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Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced the appointments of Eileen Mildenberger as the Executive Director of the IDA, having previously served as director of Economic Development for Westchester County. Former Astorino Communications Director Ned McCormack will assume the same role with the IDA, as well as serving as a senior advisor to Thomas.
Both McCormack and Mildenberger are due to make a reported $135,000 annually, making the IDA one of the city’s most expensive departments. Both will report directly to Thomas, who is the director of the IDA.
According to Thomas, “the appointments come at a pivotal time, as a strengthening economy and focus on transit-oriented development provide momentum for key city initiatives, such as the creation of a downtown arts district centered around the old YMCA, the restoration of Memorial Field, the development of the Mount Vernon greenway, and other transformative projects.”
The IDA has come under fire recently, with reports of convicted convicts serving as consultants for the city, and a Mount Vernon landowner who claims he’s been denied tax breaks by the agency.
“Moving Mount Vernon forward requires having the right people in place. Mildenberger and McCormack have the skills and experience to navigate challenges and deliver results,” Thomas said in a statement announcing the hires. “We are excited to have them join us in Mount Vernon.
“Mount Vernon is open for business as the gateway to New York City, Westchester and the region. No other place in Westchester is served by as many train, subway, bus and highway options. The job of the IDA is to get that story out to grow the tax base and create job opportunities for the future. The time is now.”
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