5/7/26 – New Windsor, NY: Last night, the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) pledged up to $100,000 to support a Newburgh–Beacon weekend ferry pilot program. The pilot, proposed by the Save the Ferry Coalition in the wake of the loss of the MTA’s ferry service for commuters, would operate a trial of seasonal weekend service. It is intended to demonstrate demand for ferry transit, strengthen cross-Hudson connectivity, and generate data to inform long-term ferry restoration efforts.
The Newburgh-Beacon ferry service was discontinued by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 2025, leaving both commuters and tourists with fewer affordable transit options between New York City and the Hudson Valley. The termination of service also marked the end of 238 years of ferry traffic on the Hudson River, a pillar of Orange County’s economy, history and culture. For these reasons, the OCIDA is committed to restoring ferry operations.
“Newburgh’s waterfront is the maritime gateway to all of Orange County,” said the OCIDA CEO, Bill Fioravanti. “By improving access to both sides of the Hudson River and connecting visitors more seamlessly to our communities, we can better capture tourism demand, support small businesses, and reinforce the momentum we’re seeing in the City of Newburgh and across the county.”
The OCIDA’s funding will be structured as a matching commitment and dispensed by their sister agency, the Orange County Funding Corp. The matching commitment structure allows the IDA to leverage additional public and private investment. The coalition is actively seeking matching funds from Dutchess County and state and local elected officials to ensure shared commitment to this valuable economic and cultural preservation project. The pilot is expected to drive visitor spending, enhance regional connectivity, and position the area for future transportation and economic development investment.
The OCIDA’s funding pledge to the Newburgh-Beacon ferry is the latest demonstration of their commitment to investing in Orange County operations and properties that are currently underutilized, with the goal of restoring them to benefit local communities. The OCIDA is also currently working in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to complete Phase 1 of their Brownfields Revitalization Initiative. This project aims to restore abandoned, contaminated sites like the Steel Ways sites in Newburgh, the Diamond Candlestick Factory, and the Orange County Fairgrounds.
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.
