About the IDA - Mission and Vision
About the IDA
The Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency (BIDA), established in 1973, is a public benefit entity under New York State General Municipal Law 18 A. We actively promote, encourage, attract and develop job and recreational opportunities and economically sound commerce within the Town’s borders. We provide financial assistance to eligible projects in order to promote the economic welfare, prosperity, and recreational opportunities for the residents of the Town.
In addition to financial assistance, in some cases the Bethlehem IDA can assist companies with grant applications, business plans, access to agencies and markets and other business and marketing issues.
Through the vision and leadership of the Town Supervisor and IDA Board Members, we seek to create a “business-friendly climate” that will attract development opportunities consistent with the character of the Town. With its superb location, desirable quality of life, available land, and “business-friendly climate”, the Town of Bethlehem is well positioned to participate in the Capital Region’s Tech-Valley movement.
MISSION STATEMENT - ADOPTED 08/25/2010
The Town of Bethlehem’s Comprehensive Plan, as adopted by the Town Board in 2005 recommends that the Town grow in a manner that maintains and enhances its preeminent residential and semi-rural character through high quality and clean non-residential development in carefully planned and strategically located sites. Residential neighborhoods in the Town will be enhanced by proximity to open space, pedestrian-oriented facilities, high quality employment opportunities and neighborhood-scale commercial services.
The Agency's mission is to assist the Town in implementing the non-residential development components of the Plan by actively promoting, attracting, retaining and developing high quality jobs and capital investment in the Town with a focus on appropriate, economically sound and sustainable commercial, industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, educational, research and recreational facilities and projects. To secure expanded jobs and investment associated with such development, the Agency will provide to such projects technical and other assistance and "financial assistance" to such projects in accordance with Article 18-A of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.
MISSION STATEMENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR EACH CALENDAR YEAR
Performance Measures for Calendar Year: December 31, 2010
Total number of leads generated internally 0 externally 24
Total number of projects initiated 0 closed 0
Number of ongoing projects 10
Jobs created for ongoing projects in the year reported 440 retained 149
Dollar amount of capital investment $854,052,000
Retention of existing businesses 3
Dollar amount of non-real estate tax exemptions $7,108,207
Dollar amount of projected real estate taxes in the year reported $5,747,860
Dollar amount of actual PILOT payments in the year reported $8,453,536
In the year reported, net tax exemptions -$4,402,531*
* "A negative net exemption may reflect a fixed PILOT that exceeds actual tax exemptions . . ." (NYS OSC Annual Performance Report on New York State's Industrial Development Agencies 2008)
