Good Samaritan Hospital First in NY to Offer Advanced Digital Imaging System

(West Islip, NY) – Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is the first in the New York Metropolitan region to install the GE Innova® IGS 530 digital cardiovascular and interventional imaging system in its cardiac catheterization laboratory. This advanced system features superior image quality and multiple viewing screens to enable comparison of images from previous studies as well as multi-angle views. It is versatile enough to be used for both interventional cardiac and vascular procedures.

“Interventional cardiology procedures are becoming increasingly complex,” said Assistant Vice President of Cardiology Services Halsey Bagg. “Many patients coming to Good Samaritan have both coronary and vascular conditions. This advanced system helps to accurately and efficiently diagnose and if necessary treat these conditions.”

The installation is phase one of a $5.6 million renovation of Good Samaritan’s cardiac catheterization program which currently has two laboratories. A third laboratory is under construction and will include the Innova IGS 530. Once complete, equipment in the second laboratory will be similarly upgraded. The entire project is anticipated to be completed this year.

According to the American Heart Association, one of every six deaths in the United States is caused by coronary heart disease. Good Samaritan Hospital’s fully integrated cardiovascular services offer superior, comprehensive care. Good Samaritan was the first community hospital in Suffolk County to perform primary angioplasty to swiftly open blocked arteries during a heart attack and was the first in the county to offer the combination of primary elective angioplasty and a cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients across Long Island turn to Good Samaritan, one of a select group of hospitals to have Magnet® designation in nursing for cardiovascular services such as angioplasty, cardiac arrhythmia management device insertion, electrophysiology studies, stress testing, EKG testing and more.

For more information on cardiology services, call (631) 376-4444 or visit www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The medical center, which has more than 4,500 employees and almost 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 30,000 patient admissions and more than 95,000 emergency department visits in 2011. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provided more than $43 million in community service and charity care in 2011. The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

Senator Zeldin Attends Longwood Central School District’s Legislative Breakfast

(Long Island, NY) On February 23, 2013, Senator Lee Zeldin (R-C-I, Shirley) participated in an open forum at the Longwood Central School District’s 9th Regional Legislative Breakfast co-sponsored by Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

The discussion centered around education related issues on Long Island. Senator Zeldin (2nd from left) is pictured with representatives from the South Country School District and Assemblyman Edward Hennessey.

Freezin’ for a Reason event to help raise money to send more N.Y. families to Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind retreat in Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families

(HUNTINGTON, N.Y.)– Participants in the Long Island Polar Dip on Saturday in Huntington will plunge into Long Island Sound to raise money to send more New York families to Camp Sunshine.

The March 2 fundraising event will test the mettle of participants who must dip into frigid ocean waters at Crab Meadow Beach, located at the end of Waterside Avenue in Huntington Township on Long Island’s North Shore. Registration will get underway at noon with the dip set for 2 p.m.

Camp Sunshine is a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The Long Island Polar Dip has partnered with CrowdRise, a popular online fundraising platform, to make it easy to participate. To start raising funds, form or join a team, and donate online, visit http://www.crowdrise.com/LongIslandPolarDip. For more information, call (207) 655-3800.

Organizers have set a goal to raise $20,000 – enough to send 10 New York families to Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org). Each participant who raises at least $100 in pledges for Camp Sunshine will receive a coveted “I DID IT!” t-shirt.

The Long Island Polar Dip is re-locating to Huntington this year from Amityville due to damage from Superstorm Sandy. .

Nestled alongside the shores of beautiful Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine, Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed on them on a daily basis.

The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family.

Since the opening of the Camp’s year-round campus in 2001, more ill children and their families have come from New York than any other state in the nation. In 2012, 152 families from New York, many from Long Island, attended the Camp. Even with multiple sessions being added annually at Camp Sunshine, there are still many more children from New York being newly diagnosed each year, Smith said.

Camp Sunshine’s program continues to be recommended by the following New York treatment centers: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Schneider’s Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York University Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Westchester Medical Center, Stony Brook Medical Center, and numerous others.

