Mt. Vernon mayor joins Mayors' Institute On City Design

 Harvard Graduate School of Design's Just City Lab announces, in collaboration with the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD), the inaugural MICD Just City Mayoral Fellowship, which kicked off in late September 2020 and continues virtually through December 2020. The Fellowship convenes seven city mayors from around the United States to directly tackle racial injustices in each of their cities through planning and design interventions.

 The inaugural cohort of MICD Just City Mayoral Fellows is:
Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin (Columbia, South Carolina); Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (Jackson, Mississippi); Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard (Mount Vernon, New York); Mayor Errick D. Simmons (Greenville, Mississippi); Mayor Yvonne Spicer (Framingham, Massachusetts); Mayor Vince R. Williams (Union City, Georgia); and Mayor Randall L. Woodfin (Birmingham, Alabama).

What Sentinel's partnership group will deliver for Mt. Vernon

​Sentinel's partnership group is expected to deliver the following impressive benefits for the City of Mount Vernon:

•      Renewable Energy (Solar - Wind)
•      Construction & Development
•      Workforce Training & Development
•      Banking & Financing
•      Commercial Energy Efficient Lighting
•      Licensed Electrical Contractor 
•      Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
•      Telecommunications 
•      Smart City Technology
•      Smart Intercoms w/Facial Recognition
• ​     Architectural Design & Engineering 

     
     The city wants to further evolve the existing pedestrian friendly, transit oriented downtown into a unified district that will serve as the City’s focal point making Mount Vernon’s Downtown a great place to live, work, play and enjoy. The city further seeks to create a 24-hour environment where residents and visitors can enjoy entertainment, historic and architecturally significant locations in a walk-able environment.
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The revitalization will consist of the creation of open space, higher density mixed use structures with an emphasis on creating greater commercial amenities for both residents and visitors to appreciate.

​Sterling partners with Google to expand digital banking

​Sterling National Bank, the wholly-owned operating bank subsidiary of Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL) today announced that it is working with Google to offer digital checking and savings accounts through the Google Pay platform. As part of Sterling’s Banking as a Service (BaaS) program, this collaboration with Google Pay marks the latest in a series of strategic partnerships and digital technology investments that will drive growth through access to new segments, contemporary value propositions and a highly efficient delivery model.

Customers will be able to leverage a fully digital experience to seamlessly open bank accounts at Sterling via the Google Pay app. Google’s smart platform will help to empower clients’ financial decision-making with personalized insights and a simplified user experience.

​“Over the last few years Sterling has executed on a series of trans-formative technology initiatives that have positioned us to both expand and innovate for our clients. Our work with Google represents an important expansion to our portfolio of partnerships with leading technology companies that will enable us to accelerate our growth and enhance our digital solutions,” said Matthew Smith, Executive Managing Director; Direct Banking and Banking as a Service. “This collaboration expands our organization-wide digital transformation, enables us to continue to offer superior client experiences, and reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to the marketplace.”

Sentinel Introduces Vocational Apprentice Training Program

Sentinel Technology Services International, Inc. is pleased to introduce to you Sentinel Vocational Apprentice Training, Inc. (SVAT), a newly approved 501(C)3 tax-exempt organization. SVAT is a New York State recognized not-for-profit workforce development initiative that trains unemployed and underemployed area residents in green construction trades and technologies. Based in Mount Vernon, NY, this program addresses the great need for employment and job training.
     
SVAT operates as a three part program of (1) Mentorship, (2) Vocational Training, and (3) Career Development,. SVAT also provides life support and direction for program participants to succeed; vocational training in order develop tools to build individual futures; and guidance to ensure a path of financial security.

Just City Initiative

Program goal:
​The selected neighborhood in Mount Vernon will be 3rd Avenue to 5th Avenue on the 3rd Street corridor. 
WHAT IS A SMART CITY?
     A smart city is a city that responds to common urban challenges through new methods developed by data analysis. A smart city responds to urban challenges by collecting and using data from a combination of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT). Smart city policymakers partner with the technology sector to improve efficiency, management, and governance of city. Technological development in a smart city enables it to revolutionize public functions such as transportation systems, power, water, waste management, and law enforcement.
WHAT IS A JUST CITY?
     A just city promotes a vision committed to justice and more equitable approaches in urban society. It focuses on enhancing access to institutions, services, and infrastructure for all. A just city invests in affordable housing, public services, fair taxes and charges, and good jobs for everyone. The just city engages communities through a broad understanding of public input and ownership of strategies.