WHITE PLAINS-The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency Thursday morning granted sales tax exemptions in connection with MasterCard Worldwide's expansion initiative in the county that will involve renovation of its global headquarters in Purchase as well as expansion of its leased space nearby at 100 Manhattanville Rd.

The firm will be renovating about one-third of its 475,000-square-foot headquarters building at 2000 Purchase St., which it acquired from IBM in 1995. In addition, the credit card giant will be expanding its leased space at 100 Manhattanville Rd. by an additional 14,000 square feet, of which 56,000 square feet will be renovated.

The incentives granted by a unanimous vote of the Westchester County IDA gives MasterCard approximately $1.3 million in sales tax exemptions in connection with the $38-million expansion and renovation project. MasterCard also intends to create 270 new jobs at its Westchester locations. The firm currently employs approximately 1,200 workers at its global headquarters and 200 at 100 Manhattanville Road.

Barbara Rooney, senior business leader with MasterCard Worldwide, said the construction on the renovation work will begin in January. She added that MasterCard will sign a lease for the additional 14,000 square feet in the near future, bringing the company's presence at 100 Manhattanville Road to approximately 121,000 square feet. The lease term on the space at 100 Manhattanville expires in 2017.

Rooney added that the new jobs created over the next five to six years will be located at both its Westchester facilities. The new jobs will be in the areas of administration, information technology, and research and development.

The company will also be receiving incentives from Empire State Development. When questioned whether the company had mulled a possible move of its operations out-of-state, Rooney's response was that the company explored options.

Westchester County executive Robert Astoriono said of the deal with MasterCard, “The fact that MasterCard has chosen to reinvest and expand here is proof of Westchester's highly skilled workforce, top notch quality of life, and business-friendly environment. I want to thank everyone at MasterCard for their confidence in Westchester.”

Astorino related that one of the first decisions he made as county executive four years ago was switching the county government's sanctioned credit card from Visa to MasterCard.

MasterCard president and CEO Ajay Banga in a prepared statement, said, “MasterCard has been proud to call Purchase, New York, our global headquarters home since 1995. I'd like to thank County Executive Astorino and the Westchester Industrial Development Agency for their support and partnership in this initiative.”

Instant Insights /

MasterCard to Expand Operations in Westchester County

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