The Business Council of Westchester mourns the loss of Rosemarie “Rose” Noonan, a pioneering leader and steadfast advocate for affordable housing in our region. As the longtime Executive Director of the Housing Action Council, Rose dedicated her life to ensuring that low- and moderate-income families had access to safe, quality housing throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Her work not only transformed communities but also laid the foundation for more equitable housing policy and development across the region. Rose’s influence was far-reaching. She built powerful partnerships with nonprofit and for-profit developers, guided municipalities through complex planning efforts, and championed innovative […]

A fruitful collaboration between the Westchester Innovation Network’s (WIN) City Labs initiative and Iona University’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation culminated in the delivery of student-led recommendations to address parking challenges in the Village of Mamaroneck’s bustling downtown. Following an eight-week immersion into the Mamaroneck community, students from the Hynes Institute presented their findings on May 8 and proposed solutions to village officials and members of the Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce. This initiative—a key component of the Business Council of Westchester’s WIN program—is the seventh City Labs project in which students actively engaged with a local community. Among the […]

Thirty-six members of the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) traveled to the state capital on Tuesday for their annual Albany Lobby Day, providing a valuable opportunity for local business leaders to engage directly with state government. The day offered BCW members firsthand insight into the inner workings of state operations through meetings with elected officials, members of Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration, policy experts, and a representative from the Albany press corps. This year’s Albany Lobby Day held particular significance as BCW members had the opportunity to express their gratitude to state legislators for the inclusion of crucial funding for the […]

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) hosted its latest KeyBank Speaker Series event on Monday, featuring a timely discussion with two of the region’s Congressional representatives, George Latimer (D-16) and Mike Lawler (R-17). The KeyBank Speaker Series provided a valuable platform for Westchester business leaders to hear directly from their Congressional representatives. The congressmen engaged in a thoughtful dialogue moderated by John Ravitz, Executive Vice President of the BCW, focusing on critical issues impacting the local and national business landscape: the economy, energy policy, and effective leadership. Congressman Lawler, in his opening remarks, highlighted the current dynamics in Washington D.C., […]

Lights, Camera, Action! The business of TV and film production is booming in Westchester County. According to a new annual economic impact report released by County Executive Ken Jenkins, the county’s film and television sector contributed $924.2 million to the local economy in 2024. Total jobs supported by the County’s film and television industry last year rose by 51%, climbing from 2,053 to 3,103. Of those jobs, 1,339 were tied directly to production. Altogether, the industry generated $261.6 million in total wages, including $130.2 million in direct earnings. Production activity spanned 1,372 days across the County, signaling renewed and robust […]

The Business Council of Westchester is among 42 business organizations statewide that vehemently oppose the Twenty First Century Anti-Trust bill,(S335/A2015) In a letter to the Governor and Legislature, the coalition urges rejection of the legislation which is both anti-business and anti-consumer and would destroy the state’s economy. “This legislation comes out of a national movement that intends to use New York as the stalking horse for federal antitrust reform. Advocates don’t seem to care what price New York State would pay if this bill were enacted, including fewer jobs, less tax revenue and reduced vital services for New Yorkers, less […]