HIA-LI
is leading the effort to address the statewide shortage of personal protective equipment (PP
E) for healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic by coordinating directly with state and federal officials to engage Long Island manufacturers. Terri-Alessi Miceli, HIA-LI President & CEO, and
Joe Campolo
, HIA-LI Board Chairman and Managing Partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, hosted an all-hands-on-deck conference call today with Congressman Lee Zeldin and his key staff, who has pledged his resources to aid in this critical effort.
“Our local medical professionals are giving their all, putting themselves at risk to care for our communities’ most vulnerable. Every level of government and every Long Islander has a responsibility to do everything to keep them safe, and I applaud HIA-LI for leading by example,” Zeldin stated. “I look forward to working with them to leverage the force of Long Island’s manufacturing and its unparalleled ingenuity to rise to meet the demand for vital protective equipment for those on the front lines of this battle against coronavirus.”
The idea is to have manufacturers pause their current manufacturing – if it isn’t paused already – and go back to work to manufacture PPE. This shift would not only help ameliorate the PPE crisis, but also help these manufacturers keep their businesses afloat and their people employed. New York State is willing to provide funding for companies manufacturing the proper equipment.
“As the recognized voice for Long Island business and the steward of the economic powerhouse that is the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge, HIA-LI is focused entirely on helping the business community get through this unprecedented time,” said HIA-LI’s Alessi-Miceli. “By working directly with the Governor’s office and with Congressman Zeldin to help local manufacturers join PPE relief efforts, we can help businesses weather this storm while also helping to protect our first responders.”
“Our call today shows that we are all working relentlessly to help coordinate bipartisan efforts to assist Long Island business,” said Board Chairman Campolo. “The solution is not to panic, but to work together through this crisis.”
PPE includes gloves, masks, gowns, respirators, and additional equipment critical to protect those on the front lines. Businesses interested in receiving state funding to manufacture PPE products should directly contact Eric Gertler at (212) 803-3100 or
covid19supplies@exec.ny.gov
.
The Governor’s office is also asking that all PPE product providers sell to the state directly through this pandemic, including any products that are nonessential or not currently used. Businesses interested in selling products to the state should directly contact Simonida Subotic at (646) 522-8477 or
covid19supplies@exec.ny.gov
.
