Skoufis Honors The Elizabeth Collection with Senate Empire Business Award

**PRESS RELEASE**
Skoufis Honors The Elizabeth Collection with Senate Empire Business Award

Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) presented The Elizabeth Collection in Newburgh with the State Senate’s highest business award, the Empire Award. The Empire Business Award is given to exceptional businesses that go out of their way to give back to the community.

Elizabeth Moore, a long-time artist, and Eric Knoll, a veteran who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, founded The Elizabeth Collection. The handmade leather goods company first started at a local fall festival in 2012 where Elizabeth sold her jewelry designs and Eric his leather goods; they moved to a small shop in Cornwall in 2015, and most recently, to The Accelerator’s satellite office in the City of Newburgh. The Elizabeth Collection has now expanded into the fashion design and production industry and will soon be launching an online shop.

“The Elizabeth Collection is a perfect example of the small business resurgence that’s happening in Newburgh right now,” said Senator Skoufis. “A woman and veterans-owned business, The Elizabeth Collection is using trade skills to empower the community with fair wages and industry growth. By targeting local residents to hire, and collaborating with local artists, Elizabeth and Eric are engaging the community in necessary and uplifting ways. I was honored to present them with the Senate’s Empire Award.”

Elizabeth Moore, co-founder of The Elizabeth Collection said, "It was an honor to accept the State Senate's Empire Business Award from Senator James Skoufis. Senator Skoufis has supported us for many years and we appreciate his hard work in supporting small businesses across the state."

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