LIA releases ‘East End Advocacy Agenda’

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On a recent Thursday, business leaders and local officials gathered at the historic Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays, to talk about business challenges and needed advocacy on Long Island’s East End.

The event was hosted by Long Island Association, the region’s largest business group, which released its “East End Advocacy Agenda,” an 18-page publication that aims to address the challenges on the East End, which is distinct for its agriculture, aquaculture, vineyards, tourism and transportation challenges and more.

“This is not just a seasonal economy here, this is a year-round economy,” LIA President and Chief Executive Matt Cohen said about the East End.

“We’re about collaboration, we’re about partnership, and we’re going to lean on you to tell us … what is important” to “partner together” in advocacy, he said.

Launched in 2023, the LIA’s East End Committee has since met on multiple occasions on both the North and South Fork. In its advocacy agenda, the LIA focused on challenges in housing, legacy industries, transportation, business development, workforce retention and the environment.

To address housing challenges, including supporting the local workforce, the LIA encourages several initiatives, including creating incentives for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The goal here would be to increase housing stock by offering tax incentives and simplifying the permitting process for homeowners and implementing programs, such as the “New York State Plus One Accessory Dwelling Unit” grant program administered by the Community Development Corporation of Long Island in East Hampton. In addition, the Town of Southold launched a program that provides up to $125,000 in grants to help homeowners create or improve ADUs on their properties.

The agenda also includes supporting local legacy industries, including agriculture, aquaculture and viticulture. The LIA proposes key actions to address such challenges as regulatory burdens, zoning issues, labor shortages and environmental threats. Zoning laws, for example, should be reviewed and updated to allow for growth and sustainability, according to the report. Efforts should be implemented to incentivize the purchase of locally produced food.

Public transportation should be enhanced to improve mobility for residents, workers and businesses, the LIA said. Already, Long Island Rail Road tracks and signals have been upgraded, and train schedules revised to enhance service, Robert Free, president of the Long Island Rail Road, said at the meeting. The committee is also advocating for expanded bus service and hours, and expansion of transit-on-demand initiatives.

To enhance business development, the LIA supports redevelopment at Enterprise Park at Calverton. It also supports Discover Long Island’s initiative to bring year-round tourism to bolster the  regions reputation as a global destination. This includes efforts to host major events in the area, such as the 2026 U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills, to further boost tourism and economic growth. Other suggestions include supporting economic development opportunities for the Shinnecock Nation, growing Hamptons Business Park, supporting downtown revitalization, enhancing Gabreski Airport and advancing the Stony Brook University Southampton campus revitalization to include workforce housing and relocating Stony Brook Southampton Hospital to the site.

To recruit and retain workers, the LIA is calling for enhanced workforce training programs, streamlining visa processes for seasonal workers and expanded affordable childcare.

The LIA’s recommendations to address environmental challenges include increasing funding for water infrastructure and sewage treatment, restoring and protecting habitats, implementing coastal resilience plans and supporting offshore wind and renewable energy initiatives.