Arthur H. Lerner, vice chairman of Newmark & Co. Real Estate Inc. in Manhattan, says that while the deal has been signed, the company decided afterward that rather than move employees from other Monstermoving.com locations in Beaverton and Portland, OR and in Connecticut, the firm would hire as many as 1,000 new workers. Lerner said that at the time of the lease signing, the company did not feel it was eligible for any employee training incentives. Now that the firm is hiring new employees, it believes it may be eligible for state and county incentives.

Salvatore J. Carrera, director of the Westchester County Department of Economic Development, says that his office enters into discussions with corporations requesting incentive assistance prior to a lease being signed. He said that neither Monstermoving.com nor Newmark came into his office to ask for state or county incentives prior to the lease being signed.

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