Crediting months of personal negotiations and a competitive package of financial incentives, County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced a week ago that Atlas Air Worldwide would be keeping its corporate headquarters in Purchase. The decision will allow the company to retain 460 existing jobs and create 50 new full-time positions in New York State.   

The decision is the result of months of discussions among Astorino, his senior team and Atlas Air Worldwide representatives, headed by William J. Flynn, president and chief executive officer. Astorino and Flynn came together to make the official announcement today at the Atlas Air Worldwide headquarters in Purchase, both emphasizing that incentives from Westchester County’s Industrial Development Agency and Empire State Development played a role in the decision.

Hearing in January that Atlas Air Worldwide was being wooed by several other states, Astorino picked up the phone and reached out to Flynn, asking what the county could do to simplify the decision and keep them right where they were.

“Atlas Air is a top-notch global company that had a number of tempting proposals when it came to selecting a location for its corporate headquarters,” Astorino said. “The fact that the final choice was Westchester, and the firm decided to reinvest in New York State, says a lot about what we have to offer. We could not be more pleased to have Atlas Air Worldwide staying and expanding in Westchester County, and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship for many years to come.”

 Flynn also noted the “aggressive incentive offers” received from several other locations, but said that a Westchester location had served the company well for 12 years and after a great deal of consideration, staying put was determined to be in the company’s best interest. Westchester County is an ideal location for Atlas Air Worldwide’s international business, he said.

“We are in an exciting era of transformative business growth – an era that we expect will significantly increase our revenues and earnings over the next few years and beyond,” Flynn said. “Thanks to the economic and related assistance of New York State and Westchester County, we are delighted that we will be able to continue to operate from our current headquarters. This will allow us to maintain our valued employees, create new jobs and generate economic growth in the community.”

The Westchester IDA anticipates approving the county’s incentive package Thursday based on an application indicating the corporation’s anticipated investment in its current location. The IDA board is expected to commit to providing Atlas a sales and use tax abatement valued at up to $442,000 over a 3-year period. The company will also receive up to $8.5 million in Excelsior Job Program benefits from Empire State Development, the state’s economic development arm. In addition, the company will be entitled to energy credits valued at approximately $480,000 over a 10-year period.

Kenneth Adams, Empire State Development president and CEO and commissioner, said ESD was pleased to partner with Atlas Air in this project, which will create and retain hundreds of jobs.

“Atlas can now be added to the growing list of companies that have chosen to stay and grow in Westchester County in just the last few months,” he said. “We applaud Westchester County for their efforts and we applaud the company’s commitment to New York. We look forward to the positive impact it will have on the local economy of Purchase and its nearby communities.”

 Astorino called Atlas a “valued corporate citizen” and stressed the importance of retaining businesses in today’s economic climate.

The announcement ends years of speculation about the future plans of the global airfreight company, which moved its corporate headquarters to the former Texaco building in Purchase in 2000. Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. The company operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft. In 2010, the company operated 17,048 flights, serving more than 250 destinations in over 90 countries.

 The Atlas Air Worldwide decision comes on the heels of several other good-news announcements from the Westchester County Office of Economic Development.   Pepsi Beverages Company (PBC), the bottling division of PepsiCo Inc., said in March it would remain in its Somers headquarters.  Several other companies – including Sabra Dipping, the hummus maker; Amkai Solutions, an IT company; and Contra-Fect, a biotech firm – have already moved or will move to Westchester, and Dannon is expanding.