Economic Development & Programs in Menands

The primary staff responsibility for economic development efforts, including business liaison, and business attraction is the Executive Assistant to the Mayor. In turn, the Mayor and the Village Board provides final approval of all matters requiring such approval under the Village Code.

The focus of the Village’s economic development effort is on the 250 businesses that are located in Menands by attempting to meet their unique needs for government services or support of their enterprises. Since the Village is home to businesses that range in size from one person operations (e.g. RAAND Printing) to multi-national corporations (e.g. Albany International), the Village must seek to encourage a business-friendly environment by advocating for our commercial community and delivering our services in a timely and efficient manner.

In order to achieve this goal, individual business visits are conducted to let the owners know that the Village Government cares about their well-being and wishes to be pro-active in their success. Moreover, we want to encourage our businesses to stay in Menands and to expand their facilities wherever possible.

The primary economic benefit that the Village can provide to new businesses locating in Menands is the tax abatement program which is authorized under Section 485-B of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. This program provides a ten year sliding scale of exemption from the Village property tax wherein 100% of the tax is forgiven in the first year, 90% in the second year and so on until the exemption phases out after ten years.

The Village has been successful in qualifying seven Menands companies in the former Empire Zone program. This program provided a series of tax credit and exemption incentives for companies creating new jobs in Menands. It has been replaced by the Enterprise Zone program which provides a more limited range of benefits for companies and is also more limited in company eligibility.

We also assist interested parties with the Village Site Plan Review Process to expedite projects that require Planning Board approval and to make sure that all requirements are met for that approval. Furthermore, the Village Building Department assists business owners with Building Permit Applications, the scheduling of construction inspections, and issuance of Certificates of Occupancy or Operating Certificates as necessary.

The Village Board hosts two Business Breakfast Meetings each year as part of the strategy to inform business owners and representatives about the Mayor’s and Board’s priorities as they affect the quality of life and business climate in the Village. These meetings provide an opportunity to meet the Village Officials and also provide time to ask questions of the Village Government representatives.

Another method of outreach to the business community is the monthly feature article “Spotlight on Menands Business” which appears in the Menands Activities. The article highlights the various aspects of a selected business each month as a way of letting the residents of the Village learn more about our business neighbors.

The Village also belongs to the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce, the New York State Economic Development Council, and is a participant with the Local Government Committee of the Center for Economic Growth.

The Village of Menands has been successful in applying for and receiving State Grants for economic development-related studies such as the Broadway Corridor Improvement Plan and a study of the Capital District Cooperative’s Farmer’s Market. The latter study was a joint effort by the Village and the Cooperative to explore ways of expanding the Farmer’s Market programs in Menands.

The Village Board also takes great pride in the easy accessibility to State Highways that provide businesses with a quick and efficient means to get products and services to customers and to get customers to business sites in the Village. The reconstruction and upgrade of the Route 32 Bridge and related improvements for vehicle traffic and pedestrians at Riverview Center is a shining example of how the Village has benefited from State investment in our infrastructure for the good of the community.

In summary, the Village of Menands tries to promote a viable economic climate for businesses through a responsive, interested, and supportive Village Government.