Our History

History Timeline

1926 – Long Island Chamber of Commerce is incorporated

1928 – Chamber Sponsors first Long Island Convention

1936 – Organization officially changes name to Long Island Association

1947 – Edward (E.F.) Hutton is guest speaker at LIA Annual Meeting

1949 – Association moves offices from Penn Station to Nassau County

1953 – LIA initiates Long Island Hall of Fame

1959 – Organization forms its first government affairs committee

1970 – LIA holds its first World Showcase at the World Trade Center

1973 – Organization supports legislation to standardize education goals in public schools

1988 – LIA Housing Committee spawns the Long Island Housing Partnership

1991 – First Long Island Economic Summit held to discuss Long Island’s economic future

1994 – HOV lanes from exit 49-57 open on the LIE after support from LIA

1994 – LIA launches LIA Health Alliance

1995 – LIA launches Project Long Island, aimed at revitalizing the Island’s high tech manufacturing sector

1997 – LIA creates Long Island Software and Technology Network ("LISTNet"), a nonprofit representing information technology companies and promoting the Island as a high-tech region

1998 – LIA holds the first Long Island Corporate Golf Championship

1999 – LIA launches the Long Island Works Coalition, a nonprofit focused on workforce development that seeks to bring business and education communities together

2003 – LIA holds the Long Island Goals Conference

2008 – State legislation supported by the LIA for affordable housing is signed into law