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. The Alliance is a joint countywide economic development initiative launched by WCA in partnership with Westchester County government. The Alliance is designed to bring together business, government, higher education, and civic leaders to come up with ways to strengthen the county’s long-term economic competitiveness.
“Westchester is operating in a faster, more competitive, and more complex economic environment,” said Michael Romita, president and CEO of the WCA. “In partnership with county government, we will focus on where we are today and where we are headed.”
The first concrete step will be the creation of a report with the title Blueprint ‘26. It’s described as being intended to define where Westchester’s economic position is now and to help set the direction for the future. It is to look at where the county stands, where it has real competitive advantage, and then establish a foundation for decisions that shape long-term growth.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “A strong economy doesn’t happen by accident. This initiative brings together the data, the expertise, and the partnerships needed to make informed decisions about Westchester’s future. Working with the WCA and leaders across sectors, we’re focused on positioning the county to compete, innovate, and succeed. We want to continue to move forward from an economic development perspective—making sure families want to live here, businesses want to grow here, and people want to visit Westchester.”
In the coming weeks, the WCA plans to bring together a steering committee, chaired by WCA Board Chair Chris Fisher and County Director of Operations Joan McDonald who is due to succeed retiring Deputy County Executive Richard Wishnie when he retires at the end of January.
McDonald said, “I look forward to representing Westchester County and co-chairing the Westchester Economic Alliance with Chris Fisher. As the world economy changes, it is important that we take stock of where we are, the many initiatives we have put in place and evaluate different ways we can remain competitive as the economic engine we are today.”
During the event there was a panel discussion on the regional economic outlook. Participants were: Michael P. Goldrick, president and CEO of PCSB Bank, a division of Beacon Bank & Trust; Jason Soto, chief credit officer of Webster Bank; and Joseph A. Ruhl, Westchester regional president of Orange Bank & Trust Company.
They talked about how shifting federal policy and market volatility are influencing businesses across the region. They pointed out that uncertainty itself is often as challenging as specific policy changes.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the environment, but lending remains active,” Goldrick said. “We’re still seeing development across the county, and while conditions are more disciplined, there continues to be opportunity in the market.”
The panelists pointed to underlying market resilience despite continued inflation and labor market concerns including fluctuating unemployment levels.