Westchester Leaders Examine How Policy Is Reshaping the Economy

Rye Brook, N.Y. (September 30, 2026)–The Business Council of Westchester’s (BCW) State of the Economy Series presented by Beacon Bank convened business and community leaders to discuss how policy shifts are shaping the national conversation—and what they mean for Westchester County.

Moderated by BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon, the discussion ranged from clean-energy investment and borrowing costs to immigration, healthcare access, workforce shortages, and development. The panelists were Noam Bramson, BCW’s executive vice president of government affairs and economic development; Michael Goldrick, president of Beacon Bank’s Hudson Valley region; Susan Henner of Henner Law Group; Timothy Hughes, vice president of operations at NewYork-Presbyterian; Dwayne Norris, co-founder and COO of Soulful Synergy; Hopeton Scott, president of Scott Income Tax and Advisory Services; Joe Simone, president of Simone Development Companies; and Oliver Stauffer, CEO of PTI.

“One of the things that we want to do today is to really touch upon the common theme of decisions that are being made that affect us on the national level and on the state level that affect every business in this room,” said Gordon.

Bramson said local governments and businesses can help advance clean-energy projects by revisiting restrictions on battery storage and making better use of existing land for solar.

“We don’t have square miles of open space in the desert, which would allow utility-scale solar generation, but we do have thousands of acres of parking lots, which are sized and configured to be appropriate for solar development. That is our black gold in Westchester County,” said Bramson.

Goldrick noted that higher rates are increasing financial burdens on commercial real estate borrowers and consumers, while homeowners with older, lower-rate mortgages may be reluctant to move.

“Anyone that secured a long-term mortgage back when the rates were 4%, 3%….no one wants to break out of that out of that rate,” said Goldrick. “So that’s tamping down the (housing) market.”

Henner described visa processing delays affecting employers seeking to bring workers from overseas, as well as families navigating the immigration system. She cited summer camps, schools, agriculture, restaurants, and hospitality among the sectors facing staffing challenges.

“It’s taking a little bit longer, 18 to 24 months on just a regular employment-based green card and then depending on what country the person is from, they could sometimes see delays at the consulate,” said Henner. “The laws are constantly changing, and even right now, there’s a temporary pause on certain immigrant visas.”

Hughes discussed the health system’s efforts to expand care in Westchester and build career pathways with local schools, emphasizing the need for collaboration with educational institutions, government, and community partners. He cited the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“Those programs send students to all of our campuses where they’re gaining valuable healthcare experience, and it’s critically important that we develop these pathways for young people to not only learn and to train, but to be able to develop careers right here in Westchester,” said Hughes.

Norris said federal policy changes have affected clean-energy and manufacturing projects—and, in turn, workforce training. At the same time, he pointed to a growing need for skilled tradespeople to build infrastructure, including data centers. “For every three tradespersons that are retiring, we only have about one coming into the industry,” he said. Norris urged employers to advocate for childcare support and on-the-job training resources.

For small businesses, Scott urged owners to track cash flow closely rather than focus only on reported profit. “Cash flow is fact,” he said.

“Every business in the history of time would still be around if they had enough money in the bank. Without cash flow, you can’t survive,” said Scott, who advised business owners to keep payroll-tax funds separate from operating cash and to use a 13-week cash-flow strategy.

Simone discussed the need for workforce housing and the costs of bringing new projects to fruition. He said demand can help make development viable, but that financing remains a challenge.

“The cost of acquiring property and doing brand new construction doesn’t always equal what people can pay for rent,” said Simone. “What’s lacking is being able to figure out how to subsidize the actual buildings.”

In advance of the event, panelist Stauffer shared his thoughts on tariffs. He said PTI, a global leader in package testing equipment, had a significant impact on his company, both directly and through the uncertainty they have created in the business environment.

“In early 2025, we experienced an approximately 35% decline in demand, with the impact considerably more pronounced in North America than in Europe, where our sales have remained relatively stable,” said Stauffer.

Gordon closed by underscoring the shared stakes for businesses across the county, pointing to Westchester’s diverse economy and the value of bringing stakeholders together to address shared challenges.

Beacon Bank is the State of the Economy series sponsor. Special thanks to contributing sponsors Dorf Nellson & Zauderer, Empire City Casino, IMA, Marsh McLennan Agency, NewYork-Presbyterian, RM Friedland, Simone Development Companies, Thalle Industries, The Catalyst Westchester County Economic Development and media partner Westfair Business Journal.