Mineola, NY - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano will be joined at a press conference today, August 30th at 1:30 p.m., by Nassau County Police Department officials, Marge Lee of DEDICATEDD, Brian Rosenberg of Restaurants Against Drunk Driving (RADD) and Larry Blessinger of All Island Transportation.  Nassau County will participate in a “STOP-DWI” Program that allocates additional police officers to conduct extensive DWI enforcement initiatives.

Port Jefferson, NY – The Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson will hold a dedication ceremony for two Port Jefferson landmarks at Harborfront Park on Wednesday, September 4th at 11:00 a.m.  The first dedication will proclaim the recent renaming of Harborfront Park to Mayor Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park. The Village will also recognize the completion of the Oculus, a circular shade trellis complete with landscaping and bench seating adjacent to the park.

Both dedications will recognize the final phase of the Harborwalk project; a multi-year revitalization plan for the waterfront in the Village of Port Jefferson.

To celebrate, the Secretary of State of New York, Cesar A. Perales, Supervisor Ed Romaine, and Port Jefferson current Mayor Margot Garant along with fellow dignitaries will commemorate the accomplishments of those involved in the revitalization project.  Over the past decade, with the support of various New York State agencies, Port Jefferson has been awarded 30 grants worth over 6 million dollars. 

Projects included the creation of a children’s playground in the park, widening of the recreational pier, complete renovation of the Village Center, ice skating rink, completion of Harborfront Park, harbor walkway and the Oculus.

The octagon-shaped structure is the crown jewel of the Harborwalk projects.  The trellised seating area is made of Iroko wood from the west coast of tropical Africa.

Former Port Jefferson Mayor Jeanne Garant and mother of the current Mayor, was instrumental in initiating the revitalization projects.  The Mayor served three terms from 1999 to 2005 as well as two terms as a trustee. Garant is credited for establishing the park area and the revival of the historic Bayles Shipyard building into what is now the Village Center.  To acknowledge Garant’s achievements, the park is being renamed in her honor.

WHAT:  Mayor Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park Dedication and recognition of the Oculus and completion of the Port Jefferson Village Harborwalk projects.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 4th, 2013 / 11:00am / tour and reception to follow

WHERE: 101-A East Broadway / in Mayor Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park

WHO: Secretary of State of New York, Cesar A. Perales; Town of Brookhaven Supervisor, Ed Romaine; New York State Assemblyman, Steve Englebright; Mayor Margot Garant; former Mayor Jeanne Garant.

New Project Furthers the Transformation of Downtown Patchogue
(Patchogue, NY-August 22, 2013) - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced that the Suffolk Industrial Development Agency has approved an incentive package to assist JVC Broadcasting in the development of their new headquarters in downtown Patchogue Village, New York. The new headquarters will be located on Waverly Avenue in Patchogue and will revitalize a currently vacant building. The $1.2 million project will serve as the new home of JVC Broadcasting, which owns and operates several radio stations across Long Island and Florida and the Pennysaver Amphitheater in Farmingville, New York.

“JVC Broadcasting’s purchase of their new headquarters in downtown Patchogue Village is a great step for the Village and its future development,” said Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone. “Having a thriving local business like JVC Broadcasting establish roots in Patchogue Village will drive business to the area and create new job opportunities for local residents.”

"This is a great project that will transform a community eyesore into a thriving corporate office," said Anthony Manetta, CEO and Executive Director of the Suffolk IDA. “The JVC Broadcasting headquarters will be a nice compliment to Patchogue's rapidly developing downtown.”

The 7,800 square foot site at 185 Waverly Avenue in Patchogue, NY has been vacant for over four years. As a part of the move JVC Broadcasting is overseeing a $310,000 renovation of the site which will modernize the building to better match the recent improvements and developments in Patchogue Village. The new headquarters will house offices and act as a studio and broadcast center for the company.

"The addition of JVC Entertainment to Patchogue Village supports our vibrant and growing entertainment scene. We thank JVC for investing in our Village and our local economy," remarked Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri.

"JVC does an outstanding job managing the Town's Pennysaver Amphitheatre. We are glad that they chose Brookhaven as the home of their corporate headquarters," stated Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine.

As a part of the move JVC Broadcasting will receive projected incentives of $228,000 in property tax, sales tax and mortgage recording tax savings. As a part of the move JVC Broadcasting has proposed the creation of 14 new jobs over the next two years with an increase in average employee salary. The Long Island based media group has seen its operations expand over the past several years. The company, founded in 2008, acquired Asterisk Communication’s five Florida FM radio stations in June 2013 adding to its roster of four Long Island FM stations. The company entered into a five year agreement with Long Island Events to manage, operate and produce events for the Brookhaven Amphitheater in 2012.  

