The Long Island Association and Institute for Workforce Advancement have formed the Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable, supported by JPMorganChase and The New York Community Trust - Long Island fund, complemented by research and planning done by James Lima Planning + Development and Regional Plan Association.

MELVILLE, NY — The Long Island Association and Institute for Workforce Advancement have partnered to form the Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable. The roundtable will be co-chaired by Stacey Sikes, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Association (LIA) and Phil Rugile, President of the Institute for Workforce Advancement and is supported by funds from JPMorganChase and The New York Community Trust-Long Island. Together, the cross-sector group of leaders - including employers, educational institutions, workforce training providers, community-based organizations, organized labor, government, and social services providers - will develop an Action Plan and pilot a new workforce program that helps strengthen Long Island’s workforce long-term.

The roundtable, which first began meeting in late 2025 and finalized its participants this month, will focus on identifying the highest-in-demand skills that will open career pathways for Long Islanders in various high-growth industries. By equipping individuals with the skills and hands-on experience needed to move directly into well-paying jobs, the roundtable will also help build a workforce that meets the evolving needs of Long Island’s businesses and economy.

Additionally, the research and planning team of James Lima Planning + Development (JLP+D) and Regional Plan Association (RPA) have been engaging in interviews with various stakeholders, including industry representatives, across the Long Island region to inform the development of the Action Plan. This has allowed the research team to identify potential pilot programs focused on developing specific skills for Long Island’s workforce.

View the full list of Roundtable participants here.

“At JPMorganChase, we’re proud to help power Long Island’s workforce through true partnership,” said Alan Petrilli, Long Island Regional Manager of J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking. ​“By supporting workers in gaining the skills for well-paying jobs right here at home, and connecting businesses with top local talent, we’re investing in the region’s collective strength. Together, we’re building an ecosystem where opportunity and success are shared—and where Long Island’s vision for growth becomes a sustained, consistent reality.”

“Through our work with local nonprofits, employers, and community leaders, The New York Community Trust’s Long Island office heard a clear message: our region needs a more coordinated, skills‑focused approach to workforce development,” said David M. Okorn, Vice President of The New York Community Trust-Long Island. ​“Launching this Roundtable was a natural response. By centering transferable skills and aligning training with community needs, we can open meaningful career pathways for residents while strengthening Long Island’s economic foundation. We’re grateful to partner with so many committed leaders dedicated to expanding opportunity for all.”

Stacey Sikes, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer at the Long Island Association, said, ​“The LIA is proud to be a part of this data-informed initiative to cultivate a robust workforce talent pipeline for our region’s business community. Communication is key, and through the support of JPMorgan Chase and The New York Community Trust-Long Island, the cross-sector input during the Workforce Development Roundtable process will advance an action plan that is focused on results.”

“I am very hopeful that the approach this roundtable has taken to focus on transferable skills, not industry segments, will be a game changer for employability for individuals, and provide expanded hiring options for employers,” said Phil Rugile, President, Institute for Workforce Advancement. ​“The output from this effort, a training template created through collaboration, will be repeatable and scalable regardless of industry.”

“Long Island’s economic strength depends on ensuring that opportunity is accessible to everyone who wants to participate in our workforce,” said Cara Longworth, Regional Director of the Long Island office of Empire State Development. ​“The Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable brings together leaders across industry, education, and government to better understand the transferable skills employers need and to connect more New Yorkers to good-paying careers. By working collaboratively, we can help open doors for individuals entering or re-entering the workforce while supporting the continued growth of Long Island’s key industries.”

“Long Island has a lot of things going for it - dedicated employers, growing industry sectors, and hardworking residents,” said Moses Gates, Vice President for Housing and Neighborhood Planning at RPA. ​“By identifying and providing the skills needed to access good jobs in multiple industries, we can make sure that Long Island residents have pathways to steady careers, and employers have the workforce they need to be competitive.

“As the economic landscape changes rapidly with new technology, international and regional competitions, and demographic shifts, it is more important than ever to expand access to opportunities in an equitable and effective way,” said James F. Lima, President of JLP+D. ​“This effort will leverage the collective wisdom of those who know Long Island best and care deeply about the communities - employers, labor, educational institutions, and nonprofit partners. By combining these localized insights with innovative practices, we can deliver an Action Plan that creates clear, sustainable pathways to high-growth careers for all Long Islanders.”

Timeline for the Workforce Development Roundtable:

• Fall 2025
  • First convening of the LI Workforce Roundtable; initial research with employers
  • Refining Roundtable members and database of key transferable skills
• March 2026
  • Public kick off
• Spring 2026
  • Reconvening the Roundtable to develop Action Plan drafts
  • Action Plan Release
• Summer 2026
  • Pilot Program Launch
    

For more information on the Long Island Workforce Roundtable, please visit www.longislandassociation.org/foundation.

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About The Institute for Workforce Advancement (IWA)

The IWA is one of the northeast region’s leading non-profits focused on advanced manufacturing workforce-development training. We provide essential programming for incumbent and in-transition workers, and college and non-college bound students; from energy to aerospace, technicians to engineers. The IWA partners with industry, government, and educational institutions to fill the employment pipeline for in-demand workers, with a focus on outreach to low-income, high needs communities. For more information, please visit: iwa-us.org

About the Long Island Association (LIA)
The LIA is celebrating its Centennial in 2026, and 100 years of advocating for the region’s business community and economic growth as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. The LIA’s regional leadership has played a direct role in shepherding progress by urging for government policies and securing funding that created jobs for people who sought the suburban way of life. The LIA is the voice for businesses in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and has introduced unparalleled opportunities for businesses to network and build relationships to accelerate their growth.

About The New York Community Trust-Long Island
The New York Community Trust is New York’s largest community foundation, serving New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. For more than 100 years, The Trust has brought together the local knowledge and diverse expertise of its team and nonprofit and philanthropic partners to support thriving and equitable communities and help donors champion the causes they love. The Trust makes approximately $200 million in grants each year from its charitable funds set up by individuals, families, foundations, and corporations.

About JPMorganChase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.4 trillion in assets and $362 billion in stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2025. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

About JLP+D
Since 2011, JLP+D has guided and advised on high-impact placed-based initiatives across North America, ranging from individual buildings and public spaces to district-scale, citywide, and regional strategies. At the foundation of our approach is the ability to see and demonstrate value in innovation; align the interests of communities, governments, institutions, developers, and businesses; and structure public-private partnerships to drive positive change, improve quality of life, create good jobs, enhance equity, and strengthen places’ competitiveness. Read more about our services and work to help organizations and communities achieve their goals.

About Regional Plan Association
Regional Plan Association (RPA) is an independent non-profit organization that conducts research, planning and advocacy to expand economic opportunity, environmental resiliency, improved health, and better quality of life in the New York metropolitan area. Since the 1920s, RPA has produced four landmark plans for the region. The most recent was released in November 2017.