Lifespan Services Provider Commits to Creating 230 New Jobs in Mid-Hudson Region
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the $20 million Jawonio campus in New City, Rockland County. The project consisted of the relocation of Jawonio’s summer education facility and construction of a new 70,000 square foot facility for corporate offices and a new Workforce Training Center. As part of this project, the organization has committed to creating 230 new jobs and retaining nearly 700 full-time positions. New York State supported the expansion with more than $3.3 million in Empire State Development capital grants, recommended by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.
«For decades, Jawonio has provided important services in the Mid-Hudson region that have created pathways to success for individuals who are now able to fully participate in the job market,» Governor Hochul said. «This new campus expands on that success and will provide a streamlined continuum of services and training from childhood to adulthood that will not only prepare qualified workers for jobs in the region, but it will also give them the ability to overcome barriers and thrive.»
«The completion of Jawonio’s campus in New City is a great step towards increasing and improving services for people with developmental disabilities in the Hudson Valley,» said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. «The new summer education facility and Workforce Training Center will help keep people active throughout the summer and help more people with developmental disabilities to prepare for and find employment.»
Immediate Past CEO Jill A. Warner said, «Jawonio has a long history of working in partnership with the community and New York State government agencies. Empire State Development was instrumental in the funding of this campus development, and we thank them. By working together, we are changing the world for the better, one person at a time.»
ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, «We are committed to creating jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers, and Jawonio’s new corporate headquarters, workforce training and education facilities will help to ensure that we continue to do so. We’re proud to support this lifespan services provider in building greater equity in our talent pipeline, which will also boost the economy in the Mid-Hudson region and beyond.»
New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kerri Neifeld said, «The long-anticipated completion of this beautiful campus revitalization and the enhanced services and supports it will bring to people with developmental disabilities of all ages will help to ensure their needs will be met now and into the future. I applaud Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for supporting this venture to expand services and opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.»
The project involved the redevelopment of the organization’s 16-acre campus. This effort consisted of demolition and construction of its new summer education cabins, building a new corporate headquarters to consolidate IT functions from multiple sites and expanding its provider services. The organization’s former campus had become outdated and inadequate to meet the challenges and changes facing the health care industry today.
Jawonio is the largest provider of lifespan services in the Hudson Valley for individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health challenges, and chronic medical conditions. Jawonio’s new headquarters include a service delivery facility, allowing service recipients and their families to easily access the services they require under one roof. The headquarters is designed to accommodate the company’s professional workforce, which provides assessment, evaluation, training, treatment and wellness activities to assist special needs individuals in obtaining gainful employment in the community and fully live up to their potential. The building will be equipped with an evaluation and assessment area, complete with special phones, IT equipment and the tools necessary to assist those who are vision and hearing impaired, physically or behaviorally challenged, or struggle with learning and developmental disabilities. Additionally, Jawonio upgraded its entire IT Infrastructure with industry leading technology and services to accommodate the present and future growth of the organization.
Phase one of the project – the construction of the Summer Education Cabins – was completed in July 2018. The three cabins are for children with special needs who attend a six-week summer education program, and all cabins are outfitted as a multi-purpose space. Phase two of the project, the 70,000 sq foot facility was completed in October 2020 and the exterior landscaping this month.
Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council co-chairs Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester, and SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young said, «Jawonio’s decision to grow here reflects a commitment to Rockland County and to our shared goals to grow local jobs while removing barriers to the workforce. We are proud that this organization calls the Mid-Hudson region home, and we look forward to its continued success.»
State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick said, «For 75 years, Jawonio has thrived as a Rockland-based provider of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities or chronic medical conditions. Jawonio’s success is a testament to its top-tier staff and our community’s support of its mission. Today’s announcement of the successful completion of the new Jawonio headquarters in New City exemplifies how New York State can deliver for nonprofits doing vital work in our region and in turn, drive economic growth and opportunity.»
Assemblymember Kenneth Zebrowski said, «Jawonio is an incredibly important part of our community in Rockland County, and the completion of this new campus will ensure they are able to expand and continue their work. Not only will this project allow Jawonio to expand services but will also create and preserve hundreds of jobs across the Hudson Valley. I’m proud to continuously advocate for additional funding for Jawonio and thank Gov. Hochul for her support of this project.»
Assemblymember Mike Lawler said, «I’m thrilled to see the completion of Jawonio’s $20 million transformation, just in time to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Jawonio is a fantastic organization, that along with other nonprofits, provides incredible services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families from Rockland and all across the region. Working together, I’m proud of the increased investment we have made in this year’s budget to support the I/DD community, and those who work tirelessly to provide the critical services and care to our most vulnerable population.»
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said, «This is incredible news for Jawanio, an organization always going above and beyond for people with disabilities. I hope this new facility enables Jawanio to continue leaving an indelible mark on our community.»
Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said, «The Jawonio revisioning and revitalization project was perhaps one of the most important projects in our Town in my tenure as Supervisor. The new jobs and opportunities for enhanced services is making a world of difference for countless people. Having spent well over 20 years working in the field of disabilities prior to becoming Supervisor I cannot be prouder of the project and what it means to our Town and people with disabilities. A great job by all involved and a special thank you to the Governor and the regional council for seeing the obvious value this project has brought to the entire community.»
Jawonio is a registered 501C3 organization that was organized in 1947 as the Cerebral Palsy Society of Rockland County, premier provider of lifespan services in the Hudson Valley that provide outpatient treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health challenges, and chronic medical conditions. In 1949, the Company founded the first summer camp program for children with disabilities in Rockland County. Two years later, it was expanded to include an overnight program called «Camp Jawonio.» The $50 million non-profit, with locations in both Rockland and Westchester Counties has continued to expand its programs. Today, services include early intervention, special education preschool, school aged respite and summer education. Jawonio adult services include community living day habilitation behavioral health care management, employment & vocational services. Additionally, Jawonio operates a $6 million commercial cleaning division with more than 100 employees with contracts in both Rockland and Westchester Counties
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of «I LOVE NY,» the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.