Schenectady, N.Y. — The Metroplex Board of Directors met this evening and moved forward on a number of economic development projects in Schenectady County.

Metroplex members reviewed a website designed to welcome employees from the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board to downtown Schenectady. The Workers’ Compensation Board is moving over 300 employees to space formerly occupied by DOT at 328 State Street at the corner of State and Broadway in downtown Schenectady. Additional employees will relocate to Schenectady after the initial move is completed. The initial move will take place in mid to late July.

The website www.welcomeworkerscomp.com provides directions to the building, information about the Metroplex parking garage, links to downtown restaurants, information about fitness, daycare and other services all located within blocks of the new headquarters of the Workers Compensation Board.

The State Lottery, the NYS Racing and Wagering Board and Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities are already located in downtown Schenectady.

Metroplex is working with the Chamber of Schenectady County and the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation to welcome new state agency personnel downtown.  The Proctors marquee will feature a message welcoming Workers Compensation staff and local merchants are providing discounts, coupons and specials to greet incoming personnel.

In other business, the Board approved a $50,000 façade grant to Madison Handbags. The company is investing $625,000 to purchase and renovate 131 State Street as a new production and retail facility. The building previously housed a regional office of the Girls Scouts so the project puts the building back on the tax rolls, creates 40 jobs and adds to the development momentum in the lower State Street area.

On downtown development, the Board approved issuing bids and authorized spending up to $152,000 to build new sidewalks, curbs and other improvements on North Broadway as well as make other improvements downtown.  Bid results will be reviewed at a future meeting.

Finally, the Board approved a refinancing of approximately $14 million in Metroplex bonds designed to take advantage of very low interest rates. The refinancing s expected to save Metroplex up to $700,000 each year giving the Authority additional resources to invest in projects that create new jobs, new sales tax and new property tax throughout Schenectady County.