There is plenty of speculation on the to go around. Here are some facts on why it is imperative Yorktown welcomes the Costco project:
Costco is the third largest retailer in the US with revenues over $89 billion dollars. It employs 161,000 employee's of which 90% are benefits eligible and 98% are enrolled. Its benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, disability, and long term care to name a few.
Costco recruits from within the community for which the store is located. It pays an average salary of $22.40 per hour and full time cashiers earn $48,680 per year after five years of employment.
Here are the most important facts:
Costco will pay $1.17 million dollars in school taxes without a single student attending school (student costs are $25,000 per year 2011) and has raised $17 million dollars for children's hospitals in 2011. In addition, Costco contributes back to the community in which each store is located, 1% of pre tax dollars, in this case the store is projected to have annual revenues of $150 million dollars, thus giving back $1.5 million dollars to Yorktown every year the store is in existence.
Since 1993, Costco has donated 4 million backpacks to children in need. Costco has contributed over 1,000 scholarships to needy families. In addition to this, Costco and the DOT have pledged $10 million dollars to road improvements from Strang Boulevard to the Pines Bridge intersection on Rte 202.
Its plan specificlly calls for storm water management controlling heavy rains and eliminating flooding down stream. The will tie in 10-12 homes along Old Crompond Rd at the developers cost. In researching this development, we find in Florida for instance, as well as other communities, many intersections are home to Costco, BJ's, Walmart and K-Mart, endorsing the fact that competition is good.
We could have a wish list for other projects to be built on this site; however, Costco is the only company that has made a substantial investment in Yorktown. Any other community in Westchester would welcome the Costco brand with open arms.
