manufacturing development that Nichols wants to see happen.

“This is where a lot of good jobs can come into a community. Industry can bring high-paying jobs for people with a variety of skills sets. While we have some in the community, I’d love to see more of a middle grow, and to do that we have to create opportunities for people,” she said. “I think we need do more to grow things like manufacturing and other types of jobs that bring good salaries, good benefits and help people who live here want to stay here.”

“We are really excited to see some great economic development projects,” said Nichols. “The biggest challenge is how do we get the word out that we’re open for business and know the county is excited about projects and opportunities that come our way.”