RYE BROOK, NY – With strong momentum and growing enthusiasm across the region, the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) is excited to continue its 2026 AI Intensive with Support from Google.org Cohort II. This next phase reflects the BCW’s deepening commitment to equipping local businesses and nonprofits with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Following the success of the inaugural cohort, Cohort II welcomes a new group of forward-thinking organizations eager to harness artificial intelligence to drive efficiency, enhance productivity, and unlock new opportunities for growth. The program continues to focus on hands-on, practical […]

On Tuesday, the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) hosted its 2nd Annual Clean Energy Action Conference, bringing together over 150 industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators for a dynamic day of collaboration and forward-thinking dialogue on the future of Westchester’s changing energy landscape. Held at Windrose on Hudson in Ossining, the conference underscored The BCW’s Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC)’s mission to advance a clean energy future that is affordable, reliable, and sustainable, a priority that continues to drive meaningful conversations across Westchester and beyond. The program opened with welcome remarks from Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, who set the tone […]

A $35 million project to convert the Palisades Towers apartment complex in Yonkers to electric service began this week with the arrival of hundreds of new induction stoves that are being installed in apartments at the 415-unit complex. State, county, and city officials gathered on Tuesday to mark the milestone, which is the first step in converting the entire complex from gas to electricity. It’s been a nearly two-year journey for the 1,000 residents of Palisade Towers, who had been without stoves since August of 2024 when corrosion of gas lines throughout the complex forced the shut off of gas […]

BCW member Soulful Synergy announced that they had received new state funding aimed at expanding job training opportunities in the region. Soulful Synergy, led by co-founders Alejandro Alvarez and Dwayne Norris, both BCW Rising Star Alumni, will use the funding to further its mission of preparing residents for careers in construction, clean energy, and other high-demand industries. The new program, developed in partnership with the City of New Rochelle, connects participants with hands-on training, certifications, and direct pathways to employment. Through initiatives like New Rochelle Forward, residents gain access to career readiness services, job placement support, and connections to local […]

The Westchester Innovation Network (WIN), an initiative of the Business Council of Westchester (BCW), has successfully facilitated a cutting-edge collaboration between technology startup Astrabeam and Tompkins Excavating. The pairing brought advanced sensor fusion technology directly to the field to enhance safety in the construction sector. Astrabeam recently visited the Tompkins Excavating facility to conduct a critical sensor data experiment. The test involved mounting Astrabeam’s specialized multi-modality sensors onto one of Tompkins’ heavy-duty earthmovers. These sensors provide high-resolution imaging and detection that can penetrate environmental obstacles like dust, smoke, and debris—conditions frequently encountered on active construction sites. For Astrabeam, the experiment […]

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) recently added its voice to a powerful statewide coalition of 30 trade, business, and research organizations, urging New York’s leadership to reject tax increases in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget negotiations. In a formal letter addressed to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the coalition warned that the proposed One-House tax measures would undermine New York’s economic stability at a critical juncture. While the Governor’s initial Executive Budget earned praise for prioritizing fiscal discipline, the legislative proposals currently on the table represent a sharp pivot toward higher […]