Page 45 - Westchester County - 2018 Economic Development Guide

NEWS YOU CAN USE WCA WESTCHESTER COUNTY ASSOCIATION:
Driving the New Innovation Economy
Continuing its mission to stimu- late economic vitality in the region, the Westchester County Association (WCA) has taken major steps this year to bring innovation and research, high-speed internet, and Smart Growth zoning and land use policy to the county. The WCA also has been working to close the digital divide, and to re-train and empower the current workforce to meet the demands of the future.
While Westchester is experiencing a strong period of growth, federal budget cuts and the new federal tax reform are putting more pressure on homeowners and state and local governments, making it more neces- sary than ever before for the private sector to step up its efforts in the area of economic development. In 2018 and beyond, the WCA will be hyper-focused on advancing policies and initiatives that create an environment for smart growth throughout the region.
SMART GROWTH,
SMART CHOICES
While Westchester has it all in terms of life- style, education, transportation and location, the WCA sees a tremendous opportunity to further the region’s competitiveness by supporting and expanding the principles of Smart Growth. To that end, the WCA is work- ing with municipalities and cities to mod- ernize master plans to accommodate the growing numbers of seniors, working fami- lies and millennials who seek sustainable, walkable, vibrant downtowns as preferred places to work and live. With more employ- ees working remotely and companies scaling back on commercial space, municipalities are increasingly dependent on residential tax revenue to stay in the black. By encouraging innovative planning for housing and com- mercial development, and streamlining cum- bersome regulation so that projects can move at a pace that’s beneficial for municipalities and developers alike, the WCA is driving the development of accessible multi-family hous- ing and dynamic mixed-use development.
Building the right digital infrastructure also will transform the county. Gigabit-speed internet is a critical component of economic growth, as businesses today must have the speed and bandwidth that this technology
affords to compete. The WCA, in conjunc- tion with the Federal Reserve Bank and lo- cal banks, is working with Westchester’s four cities – Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers – to develop pilot projects that will bring gigabit-speed inter- net to under-served areas to close the digital divide. It also is bringing cutting-edge infor- mation and technical know-how to its four partner cities in the Smart Growth Com- PACT, so they can make informed decisions about the technology they will deploy in their communities.
INNOVATION
As a $15 billion+ economic engine, the healthcare and life sciences sector is the main driver of growth, employment and in- novation in the region. It also is a key focus of the WCA’s Blueprint for Smart Growth, which aims to attract innovation and entre- preneurial activity. The WCA regularly advo- cates for healthcare policy, and it has long led efforts to elevate Westchester’s profile as a national hub of innovation in healthcare and life sciences. That message is reinforced with events such as WCA’s annual Health Tech conference and Women in Technol- ogy awards, which honors women leaders in STEM fields. The WCA also has entered a community partnership with the Westches- ter Biotech Project, a consortium dedicated to stimulating knowledge sharing and col-
laboration among researchers, engineers and data scientists from companies and in- stitutions across the region and nation. By emphasizing the impact and relevance of life science discovery and development, the col- laboration honors the contributions of the very innovators who activate tomorrow’s medical breakthroughs.
A SKILLED WORKFORCE
FOR THE FUTURE
The WCA has developed programs to re- train workers to help close the skills gap in the Hudson Valley, where thousands of jobs in healthcare, IT and business go un- filled. Thanks to a federally-funded grant, a multigenerational workforce is being retrained and positioned for the current marketplace through the Jobs Waiting Pro- gram, for which the WCA serves as Project Manager and Westchester County as the administrator. With advancements in tech- nology and data accelerating at an incred- ible rate, the region that is best able to meet the challenge of filling jobs with skilled workers is the region that will possess the competitive edge.
Above, At WCA’s annual breakfast: (l to r) WCA President & CEO, William M. Mooney, Jr, WCA Executive Board Member and President of White Plains Hospital, Susan Fox and County Executive George Latimer.
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