NEW WINDSOR – The business climate in Orange County was surprisingly good in 2009, according to Maureen Halahan, president of the Orange County Partnership.

The county’s economic development marketing agency held its annual event in New Windsor Tuesday and Halahan said 900 jobs were created in the county through expansions and new attractions.

“In the 75 leads we worked in the corporate attraction side, we closed 16 projects and that was a 33 percent increase over 2008,” she said. A total of 256 jobs were created in business attractions. “The total capital investment this year was $96.4 million and that beat 2008 by a long shot, too.”

Halahan said Chester was a hot spot for development in Orange County this year.