Business in the Burbs » Expansion

Barter service expands in Rockland County

Jay Loomis — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:38:37 +0000

Hudson Barter Exchange, a recent business startup that brings businesses together to make deals without cash, is expanding from its initial service territory of Westchester County into Rockland County.

The Elmsford-based company said that it has added over 160 members since it opened nine months ago. Trading volume on the barter site has doubled every month during that time, according to the company.

In Rockland, businesses that have signed up to use the barter service include an advertising company, a pest control buiness, a photography studio, a pet spa and a dental office.

Barter has become a popular way for many businesses to trade services with each other during the recession that has eroded sales and dried up available cash to make standard purchases.

Nearly 400,000 businesses nationally now barter for services, according to the National Association of of Trade Exchanges. Across the country, 350 local barter exchanges allow thousands of small and mid-sized businesses to exchange services with each other. The exchange takes a 6 percent commission from each side in a transaction.

Kevin Brown, co-principal of Hudson Barter Exchange, said that the barter service can help businesses attract new customers and manage cash flow.

“These are just two of the many benefits of bartering that (the exchange) now brings to Rockland County,” Brown said.

Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty expands in Dutchess County

Jay Loomis — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:41:17 +0000

Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty has increased its presence in the Hudson Valley by expanding into Dutchess County through the acquisition of three Coldwell Banker Currier and Lazier Realtors offices. The acquisition by the White Plains-based brokerage adds 47 sales associates and offices in Fishkill, Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck to its footprint in the region. The company now has 22 offices and more than 800 sales associates in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess counties. “Expanding into Dutchess County was a logical move for Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty. It completes our footprintand allows us to service the entire Hudson Valley marketplace,” said Greg Rand, the brokerage’s managing partner.

Verizon Wireless expands services in New Rochelle, Grand View-on-Hudson

Jay Loomis — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:08:08 +0000

Verizon Wireless said that recent improvements at cell cites covering New Rochelle and Grand View-on-Hudson will mean expanded wireless services for customers in those areas. Verizon Wireless said the improvements will allow consumers and businesses to use mobile devices to gain faster access to email or corporate data, download music and view high-quality videos.

Credit union opens Nanuet branch

Jay Loomis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:59:03 +0000

Palisades Federal Credit Union recently opened a new office at 240 East Route 59 in Nanuet. The new branch at the Kohl’s shopping plaza is the the third for the credit union. Palisades Federal Credit Union, with assets of more than $147 million, is the largest credit union based in Rockland County.

Blue Hill Data Services expanding in Pearl River

Jay Loomis — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:03:58 +0000

Blue Hill Data Services Inc. is expanding its presence at Blue Hill Plaza, an office development in Pearl River. The information technology outsourcing provider, which has been a tenant at the complex since 1997, recently signed an agreement to renew its previous commitment of 30,672 square feet. The company also will lease an additional 19,100 square feet in an expansion, according to building owner Glorious Sun Robert Martin LLC.

Hudson Valley Bank expanding in Connecticut

Jay Loomis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:39:04 +0000

Hudson Valley Bank of Yonkers is accelerating its expansion in Connecticut. The bank announced today that it has received regulatory approval to open a new branch in Stratford, Conn., that will be its sixth branch in the state.

The bank expects to open the Stratford branch during the fourth quarter, following the opening of another branch in Milford, Conn., on July 20.

When Milford opens, Hudson Valley will have 32 branches in Westchester, Rockland, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Connecticut.

Starwood opens Four Points hotel near Times Square

Jay Loomis — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:54:03 +0000

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. of White Plains recently a new hotel near New York City’s Times Square under its Four Points by Sheraton brand. The 244-room hotel is the brand’s third hotel in New York City. It joins Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village and Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea.

“Our expansion in New York City addresses the rising demand for affordable and stylish lodging in urban areas,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood.

Pepsi Bottling to distribute energy drink in Mexico

Jay Loomis — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:32:51 +0000

Pepsi Bottling Group Inc., the largest distributor of Pepsi beverage products, said that it has signed an agreement to distribute Rockstar Energy Drink in Mexico starting in July. Somers-based Pepsi Bottling already distributes the drink in the United States and Canada. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Hartsdale oil company to add Chinese fields

Jay Loomis — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:47:21 +0000

Pacific Asia Petroleum Inc., a Hartsdale-based oil and natural gas company, said it expects to begin production in Chinese oil fields this year after the company signed agreements with Chinese business partners.

Chief Executive Officer Frank C. Ingriselli said that the opportuntes in China could add hundreds of wells to the company’s production portfolio.

Ingriselli is a former executive with Texaco Inc., the petroleum giant formerly based in Harrison. He started Pacific Asia Petroleum in 2005 to reach deals to explore for oil and gas in Asia. One of the company’s strategies is to negotiate with national energy companies in China to gain access to fields.

“Our company looks forward to working with our Chinese partners to enhance recovery from, and drill new wells, in several oil fields in China,” Ingriselli said. “We believe that this new business and the technology we have acquired offer great upside for our company not only throughout China’s energy market, but throughout Asia.”

In the agreement announced yesterday, Pacific Asia Petroleum said that its Hong Kong subsidiary, Pacific Asia Petroleum Energy Ltd., and its Chinese affiliate, Inner Mongolia Sunrise Petroleum Co. Ltd. signed agreements for oil recovery and production with various Chinese companies and individuals. Some of the agreements covered oil fields in Inner Mongolia and the Heilongjiang Province in China.

Pacific Asia Petroleum said that its Hong Kong subsidiary is expected to begin operations in the oil fields in the third quarter. Oil production and revenue generation will follow in the fourth quarter.

Fabrication Enterprises renews lease, expands in Elmsford

Jerry Gleeson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:21:39 +0000

Mack-Cali Realty Corp. said that Fabrication Enterprises Inc. had signed a six-year lease renewal for 21,000 square feet of space at the Cross Westchester Executive Park in Elmsford, and was expanding into an additional 16,000 feet.
The company makes and distributes products for physical therapy, rehabilitation, home health and sports medicine. It also renewed a lease for 21,000 square feet at a third location at the office park for six years.