County Executive Rob Astorino speaks at the WCA's January 2014 breakfastClose to forty foreign trade commissioners will get a first hand look at all that Westchester County has to offer to the global business community on Tuesday, September 30, at the Westchester County Association's second annual International Showcase. Spearheaded by the BLUEPRINT for Westchester, the WCA'S aggressive marketing campaign to spur economic vitality in Westchester, this special event will focus on the county's unparalleled location, diverse and talented workforce, culture and quality of life—in short, all of the reasons Westchester County is an excellent location for foreign investment and partnership.

Foreign trade commissioners will be chauffeured from New York City to Westchester, where they will enjoy a bus tour of the county's prime locations, followed by a presentation by Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett at the global headquarters of Morgan Stanley in Purchase, New York. A cocktail reception and networking with international business resources providers will conclude the evening.

The WCA has long endeavored to put Westchester County in the local, regional, and international spotlight. This second annual event follows four successful City Showcases held in the last two years, in White Plains, New Rochelle, Yonkers, and Peekskill, which featured development opportunities in Westchester's Urban 'Burbs. The BLUEPRINT fosters major collaborative efforts with the county's real estate, business, and academic sectors, and strong participation from Westchester's six cities and County government.

"With rents skyrocketing in New York City, this is an excellent time to remind people what Westchester County has to offer," says Marissa Brett, president of the WCA. "Our City showcases echo the theme that Westchester is convenient, has good transportation and infrastructure, offers a high-quality lifestyle, is affordable, has proximity to New York City and the right infrastructure, and importantly, is welcoming to business."

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino agrees and adds: "Westchester looks forward to welcoming a diverse group of foreign trade diplomats to share with them the many assets that make Westchester an ideal destination for international investment and business. The county's highly educated workforce, high-performing international schools, expanding multi-national corporations and high quality of life, as well as its close proximity to New York City and its capital markets, make Westchester a natural fit for high-growth global companies."

Says Brett, "Westchester has it all! We have the kinds of global business resources that make Westchester extremely attractive. We're excited to say 'We are open for global business' and facilitate international partnerships."

The International Showcase is by invitation only. Pre-registration is required. To inquire about attending the event, please contact Laura Montopoli at the Westchester County Association at (914) 948-1860, or .

Sponsors of the event include: The Maddalena Group of Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Chase, O'Connor Davies, PepsiCo, MasterCard, and Grassi & Co.