“We are thrilled at the possibility of moving our corporate headquarters to the Town of Brookhaven in the Village of Patchogue.  Patchogue has become a vibrant, entertainment focal point for Suffolk County and it’s a great place to call home for JVC Broadcasting,” JVC Broadcasting President and CEO John Caracciolo.

“We are happy to see another Long Island based business choosing to keep their operations within the county,” said Joanne Minieri, Deputy County Executive and Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning. “JVC Broadcasting’s choice to expand their operations in the region is yet another testament to Suffolk County’s prosperous economic environment and bright future as a home for other thriving businesses.”

About the Suffolk County IDA:

The Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is a public benefit corporation of the State of New York. The purpose of the agency is to promote economic development within Suffolk County. The operations of the agency are not supported by taxpayer funds, but rather fees generated by the applicants. The Suffolk County IDA works in synergy with Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone and the Deputy County Executive and Commissioner of Economic Development and Joanne Minieri to foster positive economic development within the County.

For more information regarding the Suffolk County IDA log on to www.suffolkida.org

Uniondale, NY – Once re-developed by Forest City Ratner, the new Nassau Coliseum will host 6 New York Islanders home games; at least one Brooklyn Nets Basketball game, Heavyweight Boxing championship tournaments, minor league hockey and college basketball games and an exciting array of star-studded performers.

Praising County Executive Ed Mangano’s outstanding leadership and professionally conducted selection process, developer Bruce Ratner promised residents that he would redefine customer service at the new destination, so that customers would be treated better than any other venue.

“We’re finally here because of the good work of County Executive Mangano,” Ratner said, referring to the decade of inaction in development of the area. “He did the right thing. He made the right choice bringing us in and we’re going to prove it to you.”
Ratner will spend $229 million to renovate the aging Coliseum into a 13,000-seat, state of the art arena. On the surrounding land, he’ll build an outdoor amphitheater, ice-skating rink, and a separate theater with 2,000 seats. He also plans to bring lacrosse and AFL (Arena Football League) teams to the coliseum.
These and more exciting details about programming under the winning proposal for the Coliseum and surrounding HUB area, were revealed at a press conference today at the 43-year old arena.

Joining County Executive Mangano at the announcement was Ratner, Executive Chairman of Forest City Ratner Companies; Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets; Chris Charlier, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Onexim Group, Chairman of the Board of the Brooklyn Nets, and Director of Barclays Center; David Blumenfeld, Principal of Blumenfeld Development Group; Alan Ostfield, President, North Atlantic, Live Nation; Jason Isley, President of Roc Nation; Jason Kidd, Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets; John Calipari, Head Basketball Coach of the University of Kentucky; Matt Martin, New York Islanders; and Bernard Hopkins, World Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

Mangano announced yesterday that Ratner was the selected developer, beating out a competing bid from the Madison Square Garden Company. The new public-private partnership will mean a 100% privately financed Coliseum, and revenue sharing with the County at zero expense to the taxpayer. 

Mangano said Forest City Enterprises will pay the county a minimum of a $195 million over the 34 years of the lease.
The crowd cheered loudest, however, when Ratner said his team was a “union only company” and that he was excited and pleased to be able to provide 2,700 jobs with the project – and more than $11 billion in revenue to the local economy.

The New York Islanders franchise will move to the Barclay’s Center when its contract with the Coliseum ends in August 2015. Ratner’s Nassau Events Center would begin paying rent once the lease ends. The accepted plan grants the county a cut of gross revenue, while MSG’s plan would have based the county’s funds on ticket sales alone, said Mangano.

Ratner said there would be more than 300 events at the new Coliseum, many of which are already booked. One of those performers is Jay Z. Mangano said he was contacted this morning by Billy Joel, who was equally as excited about the project. Ratner said he was excited to bring boxing back to the East Coast. Live Nation has also signed on to the project.

“We’re not waiting any more, we’re going to do it now,” Ratner said.

Ed Blumenfeld, founder of Blumenfeld Development Group in Syosset, teamed up with Ratner after losing his own bid for the project, not once but 3 times – the 1970s for the original construction, 2005 to the Lighthouse and 2009. He will be assisting in the development of restaurants and retail at the site.

Representatives from labor trade unions, community groups and the business community were in attendance to celebrate the opportunity that creates jobs and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity per year.

Mineola, NY – Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano will make a major announcement August 14th at 11:30a.m. regarding the future of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.