Westchester County Launches Affordability and Economic Development Task Force to Tackle Pressure on Residents and Businesses

The Westchester County Board of Legislators has announced the creation of a new Affordability and Economic Development Task Force aimed at confronting rising cost pressures impacting residents, workers, and the business community across the county. The initiative comes as leaders cite growing economic strain tied to housing, energy, transportation, food costs, and broader affordability challenges affecting quality of life and regional competitiveness.

The Task Force will examine key drivers of affordability and economic stability, including job creation, small business growth, housing availability, transportation systems, and energy pricing. Over the coming months, it will bring together stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop actionable policy recommendations designed to strengthen Westchester’s long-term economic outlook.

Legislator Colin D. Smith will chair the Task Force, working alongside Board leadership to convene cross-sector voices from government, business, housing, and nonprofit organizations. Board of Legislator Chairman, Vedat Gashi, emphasized the urgency of the effort, underscoring the Board’s commitment to easing financial pressure on working families and improving economic conditions amid broader uncertainty.

Chairman Gashi stated that “The Business Council of Westchester Executive Vice President and COO John Ravitz was one of the first individuals reached out to as the task force was being formed, reflecting the Board’s recognition of the BCW’s role as a leading voice in the county’s business community.” Ravitz highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector in addressing the region’s affordability challenges.

“As Westchester County’s largest business membership organization that focuses on economic development and advocacy, the Business Council of Westchester welcomes the opportunity to be a member of the Board of Legislators’ Affordability and Economic Development Task Force,” Ravitz said. “If we are going to recruit and retain businesses to Westchester, we must develop solutions to deal with affordability challenges. I hope that the task force will utilize the expertise of BCW’s membership to better understand the issues facing the county’s business community every day.”

The Business Council of Westchester also offered to serve as an ongoing resource to the task force, making its broad membership base available to help inform discussions and provide real-world insight into the daily challenges facing employers across the region. This partnership is expected to strengthen the task force’s ability to ground its recommendations in practical, on-the-ground business experience.

The task force also includes voices from the nonprofit and housing sectors, reflecting the interconnected nature of affordability challenges. Leaders emphasized that housing supply, workforce stability, and equitable access to services are all critical components of a healthy local economy.

From left: Board of Legislator James Nolan, Board of Legislator Chair Vedat Gashi, John Ravitz, Vice President and COO of The Business Council of Westchester, Board of Legislator Nancy Barr and Board of Legislator Colin Smith