Business Retention Task Force will conduct outreach to large businesses in Brookhaven to find out what they need to stay on Long Island

Supervisor Mark Lesko announcing the Business Retention Task Force

Pictured from left to right are John Barrie with Suffolk Federal Credit Union, Supervisor Lesko,
 Gloria Glowacki from the Stony Brook University SBDC, Congressman Bishop, and Charlie
 Schreiber with Suffolk Federal Credit Union

Farmingville, NY – On Thursday, October 20, 2011, in front of about 50 large businesses that employ thousands of Long Islanders, Supervisor Mark Lesko and Congressman Tim Bishop announced the Business Retention Task Force to keep businesses on Long Island. In the wake of Arrow Electronics’ decision to move its headquarters after being wooed by Colorado officials, Supervisor Lesko and Congressman Bishop will be spearheading this effort to reach out to every major employer in the Town over the next month. The Business Retention Task Force will create an ongoing dialogue so local officials know about the needs of Brookhaven businesses.

The Business Retention Task Force will be asking the companies if they are considering leaving Brookhaven, why they are considering leaving, and what can be done to keep them here.

“It is a crime that other states are stealing Long Island businesses. In many cases, government finds out about the poaching of these companies in the press when it’s too late to entice them to stay. We need to retain our existing businesses and the Business Retention Task Force will find out if any major employers are being wooed by other states. This will give us a chance to competitive and determine what it will take to keep businesses and their jobs on Long Island,” said Supervisor Mark Lesko.

“We know that every day Brookhaven businesses are getting phone calls from states trying to poach our jobs,” Congressman Tim Bishop said. “We need to make sure they’re also getting calls from people trying to keep them here. I am excited to work with Supervisor Lesko and the Brookhaven business community on this important outreach effort and I will do everything I can to help retain and create Long Island jobs.”

“We need to focus on retaining existing jobs and businesses on Long Island. The Business Retention Task Force will be a useful tool in finding out what we need to do in government to make sure businesses don’t leave and take their jobs with them,” said Councilman Tim Mazzei, liaison to Economic Development.

“Everyone on Long Island needs to start thinking about what it will take to keep large employers here. The stories of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Arrow Electronics, and Bed Bath and Beyond catching our economic development officials off-guard have taught us a lesson. Congressman Bishop and Supervisor Lesko’s Business Retention Task Force will be an important tool to be more attentive to the needs and future intentions of our businesses,” said Kevin Law, President and CEO of the Long Island Association.

“I applaud Supervisor Mark Lesko and Congressman Tim Bishop for being proactive in reaching out to major businesses in Brookhaven. I look forward to working on the Business Retention Task Force to make sure our businesses stay on Long Island,” said Bruce Newman, President of the Brookhaven Business Advisory Council.

“The economic recession has taken a toll on many businesses. We can’t afford to lose any more jobs on Long Island and I look forward to working on the Business Retention Task Force to meet the needs of Brookhaven businesses,” said Gloria Glowacki, Associate Director of the Small Business Development Center at Stony Brook University.

“The Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency offers benefits to eligible companies in the Town and our efforts have resulted in the retention and creation of thousands of jobs. However, if we don’t know if a company is being wooed by another state, we can’t help them. Congressman Bishop and Supervisor Lesko’s Business Retention Task Force will certainly be helpful in conducing business outreach and educating them on the benefits we can provide,” said Fred Braun, Chairman of the Brookhaven Industrial Agency.

The Business Retention Task Force members include:

• Supervisor Mark Lesko
• Congressman Tim Bishop
• Lou Avignone, CEO, and Michael Petrucelli, Controller, Uncle Wally's
• Fred Braun, Chairman of the Brookhaven IDA
• Barbara Ransome, President of the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce
• Bruce Newman, President of the Brookhaven Business Advisory Council and Pipeline LLC
• Jack O'Connor, Principal, Newmark Knight Frank
• Gloria Glowacki, Associate Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Stony Brook University
• Ernest Fazio, Chairman of Long Island Metro Business Action (LIMBA)

The announcement was made at the Brookhaven Business Advisory Council’s breakfast for large businesses sponsored by Suffolk Federal Credit Union, which included panelists from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the New York State Department of Labor, Brookhaven Department of Economic Development, the Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency, the SBDC at Stony Brook, and the Corporate Training Center Suffolk County Community College. To learn more about the Brookhaven Business Development Council and Brookhaven’s economic development programs, visit www.brookhaven.org.

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631) 451-6258