WCA in the News

"What 5G means in practical terms is data speeds that will be up to 100 times faster than what we have today. Latency or lag periods are being halved now, and in the future will be even faster, with connection density vastly increased, meaning more devices that can function in a given area." Michael N. Romita

The optimist looks beyond the current socioeconomic and political environment and calls out a light at the end of the tunnel. The pessimist might acknowledge that despite the distant light, we are still in the tunnel. And the fatalist might view that distant light as belonging to an oncoming train. As president and CEO of the Westchester County Association, Michael Romita is neither the optimist, pessimist or fatalist. But he is a realist about the state of the country's economy.

Westchester County Association President and CEO Michael Romita said it's not unusual for a property to be flipped after the site receives approvals, but before a shovel hits the ground. The planning board approved the plan on Jan. 28, 2020. "Assuming that New Rochelle continues to develop, it's a pretty valuable lot," Romita said. Cities like New Rochelle, he noted, put a limit on the number of residential units to ensure a good mix of retail, commercial and housing.

Westchester County Association President and CEO Michael Romita said generally the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a "softening" of commercial real estate across the county. Meanwhile, residential real estate is "very hot," Romita said, including multi-unit developments. Specific to Briarcliff, Romita said the village has a number of older office complexes that are functionally obsolete. Repurposing those buildings into residential and mixed-use development "is important for the vitality of the region," he said.

For months now, Montefiore Medical Center has been locked in high-stakes contract negotiations with UnitedHealthcare, one of New York’s largest health insurers. At issue is the cost of medical insurance for 60,000 New Yorkers who live New York City, Westchester and the surrounding region. If no agreement is reached, Montefiore patients covered by UnitedHealthcare will be forced out of network. They will need to stop seeing the Montefiore doctors on which they have come to rely.

“Overall, there is a diversity of real estate sectors in Westchester, so it’s hard to address [the effects of coronavirus] in generalities,” says Michael Romita, president of the Westchester County Association. “The pandemic influenced various sectors in different ways. Clearly, there was a softening in activity in commercial office space, but I wouldn’t say [the impact has been] terrible.” During the early months of the pandemic, he notes, there was not an exodus of office leaseholders; rather, landlords and tenants in general were discussing work-arounds. “Rents were coming in; landlords were getting paid, though some were getting strung out a little bit,” Romita says.

The Westchester County Association has revised its Policy Playbook, a guide for development and economic growth, to include insights, resources and examples of how to develop successful housing initiatives with the goal of helping municipalities meet the needs for more diverse, affordable and available housing. The new Housing Initiatives chapter of the playbook points out that businesses have a stake in solving housing issues.

The business and nonprofit community, led by the Westchester County Association’s Real Estate and Housing Task Force, is developing solutions to this massive problem. A multi-faceted assemblage of real estate, planning, land use, financial, legal, academic and government stakeholders are working collaboratively to generate multi-disciplinary solutions.

Michael N. Romita, president and CEO of the WCA, said, “The advocacy agenda and initiatives outlined in this report are the result of a collaborative effort of some of the region’s most dedicated professionals from business, nonprofit, education, labor and government. As we implement these initiatives and continue to collaborate with key stakeholders across industry sectors and throughout the region, we will achieve tangible progress toward a stronger, more resilient economy for our region.”

“The pandemic hijacked everyone’s plans, but it has exposed challenges and opportunities for growth. Affordable housing, access to high-speed internet, the digital divide, ramping business up for telecommuting, and supporting the healthcare industry have jumped to the forefront,” says Romita, who admits that any other agenda he may have had coming into his new job got summarily changed by the pandemic. It has been a big pivot for Westchester and how business will be done here. Still, Romita remains optimistic about the future. “Sure, we are going through a very difficult period here, with over 14 percent unemployment in the county and somewhere between $90 million and $160 million in reduced tax receipts. Yet, a recent WCA survey showed a clear majority of folks remain optimistic about Westchester’s future and feel the economy will bounce back within the next three years. Only 10 percent were pessimistic about the county’s economic future.”

White Plains, NY (January 23, 2025) — The Westchester County Association (WCA) launched its 75th anniversary year with newly appointed County Executive Ken Jenkins’ first address to the Westchester business community, where he outlined his vision for the county’s growth and vitality – subjects that drive WCA’s mission.

(November 21, 2024) …. Four exceptional Westchester leaders, cited for their outstanding contributions to Westchester’s robust economy, benefiting its people and businesses, were honored at the Westchester County Association’s (WCA) Annual Leadership Event, “Impact in Action,” held on November 20th at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.

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).

Nationally renowned rehabilitation provider, Burke Rehabilitation will be expanding to Scarsdale. This will make it Burke's 14th facility, and it features a 6,100-square-foot state-of-the-art space, supporting approximately 18,000 patient visits annually. Learn how this new rehabilitation facility will not only set a new example for care, but aid thousands of lives.

Join Fordham University on April 30 for S.P.A.R.K.—Scholars Promoting Action, Research, and Knowledge. This public event features five faculty presenting innovative research in ethical leadership, inclusion, and social responsibility. Connect with scholars, students, and industry leaders at McShane Campus Center from 4:00–5:30 PM.

Mercy University hosted the MedTech & Finance Conference in collaboration with Westchester County Youth Bureau and Sister to Sister International. Over 200 students explored careers at the intersection of medicine, technology, and finance through keynotes, hands-on workshops, and inspiring industry insights.

Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s Radiation Oncology team marked a major milestone by treating the first patient with its new Radixact Tomotherapy machine. This state-of-the-art technology delivers highly targeted radiation while reducing treatment sessions by up to 80%, enhancing both precision and patient comfort.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University has been ranked the #1 Environmental Law Program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report—for the fifth consecutive year. With global impact, innovative programs, and expert faculty, Haub Law leads the field.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers showcases Brightcore Energy's groundbreaking geothermal project at The Beresford, a historic NYC building. This initiative highlights the potential of advanced energy systems to transform legacy properties, proving decarbonization is possible for even the most complex structures.

Please join us for the annual Pitch Day on May 7. This event will celebrate the cohort of life sciences founders who participated in this year’s Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator program. Investors, corporate sponsors, and members of the life sciences ecosystem should attend.

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development will host its next Life Sciences Networking event on April 9, featuring a discussion on the characteristics of a strong board of directors. All are welcome: founders and employees of life sciences companies, educators, students, and anyone curious about the life sciences ecosystem right here in Westchester.

Sustainable Westchester and CURE100 have partnered together to offer the Carbon Tracker to municipalities and residents throughout county. This free app runs on any web-enabled device and can help you make informed, personalized choices to save money, improve your health, and reduce your household’s carbon emissions.

Orange Bank & Trust Company has promoted two officers to support the ongoing expansion of Orange Wealth Management. Carla Alfieri has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Director of Private Banking and Jacqueline Weimmer will serve as Director of Trust Services.