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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Empire State Development (ESD) recently announced that the headquarters for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. will remain in Purchase, NY. The company will retain 460 existing jobs and create 50 new full-time positions at this facility.
“Atlas Air Worldwide and its employees have deep roots in New York– and I am proud to say that they are staying and expanding in Westchester County,” said Governor Cuomo. “Other states tried to convince Atlas to leave New York, but we applaud the company for recognizing the benefits of staying in the Lower Hudson Valley.”
Atlas is owned by AAWW, the operator of the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft. It offers a range of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services including air cargo service, military charters, commercial cargo charters, and leasing of aircraft and engines. While the company did receive aggressive incentive offers from several other states it chose to reinvest in New York.
“Atlas Air Worldwide has called New York home for a dozen years and we are delighted to continue to do so,” said William J. Flynn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “Many of our employees have been an integral part of our workforce since we established operational facilities at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, N.Y., in the 1990s and since we moved our corporate headquarters from Colorado to Purchase in 2000. We are in an exciting era of transformative business growth – an era that we expect will significantly increase our revenues and earnings over the next few years and beyond. Thanks to the economic and related assistance of New York State and Westchester County, we will be able to maintain our valued workforce, create new jobs and generate economic growth in the community.”
Kenneth Adams, Empire State Development President & CEO and Commissioner said, “ESD is pleased to partner with Atlas Air in this project, which will create and retain hundreds of jobs. Atlas can now be added to the growing list of companies that have chosen to stay and grow in Westchester County in just the last few months. We applaud the company’s commitment to New York and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the local economy of Purchase and its nearby communities.”
In addition, Atlas Air will receive up to $442,000 in sales tax exemptions from the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency.
Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said “Listening to and working with businesses is how government helps create jobs. That atmosphere of mutual commitment and support is key to economic growth, and that is a philosophy we share with the Governor and Empire State Development, which is similarly committed to promoting investment statewide. We are extremely pleased to have Atlas Air Worldwide staying and expanding in Westchester County.”
State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer said, "Atlas Air Worldwide has revolutionized the freight cargo business. Thanks to Governor Cuomo and his economic development team, this leading innovator will remain and continue to grow in Westchester. The message today is that New York State and Westchester County are dedicated to growing business here."
Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli said “I applaud Atlas Air’s decision to stay at their home in Westchester County. Thanks to the outstanding cooperation provided by Governor Cuomo and the Empire State Development Corporation, County Executive Astorino and the Westchester County IDA, the combination of Excelsior Job Program benefits coupled with Westchester County sales tax exemptions provide Atlas with the user friendly environment that will allow them to stay as the valuable economic partner we have come to know and respect in Westchester. We look forward to their continued prosperity in the future.”
AAWW’s press releases, SEC filings and other information can be accessed through the company’s home page, www.atlasair.com.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency and administrator of the statewide business resource portal: New York First (www.NYfirst.NY.gov). The missionof Empire State Development is to promote business investment and growth that leads to job creation and prosperous communities across New York State. ESD also oversees the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Empire State Development, visit www.esd.ny.gov.
