Taylor to Be Honored as 2024 ‘Woman of Achievement’ by Orange County Partnership

GOSHEN—The Orange County Partnership announced recently that Meghan Taylor has been named the Partnership’s 2024 “Woman of Achievement in Economic Development” honoree.

Taylor, who started her impressive career in economic development with the Orange County Partnership as its Director, Business Attraction in 2011, shortly after graduating college, will receive her award at the Orange County Partnership’s Investor Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at The Barn at Villa Venezia in Middletown. The event will begin at 8 a.m. with the program starting at 8:30 a.m.

Taylor has worked on major development projects such as LEGOLAND New York, President Container, Newburgh Brewing Co., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and countless others in her roles at the county level in Orange and Putnam counties and as a regional director for the Mid-Hudson Region for Empire State Development that have fostered billions of dollars in investment and tens of thousands of jobs in the Hudson Valley. Under Taylor’s leadership as the Vice President and Regional Director for the Mid-Hudson, the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council secured more than $258 million in state funding for 327 projects.

Most recently, for more than four years, Taylor has helped grow Genting’s Resorts World Catskills casino in Monticello that employs 1,200 workers. She also played a critical role in the development of the nearly $50-million Resorts World Hudson Valley electronic gaming facility located in 90,000 square feet of space at the Newburgh Mall that first opened its doors in December 2020.

At present, Taylor has been working on Genting’s proposal to convert its Resorts World New York City racino into a fully licensed gaming facility. The New York State Gaming Commission is expected to award up to three downstate casino licenses by the end of next year. Genting is proposing to invest approximately $4 billion to expand gaming operations and develop new hotel and entertainment space at the property that includes Aqueduct Race Track in Queens in connection with its gaming application.

“Meghan grew in her position at the Partnership quickly and was invaluable during her more than three years at the organization. While I was sad to see her leave, I knew in my heart that the sky was the limit for her,” said Maureen Halahan, President and CEO of the Orange County Partnership.

“Since her departure, she has never forgotten Orange County and has helped facilitate some of the biggest transactions this county has seen in decades,” Halahan added. “Most recently, she helped bring Resorts World Hudson Valley to the county, which is a game changer for the Town of Newburgh. The Board of the Orange County Partnership unanimously agreed that Meghan’s contributions have a long-term positive impact on our economic development efforts and our mission. It’s time to recognize Meghan Taylor and showcase her many accomplishments.”

Born in Rockland County and raised in Campbell Hall in Orange County, Taylor is a graduate of Washingtonville High School and the State University of Binghamton in 2006 and later earned her MBA from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh in Business Administration in 2008.

At SUNY Binghamton, Taylor was a three-time all-conference award winner and two-time all-region defender as a member of its soccer team. She steered the Bearcats to their historic first NCAA Division I tournament berth in 2004 and is a member of the university’s sports Hall of Fame.

Taylor, who is the third winner of the Orange County Partnership’s Woman of Achievement Award for Economic Development, also offers her expertise on a volunteer basis to a number of locally-based organizations. She serves on the Boards of Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress and the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan counties.

Prior award winners are Erin Boyce, the owner and president of Boyce Excavating of Slate Hill in 2022 and Kelly Naughton, partner at the Goshen law firm Naughton & Torre, LLP in 2023.