WCA in the News

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.

Welcome Home Westchester (WHW), a multi-stakeholder pro-housing advocacy effort, announced the release of its Housing Policy Scorecards for all 43 cities, towns, and villages in the county at Pelham Village Hall on Friday, December 12.

As the newly elected Westchester County Executive Kenneth B. Jenkins began to speak at the Westchester County Association’s “Impact in Action” annual leadership event – held Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle – WCA President and CEO Michael R. Romita handed him a note.

The Westchester County Board of Legislators celebrated Italian American Heritage Month on Monday night with a ceremony recognizing two exceptional honorees: Michael N. Romita, President and CEO of Westchester County Association, champion for Westchester’s economic development and environmental sustainability and Paula Miritello, founder and director of My Brother Vinny, a nonprofit organization that provides furnishings for formerly homeless U.S. veterans.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during an appearance at the Westchester County Association’s (WCA) Toasting to a Healthy Westchester event at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown called on health care providers to do more with artificial intelligence.

Want to grow your career or your presence in the industry? These business associations and job and apprenticeship banks are here to help.

The Westchester County Association (WCA), Westchester County, and The STEM Alliance recently hosted the second annual CONVERGE: Hudson Valley Digital Innovation Conference, bringing together business, government, nonprofit, and education leaders to explore how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and digital inclusion can power the region’s economy and create a more equitable, resilient future.

The “Business Insights” live video series will feature hosts from the WCA and Westfair Communications interviewing business leaders from throughout the region and discussing topics related to the challenges and opportunities organizations are encountering. Episodes will stream live on the WCA’s Facebook Page, LinkedIn Page, and YouTube Channel, and also on Westfair Communications’ website, Facebook Page, LinkedIn Page, and YouTube Channel, and be available for on-demand viewing.

The “Best Practices for Reopening Westchester” online event series will support the ongoing efforts of the WCA’s Post-Pandemic Working Group (PPWG) to rebuild a stronger and more resilient economy for the region.

The Post-Pandemic Working Group is pursuing a comprehensive and cooperative approach to the region’s economic development challenges that were both created and made more apparent by the coronavirus crisis. It will cultivate and advance a series of legislative, regulatory, and developmental priorities focused not just on getting our economy restarted but also making sure it grows stronger and more resilient for the long term.

We await the findings of the Medicaid Redesign Team and we are dedicated to working with our State representatives to ensure that the team’s recommendations do not unduly burden Westchester’s health systems or place patients and others in need at unnecessary risk.

William P. Harrington, Jr., Chairman of the Westchester County Association (WCA), announced today that Michael N. Romita will become the next President & CEO of the WCA, the County’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization, effective March 1, 2020.

The Westchester County Association (WCA) – Westchester’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization – today announced the appointment of twelve new members to its board of directors, a new vice chair of its board of directors, and three board members to its executive committee.

Nationally-renowned experts and local stakeholders will convene to discuss innovative solutions to the region’s employer recruitment and retention challenges at the Westchester County Association’s (WCA) first-ever Regional Workforce Development Summit, to be held at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY, on Thursday, January 16th at 8 a.m.

William P. Harrington, Chairman of the Westchester County Association (WCA), announced today that John E. Ritacco, a financial services executive who was the former President and CEO of CMS Bancorp Inc., a publicly traded financial institution, will be appointed as Interim President/CEO of the WCA, effective January 1, 2020, as the search for a new leader progresses. Ritacco will remain in the position until a successor to William M.  Mooney, Jr., the current President and CEO, is found.

County’s leading business advocacy association embarks on a vigorous process to find its new leader as economic activity burgeons in the region.

Westchester County Association hosts annual wine pairing dinner to support healthcare advocacy initiatives

Westchester County Tourism & Film (WCTF) is asking businesses that hosted media production this past year, including filming, overnight accommodations, basecamps, parking, holding, or catering, to complete a confidential, economic impact survey by February 13. Responses will help WCTF provide services for facilitating local productions and market Westchester as a top-tier location for film and TV production—generating economic activity and revenue.

Westchester County and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) have appointed Bonnie Blumer as the Partnership Representative for the RPI and Westchester Partnership. She will serve as a dedicated connection between RPI and Westchester County employers, expanding access to education, talent, and collaborative research opportunities across high-growth STEM sectors

Congratulations to our WCA members recognized as 2026 City & State Health Care Trailblazers. City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Health Care highlights leaders shaping health care across New York. We are proud to see our members recognized for their impact.

Join ArtsWestchester on March 13 at Brae Burn Country Club for the organization's annual Arts Award Luncheon celebrating the power of the arts in Westchester. More than 300 artists, leaders, patrons, and officials will gather to honor this year’s award recipients

Iona University offers summer intern housing from June 1 to August 15. The daily summer rate is $65 per guest. Furnished suites, high-speed internet, laundry, communal kitchens and lounges, parking, and additional campus amenities included

Burke Rehabilitation has secured $300,000 in state grants, led by Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Members Gary Pretlow and Michael Benedetto, to purchase 30 smart beds—enhancing patient safety, comfort, and recovery outcomes through advanced, contact-free monitoring technology

Long Island University celebrates 100 years of academic excellence, innovation, and impact. Founded in 1926 to expand access to quality education, LIU is now a nationally recognized research institution, proudly serving Westchester, Rockland, and the region for over 50 years

WCA members play a leadership role at the state level, with strong representation on the HANYS Board of Directors: Mark Geller, Montefiore Nyack Hospital; Derek Anderson, Northern Westchester Hospital; Shelly Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Kevin Beiner and John D’Angelo, Northwell Health; Brian Donley, NewYork-Presbyterian; Susan Fox, White Plains Hospital; David Lubarsky, WMCHealth; Laurence Smith, Montefiore Health System; and Michael Spicer, Saint Joseph’s Medical Center. In addition, Kevin Plunkett of Simone Development Companies was appointed to the Board of Governors of Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS), a division of HANYS.

NewYork-Presbyterian announced a transformative $20 million gift from Emilia Fazzalari to launch Fazzalari Women’s Health in Manhattan and Westchester. Led by Dr. Mary Rosser, the program delivers coordinated, lifelong care with a focus on perimenopause and menopause, in collaboration with Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Sarah Lawrence College, the prestigious, coeducational liberal arts college that consistently ranks among the leading liberal arts colleges in the country, is celebrating 100 years in 2026. The year-long centennial celebration’s theme is SLC100: Timely Education. Timeless Values.