John C. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will visit Orange County, New York, on May 7, 2026, to conduct a series of meetings with local leaders. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced the visit on April 24, 2026, noting that the tour is part of a broader effort to assess economic conditions across the Second District. The daylong itinerary includes stops in Goshen and Newburgh, focusing on regional economic opportunities, business conditions, and community development.
The visit is scheduled to begin in Goshen, where President Williams will meet with Orange County government officials. These discussions will center on the economic challenges and growth prospects unique to the region. Following this, Williams will engage with members of the Orange County Partnership and a group of business executives. This meeting is designed to provide the New York Fed with direct feedback on the local business environment, including insights into hiring trends, supply chain issues, and capital investment within the county.
In the afternoon, the focus will shift to the regional tourism and hospitality sectors with a roundtable discussion at the Legoland New York theme park. As a major regional destination, the park provides a venue for discussing the impact of tourism on the local economy. Williams will then travel to Newburgh to review revitalization and development projects in the downtown area. This will be followed by a roundtable at the Highpoint event space, where community development leaders will discuss housing affordability and its impact on residents across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
The regional visit will culminate in a moderated discussion organized by Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. The event is scheduled for 3:30 PM EDT at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. According to the New York Fed, Williams will share insights gathered from the day’s meetings and participate in a question-and-answer session with stakeholders. While the event is open to the press, the New York Fed stated that formal prepared text is not expected for this appearance. Reporters wishing to attend the session are required to register in advance with the New York Fed’s press office.
These outreach efforts are integral to the New York Fed’s mandate to monitor the Federal Reserve’s Second District, which includes New York State, northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The qualitative data collected from these local interactions complements quantitative economic indicators, informing the President’s perspective on the national economy and monetary policy. Williams serves as a permanent voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee, making these regional assessments a key component of the central bank's data-gathering process.