Westchester Reporter

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development announced that Bridget Gibbons, Westchester’s Director of Economic Development, has been appointed to the NYS Economic Development Council’s Executive Committee. The NYS Economic Development Council promotes the economic development of the state and its communities, encourages sound practices in regional and statewide development programs, and develops educational programs to enhance the professional skills of its members. Gibbons was elected to the organization’s Board of Directors in 2021 and is currently serving her second term.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer stated: “Westchester County implements an aggressive economic development strategy that supports the expansion of key sectors, talent acquisition, and new business formation. We are proud to have Ms. Gibbons, who leads these critically important efforts, representing us in this vibrant, forward-thinking, statewide organization.”

Gibbons expressed her enthusiasm: “It has been a pleasure to serve on the NYS Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors and work alongside fellow board members and staff to support the work of IDAs and economic development organizations across the state. I look forward to deepening my engagement with this vibrant organization by serving on its Executive Committee.”

New York State Economic Development Council Executive Director Ryan Silva added: “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Gibbons to the executive committee of the New York State EDC. She is an expert in economic development and has proven over and over she has the knowledge, expertise, and skills to bring businesses and quality jobs to Westchester County. We look forward to working with her in her new role as we continue developing policies and programs that create economic opportunity and increase quality of life in New York State.”

Since assuming her role as Director of Economic Development, Gibbons has established key sector industry task forces for life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy to maintain an open dialogue between Westchester businesses and the County regarding workforce development, business growth, and other resource needs.

Under her leadership, the Office of Economic Development has identified numerous opportunities to support entrepreneurs across diverse sectors. Three new startup accelerators were created: Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator for life sciences; Element 46 Tech Accelerator for tech entrepreneurs; and Launch1000 for idea acceleration. Each provides first-class education and mentorship to participants.

Gibbons also oversaw instrumental support for the County’s economic recovery post-pandemic. Over recent years, her office has awarded over $30 million in grants to nonprofits, religious organizations, minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs), service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs), and disabled business enterprises (DBEs).

To learn more about the work that the Westchester County Office of Economic Development is doing to support the local business community and bolster the regional economy, visit westchestercatalyst.com.

The NYS Economic Development Council is a nonprofit membership organization representing public, private, and nonprofit economic development professionals throughout New York State. Its mission is to provide strong leadership through advocacy, professional development, communications, and networking.

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