WCA in the News

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.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has outlined his priorities for 2026 after the county passed a challenging budget that eliminated more than 100 positions and raised taxes for the first time in seven years.

The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act — SEQRA — just turned 50. And it’s not aging well. As the state remains mired in a serious housing crisis, SEQRA is a primary culprit.

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.

Christopher Fisher, partner at Cuddy + Feder LLP and WCA Board Chair, will lead a discussion on AI Data Center development in the U.S. at Connect (X): Powered by WIA on May 5 in Fort Lauderdale. The panel will focus on how investment strategies are evolving to meet growing demand and shifting state and local dynamics.

Burke has announced the appointment of Ryan Joyce as Vice President, Development to lead the development and philanthropic strategy at Burke in close partnership with hospital leadership and its Board of Trustees. In this role, Joyce will strengthen fundraising performance, deepen donor engagement, and expand opportunities across individual giving, institutional philanthropy, and government grants.

Congratulations to WCA members recognized as 914INC. Wunderkinds of 2026: Michael Conigliaro, GHP Office Realty; Liberta Barcia, Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP; Derick Ansah, Ciara Mulligan, Feeding Westchester; Gregory Maugeri, RXR; Ryan Hirt, Access: Supports For Living; Teddy Bugniazet, Marsh McLennan Agency; Laura Lulgjuraj, Houlihan Lawrence; Joe D’Aloisio, Iona University; Sydney Ericson, Westchester Medical Center Health Network; Steven Still, Abrams Fensterman, LLP.

The WCA celebrates the following members for being named to City & State New York’s 2026 Who’s Who in Energy: Justin Driscoll, President and CEO, New York Power Authority; Travis Proulx, Vice President for External Affairs, Fordham University; Philip J. Schade, Executive Vice President and Chief Market Director, H2M; and Jamal Wilkerson, Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, New York Transco.

As the Hudson Valley Social Care Network expands, HVCC appoints two new healthcare leaders to its board: Marlene Ripa, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Network Strategy at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall, and Matilde L. Román, Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Impact Officer at Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

Steven D. Schwartz, CPA has been appointed to co-lead CohnReznick’s Community Health practice, joining Peter R. Epp. Together, Steven and Peter will work to continue expanding the firm’s impact in the community health space, deepening client relationships, and supporting the evolving needs of the communities our clients serve.

Congratulations to Susan Fox, White Plains Hospital; Prabhjot Grewal, Montefiore Medical Center; John D’Angelo, Northwell Health; Jared Nagley, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton; Daniel Blum, ENT & Allergy Associates; Fawaz Al-Mufti, New York Medical College; Mangala Narasimhan, Northwell Health; Brian G. Donley, NewYork-Presbyterian; Andrew Wuertele, East River Medical Imaging; Philip Ozuah, Montefiore Einstein; David Lubarsky, Westchester Medical Center Health Network; David Rivadeneira, Northwell Health.

Congratulations to Ulrich Steidl, MD, PhD, on his appointment as Director of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center and Vice President of Cancer Medicine. A nationally recognized physician-scientist and leader, Dr. Steidl will advance innovative cancer care, research, and community impact across the Bronx and beyond.

The Westchester County Life Sciences Monthly Networking event will be on April 22 in Tarrytown with a presentation from Yaniv Sneor, one of the founders of Mid Atlantic Bio Angels. We welcome life sciences innovators and investors, founders and employees to gather for networking.

Chinchorreo White Plains brings the vibrant spirit of Puerto Rico—from comedy, music and dance to artisan crafts, family activities and literary readings—to the heart of Westchester. Special highlights: April 24: Comedian Eli Castro April 25: Live bomba music, dance April 26: Author readings and book talks Read more.