GOSHEN, N.Y. (October 8, 2018) – Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) and the Westchester County Association (WCA) launched a strategic partnership to grow specific industry sectors such as healthcare and real estate, expand on each others’ workforce development initiatives, and close the digital divide through programs that promote gigabit-speed broadband connectivity.
Leaders of both organizations will sit on each other’s board of directors to help guide each organization’s strategic missions and facilitate the partnership. HVEDC President and CEO Mike Oates will become a member of the WCA Board of Directors and WCA President and Chief Executive Officer William M. Mooney, Jr. will become a member of the HVEDC Board of Directors.
HVEDC is the Hudson Valley’s leading economic development agency and the WCA is Westchester County’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization.
Together, the organizations will work jointly on:
Growing the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare industry sectors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley;
Developing the workforce to help prepare the region’s population for present and future jobs; and
Bringing state-of-the-art high-speed technology to bridge the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that have restricted or no access.
In addition, HVEDC and the WCA will identify key market trends and work together to find solutions that will help bring jobs and investments to Westchester County and the Hudson Valley.
“Forming a strategic partnership with the Westchester County Association creates a combined force to continue the expansion of the bio, pharma, medical device and life science sectors in Westchester and across the region,” said Oates. “We will bring together our knowledge, research, advocacy and business support to create more extraordinary economic development initiatives that will connect highly qualified workers with well-paying jobs to create better lives for their families.”
The WCA has recently completed a years-long transition from being a leading business membership organization to becoming Westchester’s most powerful economic development and advocacy entity. The WCA also unveiled a new brand and completely redesigned website, emphasizing the organization’s heightened focus on high-level advocacy, which has long differentiated it within Westchester’s business community.
“The WCA’s partnership with the HVEDC provides an opportunity for both organizations to examine the best practices in economic development advocacy and augment those approaches to fit the needs of the business community in each respective region,” said William Mooney, Jr., president and CEO of the WCA. “At the WCA, we’ve identified and implemented proven solutions to drive economic growth in key areas such as healthcare, real estate, workforce development and gigabit-speed connectivity, and we’re excited to expand our impact into the Hudson Valley.”
About the Westchester County Association:
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 represents the foremost professionals 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.
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. Visit WCA at www.westchester.org.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC):
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing, and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit hvedc.com.
