Town-level decision-making is playing an increasingly central role in shaping Long Island’s economic future, a message that came through clearly at HIA-LI’s Economic Development Advancements: Towns Shaping Long Island’s Future program, held at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack.
The program brought together five Long Island town supervisors—Angie Carpenter of Islip; Dan Panico of Brookhaven; Rich Schaffer of Babylon; Ed Smyth of Huntington; and Ed Wehrheim of Smithtown—for a wide-ranging discussion on downtown revitalization, infrastructure investment, housing, and the policies driving growth across the region.
“Real economic development on Long Island happens at the local level,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI. “From zoning decisions to infrastructure planning, towns are where vision becomes reality. What we heard from these leaders is that thoughtful, balanced growth is not only possible. It’s already happening.”
Opening remarks were delivered by Cara Longworth, Long Island Regional Director for Empire State Development, who highlighted New York State’s continued investment in downtown revitalization through initiatives such as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which has provided critical funding to communities across Long Island.
Moderating the discussion, Joe Campolo, Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick LLP; Founder of Strata Alliance; Chair of HIA-LI’s Long Island Economic Development Task Force; and HIA-LI Board Member, emphasized that economic development requires both leadership and follow-through at the local level, as well as active engagement from the business community to support responsible growth.
“HIA-LI has long been a strong voice for economic development on Long Island, bringing together business and government leaders to move projects forward and support smart growth,” said Campolo. “But that only works when the private sector is actively engaged. These are the decisions that shape our region, and the business community needs to be part of that process.”
Across the panel, a clear regional shift emerged away from traditional suburban development patterns and toward more walkable, mixed-use downtown environments. At the same time, each supervisor highlighted distinct priorities and projects within their respective towns.
In Islip, Supervisor Angie Carpenter pointed to major redevelopment efforts in Bay Shore and Central Islip, as well as the continued evolution of Long Island MacArthur Airport. Plans to relocate the airport terminal to the north side, adjacent to the Long Island Rail Road station in Ronkonkoma, are expected to create a true transportation hub and drive new economic activity in the region.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico highlighted large-scale redevelopment projects across the town, including the Ronkonkoma Hub, which includes Station Yards, and mixed-use communities in Yaphank and Mastic Beach, while also raising concerns about long-term affordability challenges tied to solid waste management and infrastructure costs.
In Babylon, Supervisor Rich Schaffer emphasized how sustained public investment in infrastructure—particularly roads, drainage, and sewer systems—has helped attract significant private-sector investment, transforming areas such as Wyandanch and key industrial corridors into centers of economic activity and job creation.
Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth focused on the shift toward redevelopment in fully built-out communities, highlighting the proposed Melville Town Center as a model for walkable, mixed-use development. He also underscored the importance of balancing rental housing with opportunities for homeownership, as well as the need to align development with evolving school enrollment trends and infrastructure capacity.
Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim detailed the town’s progress in revitalizing business districts through strategic infrastructure investments, including sewer expansion and streetscape improvements, which have helped spur new housing, attract businesses, and generate renewed interest in long-standing commercial areas.
Throughout the discussion, infrastructure emerged as a unifying theme, with all five supervisors emphasizing that investments in sewer systems, transportation, and public assets are essential to enabling redevelopment and supporting long-term economic growth.
The panel also highlighted the importance of collaboration across all levels of government, as well as partnerships with the private sector, to advance projects that strengthen Long Island’s economic competitiveness and quality of life.
HIA-LI also recognized the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center and its CEO, Rick Lewis, for hosting the event and providing a venue for meaningful dialogue among business and government leaders.
As Long Island continues to evolve, the program underscored that the region’s future will be shaped by the decisions being made at the town level today. With significant projects underway and more in the pipeline, local leadership is not only guiding growth. It is defining what Long Island will become in the years ahead.