Kolmar plant, on River Road in Port Jervis

GOSHEN – Orange County Administrative Officer and economic development chief James O’Donnell is hopeful that Kolmar will stay in Port Jervis and not move its cosmetics manufacturing operation elsewhere.  It was learned, in September, that El Paso, TX, is no longer an option, but the company is reportedly still looking at a few other possible locations..

O’Donnell is confident New York State will come up with a benefits package to keep the company and its 500 jobs in the Hudson Valley.

“We can’t afford to lose that number of jobs anywhere in Orange County, but in particular Port Jervis; they have been a mainstay out there for a long time and the amount of time they would have to invest in training new employees, we’re confident that the people of Port Jervis who have worked there have produced and shown them a work ethic that will make it worthwhile for them to stay here,” he said.

O’Donnell said the company was planning on adding another 150 people to its workforce.