Contact: David Galin
Membership Spans Arts & Entertainment, Banking, Child Care, Economic Development, Education, Government, Health & Human Services, Housing, Labor, Non-Profit, Restaurants & other Small Businesses, & Workforce Development Sectors
ALBANY, NY – Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and City of Albany COVID Recovery Task Force Co-Chairs Mike Whalen and Jahkeen Hoke have introduced the 41 individuals appointed to the City’s COVID Recovery Task Force – representing a variety of sectors including Arts & Entertainment, Banking, Child Care, Economic Development, Education, Government, Health & Human Services, Housing, Labor, Non-Profit, Restaurants & other Small Businesses, and Workforce Development.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “I am grateful to the members of the Task Force, which met for the first time on April 23, for agreeing to provide their time and leadership as we recover from a once in a century pandemic.”
The City of Albany COVID Recovery Task Force, created by Mayor Sheehan, has four main objectives:
- Obtain a shared understanding of how the American Rescue Plan can help the City of Albany;
- Identify the needs of the City of Albany residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations that are not covered by other funding sources;
- Equitably and strategically maximize resources available to our residents, businesses, and community organizations to restart Albany and build back better; and
- Engage every sector of the City of Albany to ensure resources are directed where they are needed to restart Albany, re-open businesses, prevent evictions, and strengthen our not-for-profit organizations.
The COVID Recovery Task Force will complete a needs assessment and identify areas in need of investment in the coming months to help Albany build back better. Mayor Sheehan and the Albany Common Council will use this input to help determine how to maximize the City’s Recovery Act Funding.
On March 12, 2021, Mayor Sheehan named Mike Whalen, Administrative Vice President of M&T Bank, and Jahkeen Hoke, CEO of Business For Good Foundation, as Co-Chairs of the City’s COVID Recovery Task Force. The COVID Recovery Task Force met for the first time on Friday, April 23, 2021.
Learn more about the COVID Recovery Task Force.
City of Albany COVID Recovery Task Force members:
Kaweeda Adams Albany City Schools
Faye Andrews City of Albany Community Development Agency
Hon. Dr. Dorcey Applyrs Chief City Auditor
Kate Baker Small Business Administration
Hon. Alfredo Balarin Albany Common Councilmember
Carm Basile Capital District Transportation Authority
Bob Belber ASM Global/Times Union Center
Neenah Bland Albany Community Action Partnership
Tricia Brown North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
Jeff Buell Redburn Development
Michael Castellana SEFCU
Chiquita D'Arbeau Albany Housing Authority
Mark Eagan Capital Region Chamber
Hon. Corey Ellis Albany Common Council President
Hon. Sonia Frederick Albany Common Councilmember
Anthony Gaddy Upstate New York Black Chamber of Commerce
Peter Gannon United Way of the Greater Capital Region
Tammis Groft Albany Institute of History and Art
Jahkeen Hoke Business for Good Foundation
Kevin Hicks Albany County Airport Authority
Micky Jimenez Capital District Latinos
Hon. Andrew Joyce Albany County Legislature Chairman
Anna Kuwabara Albany Symphony
Eileen Larrabee Open Space Institute
Angelo Maddox Fresh & Fly Clothing
Hon. Daniel McCoy Albany County Executive
Dr. Dennis McKenna Albany Medical Center
Tracy Metzger TL Metzger & Associates, LLC
Giovanni Otero Salvation Army
Matthew Peter Albany Parking Authority
Dominick Purnomo Yono's/DP's
Dr. Roger Ramsammy Hudson Valley Community College
Sarah Reginelli Capitalize Albany
Hon. Jahmel Robinson Albany Common Councilmember
Dr. Havidán Rodriguez SUNY, University at Albany
Hon. Darius Shahinfar Albany City Treasurer
Hon. Kathy Sheehan Mayor, City of Albany
Noelene Smith Baby Institute
Georgette Steffens Downtown Albany BID
Raphael Tucker City of Albany Youth & Workforce Services
Michael Whalen M&T Bank
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