WCA in the News

The Welcome Home Westchester Campaign (WHWC) has called on local officials not to wait for action from New York state on housing but to move now on their own to address the county’s housing needs.

As New York state continues on its mission to meet clean energy goals, the real estate industry in the Lower Hudson Valley is embracing a new mindset — with hopes of reducing carbon emissions.

To harness the promise of the ACP, the Westchester County Association together with the STEM Alliance and other partners launched two first-of-its-kind, digital connectivity initiatives, the Yonkers-based YZone and the county-wide Connect Westchester.

It’s hard to believe in this age of hyper-connectivity, but about half a million people living in New York City and its suburbs still lack access to high-speed broadband despite more than a decade of state and federal programs that have poured billions of dollars into closing the digital divide.

With the rapid rise of AI, remote work, sustainability, and cybersecurity, remaining up-to-the-second with business trends is not only smart, it can make or break a company.

Beginning in 2022, the Westchester County Association’s Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program placed and trained 100 workers with regional healthcare providers. The initiative funded by a grant from Westchester County has an annual economic impact of more than $3.5 million.

Brightcore is just one of numerous players in Westchester County creating a more sustainable future. The reasons why are obvious to anyone paying attention to recent climate “events” — a mushy word for disasters, like excessive heat, flooding, smoky air, and others, that are becoming more frequent and severe.

The purpose of the partnership is to work collaboratively and in a coordinated fashion to respond to the severe lack of housing in Westchester County for people at a wide range of income levels by advancing a pro-housing agenda through legislative and regulatory means at the state, county and local levels.

At the recent Westchester County Association’s 73rd annual leadership event Michael N. Romita, WCA president and CEO, announced two new WCA-led initiatives designed to extend the impact of the organization.

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development (OED) and Westchester County Association (WCA) today announced the Westchester Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program (HTPP), which launched in spring of 2022, has connected 101 hires to employment.

White Plains, New York - (November 10, 2023)….Over 450 members of Westchester’s professional community packed the Westchester Marriott ballroom on November 9th for the Westchester County Association’s 73rd annual leadership event.

White Plains (October 12, 2023) More than 300 job seekers lined up to meet with over 40 employers and resource providers at a regional career fair October 12 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

Connect Westchester is Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development’s new initiative to bridge the digital divide through providing essential digital resources, education and affordable internet access to low-income residents.

White Plains, New York - (September 22, 2023)…In his keynote address at WCA’s “Toasting to a Healthy Westchester,” Michael J. Dowling, CEO, Northwell Health appealed to 250 key leaders in healthcare and business attending this annual dinner to try to solve what he called the social determinants of health, such as gun violence, poverty, obesity, and drugs and alchohol abuse. “If we don’t solve theses issues, we will never improve the health status of Americans,”he said, citing the pressures facing the industry today.

White Plains, New York -- (June 5, 2023) Close to 200 business, nonprofit, and government leaders attended the WCA’s 2nd Annual Sustainable Business Conference hosted in partnership with Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law. The event, held June 1 at the law school, focused on new opportunities in sustainable investing and real estate, navigating an evolving regulatory landscape, and the connection between sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. New this year, a “Sustainability Bootcamp” workshop served as a primer for businesses of all sizes to get started with practical tools to develop a sustainability program.

White Plains, New York - (December 8, 2022) Susan Fox, WCA Board Chair, President & CEO, White Plains Hospital, and Michael N. Romita, President, and CEO of the Westchester County Association (WCA), announced this week that the WCA, the county’s premier business membership organization, will welcome eight new board members representing important industry sectors to bolster the WCA’s economic development and advocacy work.

White Plains, New York - (November 21, 2022)…. Westchester’s professional community packed the Westchester Marriott ballroom on November 17th for the Westchester County Association’s annual leadership dinner to honor Westchester’s most influential leaders and celebrate another year of impactful work by the WCA, the region’s premiere business advocacy and economic development organization.

White Plains, N.Y. (February 25, 2022) During the Annual County Executive’s Breakfast hosted by The Westchester County Association (WCA) on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference Center in Tarrytown, New York, County Executive George Latimer and WCA President & CEO Michael N. Romita jointly announced the launch of the Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program (HTPP).

The Westchester County Association (WCA) joined community leaders from Nonprofit Westchester (NPW), the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region (BRI), the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley (CIC), and the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) to put forth an advocacy letter urging government officials to find statewide solutions to Westchester’s housing crisis.

Yonkers, N.Y. – Today, the Westchester County Association joined community leaders, elected officials, and project partners in a press conference at the Yonkers Public Library to highlight the latest developments since the launch of the Y-Zone (Yonkers Zone), a broadband pilot program funded by US Ignite and Schmidt Futures as part of Project Overcome.

Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator, Powered by Cela, is now accepting applications from innovative tech startups for its next cohort. Chosen startups will experience a 10-week accelerator program that features a key curriculum, connections to investors and mentors, and more. The program will culminate with a Demo Day in November. 

Orange Bank & Trust Company announced that Michael Coulter has retired from the role of Chief Lending Officer. He will continue as an Executive of the Bank, in a part-time position, as Strategic Lending Relationship Officer, managing top client relationships as well as business development.

New York Blood Center recently declared a blood emergency due to dangerously low supply levels. Fox 5 New York featured moving stories of a donor and recipient as part of the network's special series, 'The Gift of Life.'

Westchester Magazine honored CClean's CEO Joseph Pizzimenti as a 2024 Healthcare Hero for his extraordinary efforts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. He was recognized for his efforts to keep the county’s hospitals, medical facilities, and therapeutic private schools clean and safe, which protected public health and prioritized healthcare workers' safety and comfort.

Phelps Hospital unveiled an $8.8M renovation of its fifth-floor medical/surgical unit, featuring 15 new, state-of-the-art single rooms with private bathrooms and Hudson River views, and dedicated comfort care rooms for end-of-life and palliative care. News 12 covered the upgrade, which speaks to the hospital's initiative to modernize and enhance the patient experience.

All aboard! Helicopter charter company Blade debuts a new, luxury bus service this summer to deliver passengers from Hudson Yards to the Hamptons. Blade partnered with The Jet on the Hamptons Streamliner, featuring 45-degree reclining seats, espresso martinis, PopUp Bagels, and Sweetgreen salads. Read about the posh new route in The New York Times' Style section.

Congratulations to Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County Government’s Director of Economic Development, who has been appointed to the NYS Economic Development Council (NYSEDC)’s Executive Committee. The NYSEDC promotes the economic development of the state and its communities. Gibbons was elected to the organization’s Board of Directors in 2021 and is currently serving her second term.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Amato, HealtheConnections' president- and CEO-elect. The nonprofit's current COO, Amato will succeed Rob Hack, taking the helm on January 1, 2025

Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Orthopedic and Spine Center celebrated the grand opening of its new multi-specialty, outpatient facility in West Nyack, on June 11. Congratulations to Montefiore Nyack Hospital's President and CEO, Mark Geller, for helping ensure patients can now access advanced care for all musculoskeletal services in one central location.

Westchester-based RPW Group and Cleveland-based The NRP Group broke ground on an apartment development at 1 Webb Ave. in Harrison this week. Zarin & Steinmetz represented them during the complicated project approval process.