About Camp Sunshine
Camp Sunshine offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week, and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed upon them on a daily basis. The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family – the ill child, the parents and the siblings. Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for more than 32,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to providing 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support, the camp offers a variety of daily activities, including swimming, boating, archery and soccer, and special events such as bonfires and cookouts; and also hosts fall and winter programs. To support Camp Sunshine, call (207) 655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.

Voluntary mediation offers speedy resolution when insurers and homeowners can’t agree

(Long Island, NY) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Department of Financial Services has established a voluntary mediation process for homeowners disputing their insurance claims or dissatisfied with denials of their claims arising from Storm Sandy.

“Mediation offers a speedy, low-cost resolution of insurance claims for homeowners who are unable to reach agreement with their homeowners’ insurance companies on claims from Storm Sandy,” Governor Cuomo said. “It is also much less expensive for insurers than litigation, so it’s a win for everyone.”

Superintendent of Financial Services Benjamin M. Lawsky said, “Most non-flood insurance claims have already been resolved by insurance companies. But we know from past storms that some claims are difficult to resolve. We also know that after other major storms, mediation was extremely successful in other states. So the Department of Financial Services has issued an emergency regulation directing insurers to offer and pay for voluntary mediation for open and denied insurance claims from Storm Sandy.”

Most non-flood insurance claims have already been resolved, and most of those unresolved are still in process. As of February 8, insurers representing 90 percent of the market in Sandy-affected areas reported to the Department that, with respect to all claims other than flood, they have received 432,000 claims and had fully resolved 87 percent. These insurers have paid $3.6 billion of the $4.6 billion that they expect to pay. With regard to residential property insurance, there have been 287,000 claims, and 94 percent have been fully resolved, with carriers paying $1.5 billion of the $1.7 billion that they expect to pay.

Under the new regulation, homeowners may seek mediation for claims that are disputed or if they disagree with the insurance company’s denial of a claim.

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, and Rita, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana instituted nonbinding mediation programs, administered by the American Arbitration Association, aimed at bringing prompt closure to disputed insurance claims.

Both consumers and insurers have found the programs beneficial. After Hurricane Andrew, a program sponsored by the Florida Department of Insurance handled 2,400 claims and achieved a settlement rate of 92 percent. In Louisiana, 15,000 cases were filed after Katrina, with a settlement rate of 74 percent. In Mississippi, 5,000 cases yielded settlements 82 percent of the time.

The emergency amendment to Regulation 64 establishes a similar mediation program in New York, to be administered by the AAA pursuant to procedures and standards approved by the Department.

The program would handle disputed real and personal property claims, other than those regarding damage to motor vehicles, which arose between October 26, 2012 and November 15, 2012 in the counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester. Claims made under the National Flood Insurance Program, which is administered by the federal government, are not eligible.

The emergency amendment obligates insurers to notify their homeowners of the right to mediate eligible claims. Insurers will have to participate in mediations in good faith and foot the bill for the AAA’s costs.

The mediation is not binding on the homeowner and will not affect the homeowner’s other legal rights, such as a right to request an appraisal, the right to file a civil suit, and any other rights provided by law.

The mediation can be conducted face to face, by video conference, or telephone conference, depending upon what is agreed between the insurer and homeowner.

Agreement Requires American Electric Power to Make Deeper, Quicker Cuts in Emissions of Pollution, Provides Additional Funds for Anti-Pollution Efforts; Schneiderman: We Will Continue To Use the Full Force of This Office to Fight for Clean, Healthy Air for All New Yorkers

(NEW YORK) — Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that New York has joined seven states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several environmental groups in reaching an agreement that will require the nation’s largest power company to make further cuts in air pollution emissions at 16 of the company’s coal-fired power plants. The agreement with American Electric Power (AEP), which updates a previous settlement, requires AEP to pursue greater reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, accelerates the timeline for achieving those reductions and increases the funding AEP will pay New York by an additional $715,000 to fund projects that improve environmental and public health in the state.

“Coal-fired power plants make the largest contribution to air pollution in New York’s skies,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “Continuing to cut pollution is crucial to protecting New Yorkers’ health and the environment. Updating our settlement with the nation’s largest power company will allow us to gain quicker and deeper cuts in their air pollution emissions, while providing more than $700,000 in additional funding to combat pollution in our state. I will continue to use the full force of this office to fight for clean and healthy air for all New Yorkers.”

