By John Ravitz New York faces a workforce crisis with 500,000 open jobs in critical industries. The Ready to Work Initiative proposes a $100 million investment in job training and support services. This initiative aims to connect underutilized workers with employers struggling to fill vacancies. The Business Council of Westchester and other organizations support the initiative to address the workforce shortage. The author urges the governor and legislative leaders to prioritize the Ready to Work Initiative in the upcoming budget. Right now, news reports from Washington, D.C. are fixated on the major cuts to the federal workforce. But here in […]

Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced that Poughkeepsie will receive $10 million in funding as the Mid-Hudson winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and the Villages of Nyack and Dobbs Ferry will each receive $4.5 million as the Mid-Hudson winners of the third round of NY Forward. For Round 8 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Round 3 of the NY Forward Program, each of the state’s 10 economic development regions are being awarded $10 million from each program, to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help […]

The Business Council of Westchester began a new year of the State of the Economy series presented by PSCB Bank with a panel discussion on how developers are successfully delivering affordable housing to Westchester County. The panel included Joe Apicella, Executive Vice President of MacQuesten Development, LLC; Adam Bosch, President of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress; Bill Balter, President of WBP Development LLC; Joan McDonald, Director of Operations at the Westchester County Office of the County Executive; Richard Nightingale, President & CEO of WESTHAB; and Stuart Rabin, Village Manager of the Village of Port Chester. The developers explained how their […]

This week, the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) released its 2025 Legislative Agenda, outlining key priorities for federal, state, and local lawmakers to foster a thriving business environment. Building upon its commitment to sustainable economic growth, the BCW’s agenda emphasizes targeted support for critical initiatives, including a full-gaming license for Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, unemployment insurance reform, responsible regulation, and securing Westchester’s energy future. “Our 2025 Legislative Agenda reflects the BCW’s unwavering advocacy for policies that empower businesses, stimulate job creation, and ensure the long-term prosperity of Westchester County,” said John Ravitz, Executive Vice President and COO of […]

Residents at the Palisade Towers housing complex in Yonkers who have been without gas service will be able to use a new electric shuttle to do their laundry starting this week, thanks to a partnership that is bringing innovative businesses to Westchester. Circuit, a leading provider of EV mobility solutions, is running the free shuttle thanks to a partnership with the Business Council of Westchester. The 100 % electric shuttle, which can be ordered through an app, will transport residents to other housing authority sites where they can do their laundry. Because of the gas outage, more than 1,000 residents […]

Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress (Pattern) and the New York City Department of Department of City Planning (DCP) today announced a new partnership to explore regional connections between New York City and the Hudson Valley on economic development, tourism, agriculture, and other key issues. The partnership will include biannual meetings between Pattern for Progress and New York City officials, including discussions of how to build on the robust economic ties and transit connections between the regions and how to support jobs in life science, tech, food, and film production, among other industries. The partnership was announced on Tuesday at a […]