LIA Foundation

Mission

The LIA Foundation is a separate 501 c(3) that supports its parent organization, the Long Island Association Inc., a 501 c(6).

The mission of the LIA Foundation is to support the well-being of all Long Island communities, businesses, and their employees which will help our region to thrive and prosper.

Goal

The LIA Foundation aims to implement programs, hold events, and conduct research that focus on areas critical to Long Island's economic development.

How it started: The LIA's Small Business Support Program

In 2021, the LIA expanded its support to small businesses as they were recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To help accomplish this goal, the LIA partnered with Board Members Luis Vazquez, President & CEO of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Phil Andrews, President & CEO of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce to have the collective force of the three organizations.

In June 2022, together they held a Small Business Conference and launched the LIA's Small Business Support Program to help businesses who were devastated by the pandemic.
In 2023, the LIA Foundation was awarded a $42,000 grant from the Long Island Community Foundation in partnership with the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce and Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to develop a plan for inclusive economic growth in our region.
In 2024, Optimum Business generously supported the first L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant program, which funded 50 small businesses on Long Island with $5,000 grants, and supported them with projects like new signage and landscaping, improving the interiors of the stores and purchasing equipment, and expanding their marketing efforts.

The LIA is continuing to collaborate with LIAACC and LIHCC to support and advocate for Long Island's diverse small business community. The organizations are engaging with their members in quarterly joint membership meetings, roundtable discussions, and individual meetings to receive feedback and input on best practices for regional collaboration, marketing and outreach, and navigating challenges facing small businesses.

Learn about the L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grant Program

Learn about the LIA Small Business Support Program

Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable

In March 2026, the Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable was announced, which joins employers, educational institutions, workforce training providers, community-based organizations, labor, and government to develop an Action Plan and pilot a new program.

This initiative is funded by JPMorgan Chase and The New York Community Trust-Long Island, led by the research team of JLP+D and Regional Plan Association, and co-chaired by Stacey Sikes of Long Island Association and Phil Rugile of the Institute for Workforce Advancement.

For the full list of Roundtable members, click here. The project leaders are also engaging many different industry representatives for input.

The work of the Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable includes:

Focusing on developing transferable skill sets that serve as a vital bridge between career pathways.
Meeting high demand needs across multiple growing sectors, allowing workers to navigate a rapidly changing economy.
Providing a direct route to good-paying jobs for those without a four-year degree.
Creating a dynamic workforce on Long Island capable of seamless transition across the region’s evolving landscape.

The Roundtable is intentionally results-oriented. Its goal is not only to produce an Action Plan anticipated in spring of 2026, but to inform and launch a pilot program in the summer of 2026 that tests how coordinated, skills-based training can lead to stronger employment outcomes and a more resilient regional workforce.

For questions about the Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable, contact foundation@longislandassociation.org.

Read the Press Release Announcing the Roundtable