The new agreement amends a settlement the coalition of states, EPA and the environmental groups reached with AEP in 2007 as a result of the company’s violations of pollution control provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. That settlement required the company to invest nearly $5 billion to upgrade its aging, coal-fired eastern fleet plants and cut their sulfur dioxide (SO2) air pollution from 828,000 tons to 174,000 tons a year over twelve years. In addition, the company was required to pay the eight states involved a total of $24 million, with New York receiving $9.5 million.

Last year, AEP initiated discussions about amending the settlement so the company could deploy pollution reduction technology at its Rockport, Indiana plant that was not explicitly provided for under that settlement. While AEP’s requested technology will result in less SO2 reduction at that plant, the eight-state coalition, EPA and environmental groups ultimately agreed to AEP’s request in exchange for a package of benefits which, overall, will achieve greater and quicker pollution cuts than the original settlement and provide additional funding for state environmental improvement projects. This agreement is contained in today’s amended settlement.

The 16 power plants in AEP’s eastern fleet are located in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky and emissions from these plants add significantly to smog and soot pollution in New York State. The pollutants emitted, particularly SO2 pollution, threaten human health and are directly linked to increases in asthma attacks and lung diseases. They also are primary contributors to acid rain which has severely damaged lakes, forests and wildlife throughout New York’s Adirondack and Catskill regions.

The amended settlement directly addresses the pollution released by these AEP power plants and provides a package of clean air benefits to New York that includes:

• Lowering the “cap” placed by the prior settlement on total amount of SO2 pollution that can be emitted by the power plants in AEP’s eastern fleet. Under the new settlement, AEP agreed to deeper and quicker emission reductions than under the original decree. For example, the company will cut SO2 pollution by 115,000 tons per year more in 2016. The cap will be tightened on a yearly basis to achieve almost 1 million tons of additional reductions in SO2 by 2029 — and resulting in a roughly 90% reduction in the fleet’s yearly SO2 emissions compared to 2006 levels. These reductions lower the power plants’ pollution emission levels far below federal requirements;
• Requiring AEP to pay New York an additional $714,285 to fund projects that increase energy efficiency or reduces pollution in the state.

To date, the Attorney General’s office has dedicated monies obtained from the prior settlement to the following environmental improvement projects:

• $2.1 million to fund energy efficiency and catalyze health and safety improvements in residential housing in Buffalo’s underserved communities through the creation of the Buffalo Green and Healthy Homes Initiative;
• $1.9 million to fund a program implemented by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to convert residential oil-burning furnaces to natural gas, thus promoting energy efficiency and reducing air pollution;
• $500,000 to fund school bus air pollution control retrofits in several New York counties bordering Connecticut;
• $500,000 to assist in the creation of a clean energy education and training center in Saratoga County;
• $500,000 to fund farm projects that reduce agricultural water pollution runoff into Lake Champlain.

In addition to New York, the states involved in the settlement agreements are Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont. The environmental groups include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Earthjustice and the Sierra Club.

The amended settlement was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District. Under the Clean Air Act, the amended consent decree is subject to a 30-day period for public comment after notice is published in the Federal Register. At the conclusion of the comment period, the parties intend to seek court approval of the amended consent decree.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Michael J. Myers of the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Deputy Bureau Chief Lisa M. Burianek, Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic and First Deputy of Affirmative Litigation Janet Sabel.

Controlled substances provision took effect Feb. 23

(Long Island, NY) The following was released today by Assemblymember Michael  G.Miller, who represents the 38th Assembly District in Queens County, which includes the neighborhoods of Woodhaven, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Glendale.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increasing number of incidents involving the abuse and misuse of highly addictive painkillers in New York State. This dangerous and growing epidemic, which has negatively affected the lives of far too many Queens families, led to the passage of the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act – or I-STOP – in 2012 (Ch. 447 of 2012). In addition to creating the first real-time prescription drug database in the country, the law strengthens regulations of several controlled substances to help curb improper usage.

