WCA in the News

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent Executive Order No. 62, enacting a first-in-the-nation, one-year moratorium on large scale data centers, is the state’s most recent move to address the advancement of artificial intelligence and determine where infrastructure fits in New York’s plans for this rapidly evolving industry.

Infrastructure can cut both ways for housing developments in Westchester County. Developers say strong transit access and other public infrastructure can help attract residents and spur foot traffic, but some also view municipal requirements to build supporting infrastructure as a burden on new housing projects.

More than two dozen elected officials from cities, towns and villages in Westchester County joined the Welcome Home Westchester campaign (WHW) for a “Housing 101” training on Monday, April 20.

More than two dozen elected officials from cities, towns and villages in Westchester County joined the Welcome Home Westchester campaign (WHW) for a “Housing 101” training on Monday, April 20.

More than two dozen elected officials from cities, towns and villages in Westchester County participated in a Welcome Home Westchester training session on housing held at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains. Welcome Home Westchester is a group that was formed to explore the housing shortage in Westchester and develop ways to do something about it.

There’s a remarkable transformation happening all around us, thanks to smart developers who see the win-win scenario in turning empty lots, old buildings, and unused industrial sites into versatile mixed-use developments. Properties that were once underutilized or abandoned are getting readied for their close-ups. Welcome to the new neighborhoods.

When New York enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, CLCPA or Climate Act for short, it set some of the most ambitious climate goals in the country. The law codified both short and long-term targets for reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.

WHITE PLAINS — Housing affordability remains a top priority for state lawmakers in the Lower Hudson Valley as they weigh Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget. The Democratic governor's plan focuses on boosting housing supply through investments in affordable housing developments, supportive housing and manufactured homes, as well as reforms to the state’s environmental review process.

Some Hudson Valley officials and business community leaders are reacting positively to an initiative announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul to make reforms to the environmental review process under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

At the Westchester County Association’s  (WCA) Annual Business Breakfast held Jan. 22 at the New York Athletic Club in Pelham Manor formation of the Westchester Economic Alliance was announced.

White Plains, N.Y. (October 21, 2021) – Today, the Westchester County Association in partnership with the City of Yonkers, STEM Alliance, Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), Fordham University, and Westhab launched the much-anticipated Yonkers Zone (Y-Zone). This project is made possible through support from US Ignite, the National Science Foundation (NSF) (Award # CNS-2044448), and Schmidt Futures. By utilizing Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum, the newly deployed, digital opportunity zone provides free internet access to approximately 250 to 400 need-based households in downtown Yonkers.

The Westchester County Association (WCA) is hosting their 2nd Annual Regional Workforce Summit on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EST. Join the WCA and leaders from business, education, government, and nonprofits as they gather to discuss the mega shifts occurring in our region’s talent ecosystem. This event will showcase how businesses are leveraging the “new normal” in training, recruiting, and retention developments of the region’s talent.

The Westchester County Association (WCA) is one of seven lead organizations to have been selected by US Ignite, a national non-profit accelerating the smart city movement, to participate in Project OVERCOME. Project OVERCOME, a $2.7 million effort is designed to expedite the delivery of broadband services to underserved communities across the United States. The U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF) conceived of and is providing $2.25 million in funding for the project, with Schmidt Futures joining as a financial and strategic partner to extend Project OVERCOME’s geographic reach with an additional $450,000. The project explores novel approaches to connectivity in both rural and urban communities with an eye on replicating these efforts on a national scale.

The Westchester County Association (WCA), and Nonprofit Westchester (NPW), are hosting a free virtual event, An Open Conversation with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on February 26, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EST. This event will discuss the most pressing issues impacting regional businesses and nonprofits and will include an audience Q&A. Topics that will be addressed in this event include: • COVID relief and the rest of Senator Schumer’s 2021 legislative agenda • Economic development priorities in the lower Hudson Valley • The importance of nonprofits to the regional economy • The challenges of legislating in the current political environment

The Westchester County Association (WCA), in partnership with Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development, is hosting a free virtual webinar, All Access Healthcare: Spotlight on Westchester’s Bioscience Ecosystem, on February 11, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EST. This event will showcase the growing bioscience ecosystem in the county and highlight why more life science companies are moving to Westchester County. Opening remarks will be made by Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

The Westchester County Association (WCA), Westchester’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization, today announced the appointment of five new members to its board of directors.

