New Windsor, NY: The Orange County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA), in
partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has launched a new initiative
to transform abandoned, contaminated sites throughout Orange County into clean, safe properties
ready for redevelopment. Part of the agency’s broader effort to identify and prepare shovel ready
sites around the county, OCIDA’s Brownfields Revitalization Initiative is seeking input from
elected and county officials and the public to identify and prioritize which properties to assess
and ultimately redevelop.
Brownfields are properties that have been left unused or abandoned because of potential
contaminants, such as former industrial sites that could contain hazardous substances or
pollutants. The potential contamination could be minimal or widespread, which is why it is
crucial to strategically identify, assess, and select prospective sites for remediation.
With help from the public and property owners, the Brownfields Revitalization Initiative will
turn vacant lots into valuable community assets that will raise property values and increase the
local tax base, helping increase funding for Orange County schools, roads, first responders and
other infrastructure needs. For this reason, the Orange County Brownfields Revitalization
Initiative aligns closely with OCIDA’s mission to promote economic growth through investment
by unlocking the full potential of selected properties.
“This initiative is a great opportunity to take properties that are eyesores and rehabilitate them,
simultaneously removing threats to the environment and turning them into revenue generators.
This is a total win-win for our local communities,” says Bill Fioravanti, CEO of OCIDA.
“Orange County is my home county, and I’m proud to support its brownfields program. When
we invest in cleaning up and reusing former industrial properties, local families gain healthier,
safer neighborhoods and entrepreneurs gain new sites to open businesses and create jobs that
grow our economy,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “The EPA is teaming
up with OCIDA, local leaders, and community members to remove barriers to redevelopment, expand opportunities for investment, and ensure these revitalized properties become long term
assets that strengthen the county’s prosperity and quality of life.”
“In many cases, sites with an industrial history have been left to deteriorate for decades,
exposing the residents to not only blight, but also contamination that could affect their health and
wellbeing. This brownfield initiative gives attention to these sites where they otherwise may
have remained abandoned and forgotten,” said Cassandra George, Project Manager at HRP
Associates, the environmental consulting firm selected to provide prospective site evaluation.
“Ultimately, the reuse of these properties will provide more job opportunities with new and
growing companies, add to the municipal tax base, provide upgrades to infrastructure and reduce
blight in the communities.”
The OCIDA Brownfields Revitalization Initiative’s first Community Meeting, titled “All About
Brownfields,” will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 4-5pm at the Orange County
Emergency Services Center, at 22 Wells Farm Rd in Goshen, NY. Anyone interested in the
revitalization of brownfields in Orange County is invited to learn more about the initiative and
nominate sites for assessment. Local government officials, municipal staff, community
organizations, developers, and residents are encouraged to attend.
Participants do not have to be the owners of potential properties to participate in the meeting.
Attendees can RSVP online and learn more about the initiative at orangecountybrownfields.com.
About OCIDA
The Orange County Industrial Development Agency promotes economic growth through a
program of incentives-based allocations that assist in the construction, equipping and
maintenance of specific types of projects and facilities. The IDA works to advance the health,
prosperity and economic welfare of our County’s citizens by retaining and creating jobs and
attracting new businesses. For more information, visit www.ocnyida.com.