Assemblymember Michael Miller 38th – Assembly District

One of the law’s most significant provisions, a measure that updates the classification and prescription schedules of two controlled substances, hydrocodone and tramadol, takes effect on Feb. 23. This provision will require drugs containing hydrocodone (commonly referred to as Vicodin) to be moved from a Schedule III to a Schedule II drug, a shift that limits an initial prescription for the painkiller to 30 days and also eliminates the current automatic refill status for first-time patients.

The law also adds the prescription drug tramadol (also known as Ultram, Ultracet and Ryzolt) to Schedule IV on the controlled substances list. Prior to this provision, it was often very easy for a person to get the same prescription from multiple doctors filled at separate pharmacies. Placing limits on refills and prescriptions for both hydrocodone and tramadol is a key step in preventing the abuse of these two highly addictive drugs.

Taking action to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs is a necessity in order to increase the safety and well-being of Queens families. According to data from the Upstate New York Poison Control Center, the statewide incidences of hydrocodone abuse have drastically increased: 363 reports of abuse in 2008 and 703 in 2012. Overall, in 2011, the center reported over 12,800 cases of prescription drug abuse. Additionally, both medical and non-medical sales of painkillers like hydrocodone and tramadol quadrupled between 1999 and 2010.

Many provisions of I-STOP went into effect following the law’s passage last year. The state Department of Health (DOH) quickly implemented the Safe Disposal program. This program provides a safe, non-threatening location for New Yorkers to dispose of expired and unneeded prescription drugs to ensure that they are not left in medicine cabinets or in other easily accessible places.

The law’s most revolutionary provision – the nation’s first-ever real-time prescription drug database – will begin implementation statewide in August. This database will be established and maintained by the DOH and will provide real-time information for practitioners to review when researching a patient’s prescription history. This database gives doctors and pharmacists the ability to stop a potential prescription drug abuse problem before it starts, ensuring the health and safety of so many families. Additionally, I-STOP’s electronic prescribing initiative will take effect in 2015 to allow pharmacists to issue prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances.

We can no longer shy away from the plain and simple truth: Prescription drug abuse is a dangerous, growing problem in our state. I-STOP takes proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of Queens families and all New Yorkers by making sure highly addictive prescription drugs are kept out of the hands of potential abusers.

100% of Profits Donated to Help Fight Pediatric Cancer

(Long Island, NY) — Hundreds of children throughout the country have shared their messages of hope and inspiration for kids battling cancer – through a unique opportunity to create their very own line of Ouchies bandages. After reviewing the hundreds of entries, and after thousands of people cast their votes for their favorite design via Facebook, the winners of the “Ouchies for Others” Pediatric Cancer Bandage Art Contest have been selected – with five winning entries about to see their designs featured on a new line of Ouchies Bandages to be available this Summer.

The winners of the “Ouchies for Others” Pediatric Cancer Bandage Art Contest are:

• Amber Moosvi, Age 17, Des Plaines, Illinois – Name of artwork: “Broken Bear” – Story behind artwork: The picture that I made represents two things. The Teddy Bear with a bandage and the feel better soon balloon represents that I’m not completely better but soon I will be because my broken bear has a bandage. The stars represent all of the people who support me in my battle with Brain Cancer. I couldn’t fit everyone because I have so many people supporting me and I appreciate them so much.

• Sammy Smith, Age 13, Sandusky, Ohio, Name of artwork: “You’re Almost There” – Story behind the artwork: Just remember that every time you get a poke or surgery that you are one step closer! That’s what keeps me going!

• Tenia Richardson, Age 9, Michigan, Name of Artwork: “Love is Cure” – Story behind the artwork: I believe with enough love you can cure anything to make a brighter day.

• Laura Vargas, Age 10, San Antonio, Texas, Name of Artwork: “You Can Be Pain Free” – Story behind the artwork: I wanted to do this because I had cancer myself so I wanted other kids not to let themselves down and show them that you can have fun during cancer treatment and never give your hopes up and look cool with my bandage.

• Erin Lisk, Age 12, Howell, New Jersey, Name of Artwork: “Never Give Up” – Story behind the artwork: My Mom had cancer and even though it was painful, she never gave up. Now she is happy and healthy.

