WHITE PLAINS-The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency voted unanimously to approve $70 million in preliminary bond financing to an affiliate of the Fortunoff chain for a new store at the current Saks Fifth Avenue site here.

ALBANY-The war of political wills in Albany that resulted in the approval of a $79.6 billion base-line budget last week could effectively wipe out $400 million in economic development funding this year in New York State.

ALBANY, NY-New York State is looking for property owners and municipalities along the Hudson River interested in developing a $172-million Rivers and Estuaries Center.

STAMFORD-Chief commercial office brokers at area brokerage firms, while acknowledging the ill effects of the economic slowdown on the Fairfield County office market, stress the region is not that bad off, with asking rents on track and tenants continuing to play ball.

MAMAKATING, NY-At an event to acknowledge a $40 million investment by Kohl's retail chain here, New York Governor George Pataki reported that a section of Sullivan County has been designated an economic development zone.

STAMFORD-In a deal intended to strengthen GE Capital's middle market business in a host of disciplines including commercial real estate finance, the company reports it intends to acquire Heller Financial Inc. for $5.3 billion.

STAMFORD, CT-While Xerox has made some critical decisions of late to turn the ailing copier company around, the firm has yet to make several major determinations on where its corporate headquarters will be housed.

STAMFORD, CT-The diversity of the tenant base in Westchester was a key reason why the slowing economy failed to produce a significant downturn in the county's office market in the second quarter.