As Westchester County’s largest business membership organization that focuses on economic development and advocacy, the BCW has been a long-time advocate of obtaining a full gaming license for Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. BCW Executive Vice President and COO John Ravitz provided testimony supporting the full gaming license at a meeting held Monday in Yonkers by the Community Advisory Council. He began by stating that obtaining a full-gaming license for Empire City by MGM Resorts has been and will continue to be the top legislative priority for the BCW. He noted that Empire City by MGM Resorts has already […]

Congratulations to the City of Yonkers on its selection as one of the 50 finalists of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Sixth Mayors Challenge, a competition to spur local government innovation that improves lives in cities around the world. The City of Yonkers is among ten U.S. cities and the only city selected from New York State. “Thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies for seeing our vision to improve the quality of life for seniors across our city,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “We are honored to be among 50 finalists selected for the prestigious global Mayors Challenge competition. As a finalist, we will look […]

In a significant stride for real estate innovation, the Business Council of Westchester’s Westchester Innovation Network (WIN) recently facilitated a digital scan of a Simone Development Companies property by ReX2, a company at the forefront of digital-twin technology. The scanning of One Executive Boulevard in North Yonkers, a medical office building newly acquired and renovated by Simone Development, served as a crucial test and demonstration of ReX2’s capabilities. A scan of the building, known as a digital twin, allowed ReX2 to create videos that allow prospective tenants to have a 3D experience walking through the building’s finished and unfinished spaces. […]

By John Ravitz Earlier this summer, New York launched what may be one of the most important tech infrastructure investments the Empire State will ever make. In June, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $40 million in funding to launch Empire AI Beta, a supercomputer housed at the University of Buffalo that will give researchers unprecedented access to study AI technology and its benefits. This investment and the latest expansion of funding for the state’s historic Empire AI investment program secured in May makes one thing abundantly clear: New York is not just participating in the AI race –– the state intends to lead it. Thanks […]

In what is a significant investment in the Hudson Valley Region’s economy, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that Garonit Pharmaceutical, Inc., a global manufacturer of antiseptic products and health care solutions, will establish a state-of-the-art, 200,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in New Windsor, Orange County. With a $46.1 million investment, the facility will become the world’s largest chlorhexidine gluconate manufacturing operation, producing antiseptic products essential for surgical disinfection and infection prevention in hospitals worldwide. New York State is supporting this project with $3.8 million, including up to $3.5 million through the Excelsior Jobs Program and a $300,000 Mid-Hudson Regional Economic […]

The BCW is among 37 business organizations statewide that are urging Gov. Hochul to veto S.8432 (Hoylman-Sigal)/A.8662 (Gallagher), which would require small businesses organized as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) to disclose confidential and personally identifiable information to the New York State Department of State (DOS). The group notes that if signed into law, the legislation will undoubtedly place an additional regulatory and cost burden on small businesses, at a time when they are facing increasing economic uncertainty and excessive costs. It will lead to greater confusion, hefty fines, and business suspensions, and will make New York a less competitive place […]