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.
