Page 12 - 2021 Westchester County Economic Development Guide
P. 12

                                 Westchester Forward
Businesses Resources
 Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January, the County launched Westchester RISES to provide support to businesses that are continuing to reinvent themselves, pivot, and build resilience for the future. The program consists of 10 weekly workshops on specific topics to build skills in key areas, as well as industry roundtables and one-on-one advisory support for up to 100 local businesses that request this.
VOLUNTEERISM & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
What’s ahead?
This year, the Westchester County Office of Economic Development launched a new, sector- based strategy to foster economic growth, in the areas of Biosciences, FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Energy, which will be rolled out during the course of 2021. (See page 42.) Beyond this, we remain committed to supporting businesses of all types throughout the pandemic and beyond.
      Beyond their volunteer program, real estate operating and development company RXR Realty has been a strong supporter of COVID-19 relief efforts in New Rochelle. In March of 2020, the company established a COVID Relief Fund with a $1 million contribution to support organizations helping area residents impacted by the public health crisis.
Additionally, the company redirected $225,000 in prior community funding towards these efforts and received a $200,000 contribution from the Louis R. Cappelli Foundation. In addition to addressing immediate needs, the funding benefits programs that support the eventual long-term recovery of the city.
 ‘KEEP THE GOOD KARMA GOING’:
WESTCHESTER ANGELS
As Managing Director of Westchester Angels – a group of angel investors dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed – Sandford Wollman has devoted his career to supporting entrepreneurial growth. But when COVID-19 hit, Wollman saw an urgent need that had to be addressed. He led a group of Angels members to volunteer and mentor small businesses. Through his associate Kim Jacobs at Community Capital, they reached out to see which local entrepreneurs needed financial support.
“I was agonizing as to how to help small business at the beginning of the pandemic, but I didn’t just want to write a big check. Kim had the idea of paying rent for a bunch of businesses and together with her colleague Rachel Dubin, they created a housing grant program,” recalls Wollman. “I funded this grant, which paid the rent for 25 to 30 small business owners, helping not only the businesses, but their landlords as well.”
Wollman wrote a letter to each grant recipient, recounting how his grandfather moved to Mount Vernon 90 years ago and opened a
small tailor shop, and how he has been in the County ever since. Since handshakes and hugs aren’t prudent during pandemic times, Wollman simply asked that they reach out to others who are struggling and “keep the good karma going.”
Sandford Wollman, Managing Director of Westchester Angels
        10
WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
  
















































































   10   11   12   13   14