Arthur H. Lerner, vice chairman of Newmark & Co. Real EstateInc. in Manhattan, says that while the deal has been signed, thecompany decided afterward that rather than move employees fromother Monstermoving.com locations in Beaverton and Portland, OR andin Connecticut, the firm would hire as many as 1,000 new workers.Lerner said that at the time of the lease signing, the company didnot feel it was eligible for any employee training incentives. Nowthat the firm is hiring new employees, it believes it may beeligible for state and county incentives.

Salvatore J. Carrera, director of the Westchester CountyDepartment of Economic Development, says that his office entersinto discussions with corporations requesting incentive assistanceprior to a lease being signed. He said that neitherMonstermoving.com nor Newmark came into his office to ask for stateor county incentives prior to the lease being signed.

"We do not give any company incentives unless it is proven thatthere is competition," Carrera notes. He said that since thecompany has already signed the deal, there is no competition.