Westchester County Association Realigns Brand Ahead Of Major Economic Development Push

9/10/18

New Brand Reinforces Forward-Looking Approach and Focus on Economic Development Advocacy

The Westchester County Association (WCA) has completed a years-long transition from a leading business membership organization to Westchester’s most powerful economic development entity.

To better reflect its policy and action-oriented identity, the Westchester County Association (WCA) today unveiled its first major brand realignment since it was founded in 1950. The new brand emphasizes the WCA’s heightened focus on its high-level advocacy – which has long differentiated the organization within Westchester’s business community – and sets the stage for a series of major new economic development initiatives to follow in the coming months.

“The Westchester County Association is synonymous with economic development in Westchester. This new brand reflects that reality,” said William P. Harrington, Chairman of the WCA. “We are proud to be the only organization completely dedicated to the development and advocacy of policies that will support our members and grow Westchester’s economy. It is what we eat, sleep and breathe,” added William M. Mooney, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the WCA

The centerpiece of the WCA’s new brand is a completely redesigned website (www.westchester.org) that will serve as a valuable tool for members: connecting businesses, nonprofits and municipalities with practical resources that support their objectives. The website will house the WCA’s original reports, analyses, white papers and plans, including the Healthcare Advocacy Plan to control health care costs in New York, and the Land Use Development Playbook, which identifies and outlines land use policies and strategies to streamline and improve the planning, zoning and approval processes in municipalities across the county.

With its new look, including a modernized logo, the Westchester County Association will continue to be the region’s economic development advocacy organization, focused on developing and advancing smart-growth policies, particularly in the areas of healthcare, real estate and housing, workforce development, gigabit-speed broadband connectivity, and closing the digital divide.

“For nearly 70 years, the Westchester County Association is unparalleled in delivering results on behalf of its members,” said Susan Fox, president and CEO of White Plains Hospital. “Their deep understanding of healthcare policy, extensive relationships with decision makers and expertise in building consensus around solutions to complex challenges is a tremendous resource for businesses.”

“What sets the Westchester County Association apart is its ability to consistently move the needle in a way that drives economic development,” saidWilliam V. Cuddy, Jr., executive vice president at CBRE. “From securing much-needed land use regulatory reforms to winning the support of elected officials for consequential development projects, there is not a more effective advocate for economic growth in this region than the Westchester County Association.”

“The Westchester County Association was the first entity in the region to recognize the role high speed broadband and new technologies can play in driving economic development,” said “Christopher B. Fisher, managing partner at Cuddy & Feder, LLP. “This is an opportunity for Westchester to leapfrog the entire Tri-State area through innovation and connectivity, and the WCA continues to be the organization that is leading the way through its ‘Gigabit’ initiatives.”

“We are excited to be working in collaboration with the WCA on such an important community-focused initiative. Providing internet access to all of our students both inside, and outside, of school is critical and allows our children to continue to excel,” said Joseph Ricca, Superintendent of the White Plains School District. “We hope to make progress in collaboration with our community partners toward closing the technological access gap that may exist here in New York, and nationally.”

Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who supported the $9.8 million federal grant which funded the WCA’s Job Waiting program, noted the WCA’s critical role in spurring workforce development initiatives. “By developing a broad-based program of job readiness training, resources, incentives and placement support, the Jobs Waiting participants were ready and able to fill jobs in high growth industries such as healthcare right here in the Hudson Valley,” she said. “Our ability to lead in an increasingly globalized economy depends on our commitment to building up a 21st century workforce of highly-skilled individuals across growing industry sectors, and the WCA is helping make that possible.”

The WCA represents Westchester’s foremost companies in real estate, healthcare, finance & banking, hospitality, technology and other professional services; as well as municipalities, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education – supporting their objectives through direct advocacy and original programming.

Since its inception in 1950, the WCA has earned a reputation for delivering results for its members and the community at large. Its team has provided critical public testimony in support of billions of dollars of development projects, lobbied for healthcare reforms that have benefited healthcare providers and patients, and placed hundreds of Westchester residents in good jobs with leading businesses.

About The Westchester County Association

The Westchester County Association (www.westchester.org) is Westchester County’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization. For nearly 70 years, the WCA has been the leading independent voice of Westchester’s business community, developing and advancing proactive policies and initiatives that foster smart growth and economic vitality in the region. The WCA also is focused on promoting Westchester County as the region’s best place to live, work and play: offering a high quality of life; access to good jobs; world-class schools, cultural institutions, dining and recreational opportunities; and close proximity to New York City.

Recent Deals

Interested in advertising your deals? Contact Edwin Warfield.