Thanks to WCA’s leadership, the Smart Growth concept of Work. Live. Play. has taken hold. This comes at a critical time, as New York City runs out of affordable business and housing space. As a result, Westchester’s cities are enjoying unprecedented transformation of their downtown areas, and the county is becoming more and more attractive to millennials, entrepreneurs, real estate developers, and business.

Four months ago, the WCA entered a far-sighted Smart Growth ComPACT with the County’s four largest cities – New Rochelle, Yonkers, White Plains, and Mt. Vernon – to actively collaborate, and pioneered a new phase in Smart Growth: Gigabit broadband, which will give us the super-speed, super capacity connectivity that healthcare organizations, businesses, and municipalities require for 21st century success.

I am excited to announce today some important updates.

First, that a Steering Committee has formed, and will pave the way for gigabit-speed broadband in this county. It is comprised of some of the most informed, respected, and enterprising individuals in our midst:

Chair:

Jack L. Kopnisky, Chief Executive Officer and President, Sterling National Bank

Members:

Third, the WCA is entering a Community Partnership with the BioPharma Research Council, a consortium dedicated to stimulating knowledge sharing and collaboration across the many research companies and institutions across the region.

Other terrific programs and initiatives will be announced shortly, organized by our fantastic team. We will keep you apprised about these activities and as new members of the Steering Committee are announced.

This is a hugely exciting time for the WCA, and Westchester County and its four largest cities. The WCA in partnership with the four cities, other municipalities, and members of the business, healthcare, and nonprofit communities, will continue to lead our county on a path of transformation, growth, and progress. We invite you to join us!

Sincerely,