The Long Island business community – many of them HIA-LI members – have rapidly mobilized to help the region fortify its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. As a leading voice in the bi-county business community, we’d like to highlight sixteen companies that have acted rapidly to reformat their operations to address the Coronavirus crisis.

This is not meant to be a complete list; we know dozens more companies have pivoted their operations to produce PPE, medical equipment, and other essential items such as hand sanitizer.  They are all heroes in the fight to defeat COVID-19.

Four of the companies we’d like to spotlight are:

• East/West Industries, Inc., is an engineering firm in Ronkonkoma that makes aircraft products designed to protect aircrew members. The company modified its operations to produce washable, cloth face masks suitable for use by the Suffolk County Police Department and other first responders.
• Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., a leader in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of diagnostic solutions based in Hauppauge, is developing a COVID-19 antibody blood test that was approved by the FDA.
• 71 Visuals, a branding, design consulting and graphic design firm, pivoted its manufacturing facility in Hauppauge, which normally produces signage, to turn out thousands of face shields daily.
• Harlan Health Products, Inc., a manufacturer of healthcare products, has modified a factory that normally makes hospital curtains. It now produces washable, cloth face masks.

Our regional business sector is rising to the challenge posed by COVID-19.  These companies are among the many HIA-LI members that are inspiring us all by standing up to protect the health and safety of Long Islanders.

In addition to the four cited above, here are twelve additional companies that have reformatted their operations to help Long Island address COVID-19:

• American Diagnostic Corp., a medical technology manufacturer in Hauppauge.

• Bevilacque Group, a division of PROforma, a packaging company based in New York City.

• BridgeTech LLC, a product development firm located in Huntington Station.

• Clear-Vu Medical, an LED lighting manufacturer based in Central Islip.

• Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, a not-for-profit organization located in Middle Island that is focused on housing.

• Henry Schein, Inc. of Melville, an international distributor of healthcare products.

• Ignite LI, a regional manufacturing consortium based in Hauppauge.

• Launchpad Huntington, a co-working company in Huntington that serves start-ups.

• Meglio Corp. a Brentwood-based environment development company specializing in architectural products and design.

• Omni Funding Corp., a copier/printer dealer with a commercial printing division.

• Restoration 1 of LI, a water damage restoration company with locations in Long Beach, Lindenhurst, and Water Mill.

• U.S. Paratrooper Building Specialties, a building materials manufacturer located in Hamilton, NJ.

During the COVID-19 crisis, HIA-LI is serving as a clearinghouse for Coronavirus-related business assistance information for its members, and has partnered with numerous governmental, institutional, and private entities that focus on alleviating the pandemic’s impact on the region.