Year in Review 2018: Tracy Stark-James, Riverhead Industrial Development Agency

Name & Title: Tracy Stark-James

Company Name: Riverhead Industrial Development Agency

Address: 200 Howell Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901

Website: www.riverheadida.org

Social Media: Riverhead IDA facebook

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2018?

The groundbreaking of a one of the nation’s first residential addiction treatment and research centers connected to a major health system. Wellbridge will serve as a learning laboratory that provides traditional and alternative treatments, giving addiction specialists and researchers the ability to assess the short- and long-term progress of clients, identify clues to improve therapies and prevent relapse, and study the neurobiological effects of addiction through brain imaging and other neuroscience investigational methods. The 80-bed facility, being built at a cost of $95 million on a 40-acre campus in the Town of Riverhead was provided financial assistance through RIDA.

What was the best decision that you made in 2018 and how did it impact your business?

Increasing our public relations efforts and educating community stakeholders definitely enhanced the understanding of the benefits to the community by having its own community industrial development agency.     

What market trend(s) will impact your industry in 2019?

Being designated a Federal Opportunity Zone is expected to have a tremendous impact in our community.