Regional experts in real estate and housing will share best practices and offer potential solutions to the lack of affordable and diverse housing stock in the region – where more than 11,000 additional such units are needed -- at the Westchester County Association’s fourth annual Real Estate and Housing Virtual Summit on October 30 at 9:30 a.m. EST.

Dr. Philip Ozuah, president and chief executive officer of Montefiore Medicine, will deliver the keynote address at the Westchester County Association (WCA)’s online 70th Anniversary Leadership Event, which will celebrate business and nonprofit movers and shakers, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and local healthcare heroes, on November 19 at 4 p.m. EST.

The initiatives are outlined in “Towards a Stronger Future,” a newly-released report from the WCA’s Post Pandemic Working Group (PPWG), which is a select committee of business, nonprofit, and education and government leaders who are working collaboratively to support the recovery and long-term prosperity of the region.  The Towards a Stronger Future report, which is available for download on the WCA’s website, sets forth a clear advocacy and action agenda in those Four Foundational Pillars of Economic Recovery where the WCA is well-positioned through its proven expertise and deep professional network to achieve significant impact: healthcare and bioscience, real estate and housing, digital connectivity, and energy and sustainability.

Optimism for Westchester’s economic future, combined with a sense that the region’s financial recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will take between one and three years, are among the key findings from a public survey conducted by the Westchester County Association (WCA), the results of which were announced today. The survey also found that healthcare, entrepreneurship, higher education and hospitality are among the most important industry sectors to the region’s economic future, while high taxes, unemployment, broadband/digital technology, and affordable housing are key economic issues moving forward.

New York Medical College and Archbishop Stepinac High School have launched a new academic partnership providing Stepinac Health Sciences Honor Academy graduates with preferred admission to NYMC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, provided they meet program requirements, creating a new pathway for future health care professionals.

Congratulations to WCA member firms and attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers® for 2027, including Abrams Fensterman's Timothy Byon and Dina De Giorgio; Bleakley Platt & Schmidt's William Harrington; Cuddy & Feder's Joseph Carlucci, Anthony Gioffre, Kristen Motel, Eon Nichols, and Neil Rimsky; and McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt's Steven Wrabel.

On October 8, ProTech IT Solutions will host a discussion with New Charter Technologies CTO Reda Chouffani on practical applications of AI in everyday business processes. Chouffani will also join the "Responsible AI in Business" panel during WCA's Profit & Purpose Sustainable Business Conference on October 9.

Congratulations to WCA members Iona University, Manhattanville University, Pace University, and Sarah Lawrence College on being featured in The Princeton Review® The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition, recognizing outstanding colleges and universities across the country.

Greater Mental Health of New York will celebrate its 80th anniversary at the Power of Connection Gala on October 15. Among this year’s honorees is Dr. Philip J. Wilner, Senior Vice President of WCA member NewYork-Presbyterian and COO of Westchester Behavioral Health, alongside Dr. Tara Narula and Zac Clark.

Time is running out to apply for the Fall 2026 cohort of Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator by QUAY Acceleration. Please spread the word to Westchester-based tech founders who can benefit from a powerful curriculum and connections to entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and more.

WCA members Simone Development Companies and Stagg Group are development partners behind QWest Towers, a $160 million transit-oriented affordable housing project in Mount Vernon. Now under construction, the development will deliver 229 affordable homes, commercial space, and modern amenities adjacent to the Mount Vernon West Metro-North station.

Iona University's LaPenta School of Business has been named one of The Princeton Review's Best Business Schools for 2027. The school also introduced a new MBA concentration in Business Development and an M.S. in Business Analytics, expanding opportunities for professionals seeking leadership, analytics, and AI-focused business education.

McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP (MGS) successfully represented Comstock Residential in securing final approvals for 510 North Broadway in White Plains. The new three-story development will feature 12 luxury condominiums, rooftop amenities, solar panels, landscaping, and on-site parking, adding new residential options near the North White Plains Metro-North station.

The next Westchester County Life Sciences Monthly Networking event will be September 22 with a presentation from engineer George Kwiecinski, founder of Global Key Solutions and KeyPedia. All are welcome: founders and employees of life sciences companies, innovators, investors, and those curious about Westchester’s life sciences ecosystem.