Long Island Association marks 100 years with historical look back
Adina Genn//January 7, 2026//
THE BLUEPRINT:
- Long Island Association marks 100 years with a new logo and centennial campaign
- Organization launched a website featuring a historical timeline and news clips
- LIA has influenced regional growth and business advocacy since 1926
- Future priorities include affordability, housing and private-sector growth
Founded as the Long Island Chamber of Commerce, the organization aimed to “tell the world about Long Island,” highlighting its quality of life and business opportunities, according to an April 1926 New York Times article. The organization’s early priorities included attracting New York City companies and supporting infrastructure to drive population and economic growth.
By 1934, the group’s name was changed to the Long Island Association Inc.
“Over the course of a century, the Long Island Association has played an instrumental role in transforming the region from a bedroom community of New York City to a dynamic, vibrant place to call home with its own diverse, bustling economy that offers exciting opportunities for professional success,” Matt Cohen, president and chief executive of the LIA, said in a news release about the centennial.
That transformation includes a region growing from a population of 290,000 in 1926 to 2.9 million today. Back in 1926, the major industries included agriculture, fishing, duck farming, construction/real estate, aviation and manufacturing. Today major industries include healthcare, education, technology, research, manufacturing, construction/real estate, tourism, agriculture and aquaculture. Throughout, the LIA pushed for policies and funding that created jobs for those drawn to suburban life.
As the region grew, so did the LIA, an organization that is setting its sights forward.
“With a proven legacy of accomplishments, our nationally recognized organization will continue to capitalize on our assets, confront various challenges and ensure that Long Island’s future is bright, sustainable and maximizes our full economic potential,” Cohen said.
As the region evolved, the LIA continued its focus on advocacy, promoting what it says are billions of dollars in economic development investment while providing opportunities for businesses to network and grow. Its programs include annual luncheons featuring former presidents, vice presidents, governors and sports legends, as well as initiatives through the LIA Foundation that provide direct grants to small businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“For an organization to last 100 years, it must have a clear mission that is achievable with strong leadership that advances its goals,” Larry Waldman, chair of the LIA, said in the news release.
“The LIA has been a staple of Long Island and influential in ensuring our region’s success because it was and continues to be driven by the business community who help usher in continued economic growth,” Waldman added. “Our economy doesn’t shape us, we shape it, and it’s up to us to ensure that we can create jobs – the best social program – and people can afford to live in this beautiful place we call home.”
The organization’s earliest known convention of regional business leaders was held in 1928 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan, where the group was originally headquartered, to examine challenges and discuss solutions. Topics at that meeting included highway traffic, parks, public health, sanitation, agriculture and aviation.
Today, amid shifting government policies, the LIA is focused on addressing the region’s cost of living, which Cohen has called “an existential crisis.” Opposing new taxes and fees for businesses and residents, building more housing, and investing in childcare are all priorities of the organization. The LIA also advocates fostering private-sector growth by supporting innovation and job creation.
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Stacey Sikes VP Government Affairs & Communications
- January 07, 2026
- (631) 493-3000
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