infrastructure

Progress Through Partnership: Key Takeaways from HIA-LI’s Annual Meeting

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Pictured: Congressman Nick LaLota provided opening remarks at HIA-LI’s 48th Annual Meeting on January 16, 2026.

Each year, HIA-LI’s Annual Meeting and Legislative Forum offers an important opportunity to step back from the day-to-day pressures facing employers and policymakers alike and take a clear-eyed look at where Long Island is headed. This year’s event, which attracted nearly 400 attendees, reinforced something many of us already know: the challenges confronting our region are complex, interconnected, and impossible to solve in isolation, but progress is absolutely achievable when we work together.

What stood out most this year was not simply the range of issues discussed — affordability, housing, infrastructure, transportation, energy, workforce development, and solid waste — but the strong sense of alignment across levels of government and across party lines. Again and again, speakers returned to a shared conclusion: Long Island’s future depends on collaboration, pragmatism, and a willingness to row in the same direction.

A SHARED VIEW FROM WASHINGTON AND ALBANY

Congressman Nick LaLota opened the program by grounding the conversation in the real-world pressures facing Long Island families and employers. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that federal policy recognizes the high cost of living in our region and delivers tangible relief for both households and small businesses. Just as important, he underscored that economic vitality begins locally — with the business owners and employers who create jobs, support families, and keep Long Island competitive.

Although she was unable to join us in person, Governor Kathy Hochul shared a video message with our members, continuing a dialogue she has maintained with HIA-LI over the years. In her remarks, the Governor reinforced Long Island’s role as a critical driver of New York State’s economy and highlighted the state’s continued commitment to investing in infrastructure, transportation, water and sewer systems, manufacturing, and innovation. Her message emphasized that strategic public investment, aligned with private-sector growth, is essential to keeping Long Island competitive and economically strong.

From the state legislative perspective, New York State Senator Monica Martinez framed affordability not as a single policy challenge, but as a balance of education, workforce readiness, infrastructure, and attainable housing. Drawing on her background in education, she spoke about the importance of creating strong pipelines between schools, training programs, and Long Island employers, recognizing that a thriving regional economy depends on preparing people for careers that allow them to live and work here long term. She also reinforced the need for state investment to reflect the contributions Long Island makes to New York’s overall economy.

COUNTY AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP: PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS, REAL CONSEQUENCES

At the county level, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine offered a candid assessment of the structural challenges Long Island must confront head-on. Transportation, energy capacity, sewer infrastructure, and solid waste management are not abstract policy discussions. They are foundational to economic growth, housing production, and quality of life. His message was clear: without coordinated regional planning and sustained investment, these issues will limit Long Island’s future. With collaboration and forward-looking leadership, they can instead become opportunities.

Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo echoed the importance of fiscal responsibility and long-term planning, particularly as Suffolk County works to maintain public safety while addressing affordability pressures. He emphasized the value of bipartisan cooperation within county government and the need to focus on practical solutions that improve daily life for residents and businesses alike. Stability, transparency, and shared responsibility were central themes in his remarks.

From the municipal perspective, Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim highlighted how thoughtful local planning can support both economic development and housing balance. By investing in business districts, infrastructure, and a mix of housing options — including opportunities for homeownership — municipalities can strengthen communities while supporting workforce retention. His comments reinforced that local success stories are strongest when they align with broader county and state priorities.

THE COMMON THREAD: REGIONAL COLLABORATION OVER POLITICS

Across all of these perspectives, a clear common thread emerged. No single level of government can solve these challenges alone. Housing requires infrastructure. Infrastructure requires funding and coordination. Workforce development depends on education, transportation, and employer engagement. Affordability is shaped by all of it.

As HIA-LI Board Member Joe Campolo, Managing Partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, guided the discussion, it became clear that the most productive moments were those centered on outcomes rather than ideology. That spirit of cooperation reflects the path forward for Long Island: collaborative, pragmatic, and focused on results.

LOOKING AHEAD: NEW LEADERS, SHARED PURPOSE

As we begin a new year, this spirit of partnership also extends to HIA-LI’s leadership. We are proud to welcome five new members to our Board of Directors, whose experience reflects the depth and diversity of Long Island’s economy:

Each brings valuable insight from higher education, technology, finance, nonprofit leadership, and strategic business development. Their perspectives will help guide HIA-LI’s advocacy and programming as we continue addressing the evolving needs of employers and communities across the region.

MOVING FORWARD: TOGETHER

HIA-LI remains focused on convening leaders, elevating business’ voice, and advancing solutions that strengthen Long Island’s economic foundation. The conversations at this year’s Annual Meeting reinforced something I believe deeply: when business, government, and community stakeholders work together with a shared commitment to problem-solving, Long Island is well positioned to move forward . . . together.

Uniting for Progress: Business Groups Power Community Success

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This week, Long Island Business News published an op-ed by Long Island Builders Institute CEO Mike Florio and me titled “When Business Groups Unite, Communities Win.” You can read the full piece here.

In the column, Mike and I reflect on an important lesson from this year’s Republican primaries in Huntington and Smithtown. At stake were two major initiatives: Huntington’s Melville Town Center Overlay District and Smithtown’s Kings Park revitalization. Both projects were designed to address some of our region’s most pressing challenges—creating affordable workforce housing, bringing vitality back to local downtowns, and supporting jobs in the construction trades.

For decades, there has been a perception that business interests and community interests are at odds. Too often, the debate is framed as “profits versus people.” But the reality is that responsible development and strong communities go hand-in-hand. The Melville and Kings Park projects represent the kind of forward-looking planning that benefits working Long Islanders and strengthens our economy.

Recognizing this, Long Island’s leading business organizations—including HIA-LI, the Long Island Builders Institute, the Long Island Association, the Association for a Better Long Island, the Long Island Contractors Association, and the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island—came together to speak with one voice. By joining forces, our coalition clarified the stakes for voters and pushed back against misinformation.

The results spoke volumes. Voters supported candidates who stood for progress, workforce housing, and job creation. Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth called the outcome a “victory of truth over lies.” Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim expressed pride in continuing to make his town “a wonderful place to raise a family.” These outcomes reinforce a simple but powerful truth: when business organizations unite, communities benefit.

The lesson extends far beyond these two towns. Long Island still faces significant challenges—housing shortages, aging infrastructure, and the need to retain young talent while supporting middle-class families. None of these issues can be addressed in silos. But when business groups align around shared priorities, our message carries further and our communities grow stronger.

At HIA-LI, we believe collaboration is not just a strategy but a responsibility. By working together, we can advocate for policies that create opportunity, foster innovation, and ensure Long Island remains a place where the next generation can build their future.

Read the full op-ed in Long Island Business News here.