A great place to work , A great place to live.

Columbia County lies at the gateway to the Hudson River in upstate New York. Albany is 35 minutes away; New York City, two hours; Boston, three hours. Access to Interstate 87 (New York Thruway/Adirondack Northway) and Interstate 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike/New York State Thruway) is quick and easy. The Taconic State Parkway and Amtrak rail service to and from Hudson are additional gateways for passenger travel.

The portion of the county to the west of the Taconic Parkway features rolling plains and broad knolls, with extensive flood plains and a line of steep bluffs at the river. To the east, the terrain is increasingly mountainous, with hills approaching 1,600 feet.

Rich in history and tradition, Columbia County was settled by Dutch farmers and artisans who moved inland from the river, and English-descended land-seekers moving west from New England.

The Taconic Parkway marks the approximate boundary between the two zones of influence. After American Independence, the City of Hudson became a major whaling port and commercial center, while the coming of the railroad brought industry to villages all over the county. Agriculture was the county’s mainstay in the recent past; fruit farming remains significant, and organic farming is on the rise. Today the county is an important manufacturing center of specialty plastics and a home to thriving service, distribution, arts-related, and many other businesses.

The Empire Zone means a more viable Columbia County and a stronger New York.

With both new and existing businesses thriving in the Columbia County Empire Zone, the economic benefits will be felt in every community:

• Columbia County will become a more competitive location for all businesses
• Jobs will be created for Zone residents, especially those in targeted areas
• Other human resource development needs of residents will be addressed through the Zone Plan
• Enhanced coordination between the County and the Local Workforce Investment Board will ensure that Zone residents are prepared for employment opportunities
• Priority consideration under certain state grant programs will be given to the funding of parks, recreation, historic preservation, and related projects located in our Empire Zone

Columbia Greene Works
information about the partner organizations that encompass our local system and to ease your access to local, state, federal, and private employment services available in the twin counties.