The iconic phrase “lights, camera, action” is often associated with films shot in Hollywood studios or perhaps with actors featured against a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. But Westchester County is starting to get its fair share of film production thanks to efforts from County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County Tourism & Film (WCTF). Despite industry-wide challenges in 2022 and 2023, film production in Westchester still yielded $2 billion in economic activity, 6,796 jobs and $656 million in wages during those two years. The Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild strikes in 2023 and lingering effects […]

BCW Westchester Innovation Network participant Laronix was a panelist at an overview of Westchester’s life science community on Tuesday. Laronix’s COO, Mousa Ahmadi, discussed how his company’s MIRA Voice device is using artificial intelligence to help people with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and other conditions regain the ability to speak clearly. Laronix is currently refining the device with patients at the Burke Neurological Institute in White Plains. Ahmadi explained that the initial success of the device has allowed Laronix to expand its institutional collaboration to about 50 hospitals in the United States and Australia. “We have around 130 patients […]

BCW Member Feeding Westchester and the Business Council of Westchester partnered on November 14 to host State Senate and State Assembly Westchester elected officials for a tour of Feeding Westchester’s expanded space in Elmsford and to discuss the upcoming state budget. Feeding Westchester CEO Karen Erren, partners and colleagues in the room highlighted the increased need throughout the County. Among the facts presented to the elected officials at the program: Along with the officials and their staff, representatives from Feeding NYS, Long Island Cares, Inc.-The Harry Chapin Food Bank and local partners participated in the event.  Attendees included Senate Majority Leader […]

The Business Council of Westchester honored the accomplishments of Hudson Scenic founder Neil Mazzella and outgoing Westchester County Executive and Congressman-elect George Latimer at its annual dinner. The November 14th event at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle drew about 500 attendees who celebrated the BCW’s accomplishments, including a year of artificial intelligence-related programming; a State of the Economy series focused on transformational development; new start-ups joining the Westchester Innovation Network; the launch of the Westchester Clean Energy Action Coalition; and the debut of the BCW Podcast Network. “It’s a perfect time to celebrate the businesses, institutions and community-based […]

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined New York State Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky and educators to encourage Pace University students to apply to the DoD Cyber Service Academy scholarship program, which provides full college tuition in return for public service in the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Intelligence Community (IC). Successful applicants will serve one year in the DoD or the IC as a civilian employee for each year of their scholarship.   “Thousands of unfilled DoD cyber positions leave our country with a severe shortage of personnel needed to protect the United States from adversaries like Russia. I developed the Cyber […]

With the holidays just around the corner, BCW Member American Christmas recently celebrated the grand opening of its popular Holiday Lane with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour. The event held November 7 was attended by local dignitaries, elected officials and Executive Directors of three nonprofit organizations that will benefit from 100% of the net ticket sales. Located at 30 Warren Place in Mount Vernon, American Christmas has been designing and installing the world’s most iconic holiday displays for over 50 years. In New York those include landmarks like Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Macy’s, Cartier, Harry Winston, Ralph Lauren, […]