Westchester County Announces Creation of Industry Desks to Attract, Promote and Support Key Business Sectors
Biosciences to be first area of focus; industry leaders join task force
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY (February 8, 2021) – The Westchester County Office of Economic Development has announced the creation of an Industry Desk program. This elite program is designed to provide a one-stop interface that will help businesses in key industry sectors. In addition to receiving assistance navigating government processes, participants will receive access to support services, information and other resources. Each Industry Desk will focus on a specific sector in Westchester County and promote the County as an optimal location to do business.
Each Industry Desk will be supported by a dedicated Task Force comprised of local professionals and other stakeholders to bring experience and expertise in that specific sector, and will serve as a resource providing support, mentorship, as well as insight into workforce needs, real estate issues, financing advice and more.
The program officially launches with an Industry Desk to support the Biosciences sector, which will identify industry trends and any needs of the existing ecosystem, and will aim to attract new businesses to the County. Additional Industry Desks will be announced in the coming months.
“The Industry Desks program underscores our commitment to continually supporting businesses both currently in our County as well as those looking to relocate to the area,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “The bioscience industry in Westchester has grown exponentially over the last few years, and we’re proud that industry leaders and start-ups alike are calling our County home. This sector not only brings jobs to our community and strengthens our economy, but positions us as leading innovators in the State and beyond.”
The Biosciences Task Force is chaired by Deborah Novick, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Westchester County Office of Economic Development. Current members include:
Amy Allen, Vice President, Westchester County Association; Patricia Ardigo, Owner, PA Life Science Consulting; Jonathan Bandel, Vice President - Strategy and Innovation, White Plains Hospital; Heidi Davidson, CEO, Galvanize Worldwide; Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County Director of Economic Development; Dr. Marsha Gordon, President/CEO, The Business Council of Westchester; Laurence Gottlieb, Managing Director - Life Sciences and Health Technologies, RMC Bio1 – Robert Martin Company; Barry Kappel, Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Sapience Therapeutics, Inc.; Thom Kleiner, Executive Director, Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board; and Vivian Wong, PhD. Additional members may be added to the Task Force in the near future.
Westchester County is home to the largest biosciences cluster in New York State, boasting 8,000 jobs and 20 percent of the State’s total biosciences employment, and is the fifth largest cluster in the United States. The cluster comprises academic institutes doing basic research, research and development startups, large manufacturers and supply chain participants, and related industry experts providing specialized consulting, financing, marketing and communications, and other support services. An interactive map of the more than 200 participants in the local ecosystem can be found here.
“Access to talent is a key driver for bioscience companies choosing where to locate and grow. The Bioscience industry already has a substantial footprint in our local economy, and we are well positioned to expand this sector due to our highly educated workforce, and the ‘live, work, play’ environment we offer,” said Novick. “Our 28 higher education institutions and award-winning public schools, close proximity to New York City and important transportation hubs, 18,000 acres of parkland, vibrant downtowns and more provide a strong quality of life that businesses in the biosciences sector are looking to offer their employees.”
For more information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/work/biosciences-sector/. To contact the Biosciences Industry Desk, email biosciences@westchestercatalyst.com.
About The Westchester County Office of Economic Development
The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life. This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth and inclusive economy. For information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/.