Through the “Ouchies for Others” program, Ouchies gives 100% of profits from the sale of this unique line of bandages to varied not-for-profit organizations. All profits from the sale of these new bandages will be going to benefit the important work being done by three national pediatric cancer organizations: The Childhood Leukemia Foundation, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and the American Childhood Cancer Organization.

More than 400 children submitted their designs for the “Ouchies for Others” contest, which gave them the opportunity to tell their own story about the fight against pediatric cancer or anything else uplifting – with the chance to have their designs featured in the new “Ouchies for Others” bandages and tin. Some offered words of encouragement and a message to “Stay Strong.” Others drew intricate, colorful designs geared to make others smile. A few know exactly what it’s like for a child to have cancer because they have battled the disease themselves — and many others know someone who has been impacted by childhood cancer and wanted to do whatever they can to help. Each entry told its own special story – and deciding on a winner wasn’t easy.

“We wanted to give children the opportunity to help other kids in need, whether its an encouraging word, uplifting picture or story,” says Ian Madover, CEO of Ouchies, who developed the “Ouchies for Others” program as a way to raise awareness, and funds, for not-for-profit organizations serving the needs of children. “Kids with cancer get pricked many times a day and we thought it only makes sense to put the two together.”

All contest entries can be viewed online at www.ouchiesonline.com/bandage-art-contest. The five winning entries were selected based on a panel of judges voting from a pool of 25 finalists that had received the most “likes” on Ouchies’ Facebook page.

“We are thrilled that so many children entered our contest, and were truly touched by the beautiful designs and stories they created and shared with us,” says Jennifer Saporta, Director of Sales & Marketing at Ouchies. “The ‘Ouchies for Others’ program has given us the unique opportunity to work with amazing organizations dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children with cancer. We are beyond honored to be able to partner with them and help to increase their tremendous efforts in the fight against pediatric cancer.”

For more information on Ouchies for Others and the Bandage Art Contest, visit www.ouchiesonline.com. For more information on the partner organizations, or to make a donation, visit The Childhood Leukemia Foundation (www.clf4kids.org), Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer (www.cookiesforkidscancer.org), and The American Childhood Cancer Organization (www.acco.org).

Shirley Ambulance Honors its Own

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey attended Shirley Ambulance Company’s Annual Installation Dinner where first-responders recognize outgoing and incoming leaders and honor those members who have gone above and beyond in service to their community.

Pictured are Assemblyman Hennessey (left) and Shirley Ambulance member Robert Lambert pictured with his wife Karen. On Oct. 4, 2012, Robert along with four other members of the company performed a CPR save. The man they saved was in the audience cheering Robert and his fellow members on. Kudos to our local heroes.

County Executive Bellone, Legislators Gregory and Cilmi Applaud State Approval to Create First Land Bank in Suffolk to Remediate Brownfields

(Hauppauge, NY) – Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Majority Leader DuWayne Gregory (D – Amityville) and 10th District Legislator Tom Cilmi (R – Bay Shore)  today applauded  state approval of Suffolk’s application to create a Suffolk County Land Bank.  Once implemented, the land bank will afford Suffolk County a unique opportunity to remediate and return to the tax rolls contaminated brownfield properties.

The New York State Empire State Development Corporation has approved the County’s application to establish the Suffolk County Land Bank Corporation, a not-for-profit entity that will give the County discretion to acquire, dispose of at auction or redevelop tax foreclosed properties, including brownfield sites previously unsuitable for acquisition.  According to the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, there are 133 brownfield sites located in eight of Suffolk’s ten towns that may be eligible for remediation through the land bank.  The properties represent a total of 265.9 acres and more than $28 million in cumulative uncollected tax revenue.  All ten towns in Suffolk supported of the land bank application.  For a table of brownfield properties by town, see below.

“All across Suffolk County, communities have been struggling to cope with abandoned, tax-delinquent and contaminated properties that blight neighborhoods and business districts,” said County Executive Bellone. “Now, the Suffolk County Land Bank will give us a mechanism to put many of these brownfield properties in the hands of the private sector to be remediated and put to good use once again. The land bank will make a tangible difference for these communities, enhancing the environment, bolstering the local economy and improving quality of life.”

