Page 56 - 2024 Westchester County Economic Development Guide

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
Westchester County Association
The WCA:
It's All About Impact
With a deep understanding
of key issues and an active
membership to drive its
initiatives, the Westchester
County Association is advancing a positive
agenda to strengthen the regional economy
while tackling the most urgent challenges
facing the business and nonprofit sectors
today. Over the past year, the WCA has
expanded its influence, achieving significant
advocacy victories at the state and local
level; these include historic increases in
Medicaid funding, staffing reforms in healthcare, creating a template for regional housing reform, and advancing a clean energy future.
The WCA’s working groups made significant progress towards measurable goals. The organization expanded its nationally recognized digital initiative, continued the region’s most innovative talent programs, and focused on the future
of sustainable real estate development.
In addition, the
WCA strengthened opportunities for members to build meaningful professional connections through best-in-class programming, special events, and proprietary membership groups.
In 2023, the WCA:
• Convened “Profit and Purpose ’23,” Westchester County’s
first and only sustainable business conference
• Started a sustainability “bootcamp” for businesses looking
to turn ideas into action
• Expanded the award-winning Clean Energy Program
Portal, a dynamic guide for business to available technical
and financial resources
• Developed a regional clean energy and climate resiliency
real estate guide
• Spearheaded a Healthcare Roundtable of CEOs and
college presidents to build a regional talent pipeline
• Advocated successfully for a 7.5% increase in Medicaid
funding and $395M funding allocation to regional
healthcare providers in NYS budget
• Expanded nursing workforce with 30% of nurse training
now allowed via clinical simulation
• Produced new guides for employers to fill in-demand
healthcare positions and job seekers to find career
pathways and training
• Launched the 1,000 Jobs Challenge to fill in-demand
jobs within five years, projected to create $60M in
economic impact
• Formed the New Leader Roundtable to cultivate the next
generation of Westchester’s professional leaders
• Via its Healthcare Talent Pipeline program, trained 210
job seekers, placing 111+ in positions, resulting in $4.5M in
salaries created
• Convened the 7th Annual Real Estate Conference, focused
on statewide solutions for Westchester’s affordable
housing crisis
• Produced a first-of-its kind regional clean energy and
climate resiliency real estate guide
• Advanced adaptive reuse through its Real Estate Policy
Playbook, resulting in 3 million sf of commercial office
space redeveloped
• Launched Connect Westchester to link more
households to digital resources, tech education,
and affordable internet
• Convened Westchester’s business leaders at its Fourth
Annual Regional Workforce Summit
The WCA is stimulating new business and job creation; providing a strong and clear voice for the interests of business on regional, state, and national levels; and developing and providing its members with the resources and talent they need to grow.
Top: WCA 2023 Leadership Event: Michael Romita, WCA; Chris Hillyer, MD, New York Blood Center; Jane Solnick, Con Edison; Kristen Motel, Cuddy & Feder; Susan Fox, White Plains Hospital; Chris Fisher, Cuddy & Feder
Left: WCA Forum with US Senator Chuck Schumer
© Courtesy of the Westchester County Association
© Courtesy of the Westchester County Association