Just two days after the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted unanimously to appoint Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins as County Executive, he received some very good news Wednesday with the announcement that Westchester County continues to demonstrate its strong fiscal management and economic stability, earning a AAA bond rating from S&P Global Ratings. According to S&P, the significant upgrade reflects “the County’s increased reserve position, supported by conservative budgeting and strong sales tax revenues in recent years.” Westchester County is the only county in New York State to receive a AAA bond rating from S&P Global Ratings.  “This is […]

BCW Westchester Innovation Network (WIN) participant ShelterZoom recently announced a partnership with the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) to develop a customized secure-document tracking solution for the global organization. ShelterZoom’s groundbreaking Document GPS technology will become part of the UN’s major digital upgrade, bringing tokenization technology to one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world. Tokenization is a data security and payment processing method that protects sensitive data by replacing it with a non-sensitive substitute called a token. The UN deal is the latest first for ShelterZoom, which in 2022 conducted the first legal-sector tests of […]

Monroe University (www.monroeu.edu), with campuses in New York and Saint Lucia, and the University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” (www.unishk.edu.al) in Shkoder, Albania, today announced an MOU designed to facilitate academic and cultural exchange opportunities for students at both institutions. Monroe University, founded in 1933, serves a diverse student body of more than 9,000 students across its campuses in New York and Saint Lucia, as well as online. With students representing a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, Monroe is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive community and engaging with its surrounding neighborhoods through outreach programs and initiatives that drive […]

The Business Council of Westchester’s (BCW) President and CEO Marsha Gordon attended the groundbreaking of Opal 115, a transformative transit-oriented development in Mount Vernon that underscores the urgent need for affordable housing in our region. Gordon hailed the project as a critical step in addressing Westchester County’s housing challenges while fostering economic growth. “Transit-oriented developments like Opal 115 are essential to retaining and attracting talent in Westchester County,” said Gordon. “This project not only addresses our region’s housing shortage but also revitalizes the local economy by creating a vibrant, connected community.” Located near the Mount Vernon West Metro-North station, Opal […]

Iona University students recently delivered recommendations for the activation of Port Chester’s waterfront after a six-week study organized by the Westchester Innovation Network’s City Labs initiative. Students from Iona’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation recommended public space enhancements; commercial and recreational features; interactive technology; new lighting; greenery; and cultural features like public art or a small stage. Port Chester is targeting about 1,600 feet of waterfront along the Byram River in its downtown stretching from the Bar Taco restaurant to the Costco Wholesale store. “Our idea for the Port Chester waterfront is to have people visit, but to also […]

In the final BCW Valley Bank Leadership Conversations series of the year, Deputy Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins was the featured speaker this week at a standing-room-only crowd of business, government, and non-profit leaders. BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon led a stimulating one-hour conversation at Kanopi restaurant in downtown White Plains. “The BCW has enjoyed a long and positive relationship with Ken Jenkins from his time as a member and later chair of the County Legislators, and of course in his seven years as Deputy County Executive. Now, as Ken moves into the role of Interim County Executive, we […]