“Getting authorization to establish this land bank is a huge step forward for our communities and our environment,” said Legislative Majority Leader Gregory, who authored the original legislation directing the County to pursue the establishment of a Land Bank as a way to revive blighted communities. “Once up and running, I believe it will become the most effective tool the County has ever had to make tainted properties habitable and impoverished communities economically viable.”

“The approval of the County’s Land Bank application is a win for the taxpayers, allowing us to get tax-delinquent properties back on the tax rolls while recovering a portion of back taxes; a win for the environment as it will foster the cleanup of environmentally contaminated properties; and a win for communities as we turn blighted properties into productive parcels,” said Legislator Cilmi. “This has long been a priority of mine and I am thrilled that an issue that has been so vexing for so long is finally being addressed.”

Bellone developed the land bank concept in consultation with Legislators Gregory and Cilmi during 2012.  The Land Bank also establishes a Board of Directors of the corporation that includes representation from the County Executive’s Office, the Legislature, town government and the environmental community.  The first brown field properties will be transferred from the County to the land bank corporation during the third quarter of this year.

Table 1: Geographic Distribution of Potential Redevelopment Sites for the Suffolk County Land Bank Corporation
Town*	Number of Parcels	Acres
Babylon	39	14.15
Brookhaven	33	178
Huntington	4	3.3
Islip	39	32.3
Riverhead	2	0.98
Smithtown	12	30.89
Southampton	3	5.51
Southold	1	0.3
Total	133 parcels	265.9 acres
* Please note that sites identified in incorporate villages are included within each town and that the Towns of East Hampton and Shelter Island currently do not have any sites identified.

Technology Company “CooCoo” to Expand Huntington Headquarters, Add Jobs; Bellone Says Budding High Tech Cluster Developing in Huntington

(Hauppauge, NY) – “With the help of an innovative program offered by the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Huntington is quickly becoming the center of an emerging cluster of growth sector high tech companies,” said County Executive Steven Bellone.

CooCoo, a leader in the national transit industry’s shift to real time information and mobile tickets is the third Huntington-based company to benefit from BOOST, an IDA program launched in 2012 to aid start-up companies in high growth industries, including information technology, bio and life sciences, green technology, energy and pharmacology. With IDA support, CooCoo plans to expand their Huntington headquarters and add ten fulltime jobs during the next two years.

“CooCoo is part of a growing number of high tech start-up companies finding a home, and thriving in Huntington,” said IDA Executive Director Anthony Manetta. “Since 2012, the IDA has approved BOOST benefits for two other Huntington tech companies, Work Market, Inc., and VLI North America, Inc.”

According to Manetta, CooCoo’s expansion at 356 New York Avenue, Huntington, a $215,000 project, will add close to 900 square feet and more than double the size of the company’s local workforce. CooCoo, whose employees earn more than $62,000 annually on average, will receive a $64,000 property tax cut over five years and a $2,500 sales tax exemption on purchases related to the expansion.

“CooCoo is one of a cluster of high tech companies in Huntington that have benefited from BOOST,” said County Executive Steven Bellone. “What’s more, CooCoo has produced what is widely acknowledged as the most flexible ticketing solution in the field, which has transit organizations from New York to California looking to partner on new projects. This is exactly the kind of innovative entrepreneurism we want to encourage in Suffolk.”

“CooCoo has significant growth potential and an opportunity to scale up operations and add high-tech jobs in Suffolk County. Providing IDA benefits will help them become a leader in their unique niche,” said Deputy County Executive, Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning Joanne Minieri, who is also Vice-Chairperson of the Suffolk IDA.

“Suffolk IDA has made it attractive for startups to choose Huntington Village,” said Ryan Thompson Co-Founder of CooCoo. “The Village has great infrastructure to support innovation. We encourage other technology companies to follow in our footsteps; developing a technology cluster in the Village will be great for collaboration.”

CooCoo has been partnering for nearly a year with San Diego’s North County Transit on technology to collect fares. Other transit partners listed on www.coocoo.com include Long Island Railroad (LIRR), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Metro-North Transit and NJ Transit.