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New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology

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— Public and Private Investment Advances Railway’s Goal of a 100% Clean-Energy Locomotive Fleet by 2030 —

NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA), an Anacostia Rail Holdings Company (ARH), has been awarded a $6.5 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program Grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), according to Marlon Taylor, president of NYA. The railway operates under a franchise agreement with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), connecting Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk counties to North America’s freight rail network.

This funding will be used to upgrade four locomotives within NYA’s fleet with Tier 4 locomotive technology, the strictest U.S. EPA standard for non‑road diesel engines, which will be provided by Cummins, a leader in global power solutions. The goal of the upgrade is to reduce emissions and improve operational performance.

The $6.5 million federal CRISI grant is part of a $10.9 million public and private investment to upgrade four New York & Atlantic Railway locomotives with cleaner technology. The project includes $2 million in funding from New York State and a $2.4 million investment by NYA, which has led efforts for years to secure public funding for these technology upgrades. Since 1997, NYA has invested $60 million, directly and through public grants, to improve the reliability and efficiency of freight rail operations.

The funding supports NYA and LIRR’s efforts to advance a five-year plan to convert NYA’s locomotive fleet to 100% Tier 4 compliance by 2030 and aligns with New York State’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

The Tier 4 standard primarily targets a significant reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and particulate matter (PM) emissions while improving engine efficiency and fuel economy.  Advanced particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction reduce PM and NOₓ levels by up to 90% on Tier 4 locomotives compared to earlier-tier engines.

NYA has already invested more than $1.6 million in green locomotive upgrades, including idle-minimization technology that reduces unnecessary engine idling, emissions, and noise in rail yards. The new Tier 4 engines will build on these improvements, providing a higher standard of emissions control and operational efficiency, with additional environmental and public health benefits for surrounding communities.

“It is reasonable to expect that NYA will be a leader in having the most technologically advanced fleet of locomotives in service anywhere in the country,” said Robert Wullschleger, Chief Mechanical Officer, NYA. “In fact, the extent of the modifications provided by the recent funding, coupled with our previous investment in upgrades, may justify setting new standards for cleaner emission locomotives.”

“We are grateful to our federal, state, and local officials who worked together in a bipartisan manner to help secure funding for this important environmental initiative,” said Mr. Taylor. “Upgrading NYA’s locomotives represents a major step toward our goal of a 100% green fleet by 2030 and our commitment to improving air quality and supporting healthier conditions for the neighborhoods along the rail corridor.”

“Investing in Long Island’s transportation infrastructure is critical to supporting our local economy,” said Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “I was proud to support this funding, which will help modernize aging equipment and ensure our freight rail system continues to serve Long Island businesses and communities.”

“As the Assembly Member for the district that includes Fresh Pond Yard, the New York & Atlantic Railway’s main rail hub, I am so proud of what we have accomplished here together, ” said New York State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. “Since 2013, I have worked with my partners at NYA to secure funding for this transformative environmental and economic project — including in this state budget, when our team successfully unlocked a portion of those funds as the state match for the federal CRISI grant. With this, NYA will move significantly closer to fully replacing their freight locomotive fleet with engines at the Tier 4 emissions standard, the cleanest and greenest standard in the country. This shows public-private partnerships can work — at all levels of government. I am thrilled for the residents of Queens, and I congratulate NYA for what we have accomplished together.”

“I’ve been fighting to bring federal dollars back to Suffolk County, and it’s reassuring to see that advocacy delivers real results for Long Island. Congratulations to New York & Atlantic Railway on securing a federal grant to modernize upgrade its locomotives. These upgrades will help local businesses move goods more efficiently, support regional jobs and improve rail safety. This is an important investment in Long Island’s infrastructure and economic future,” said Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01). 

“I want to congratulate the New York & Atlantic Railway on this Federal CRISI Award, which will play an important role in their ‘100% Green by 2030’ initiative, ensuring that their entire fleet of locomotives will have the most advanced emission reduction technology available.  This is an important environmental win for my constituents and all those who live along the tracks upon which they operate their freight, which is why I partnered with them in this year’s budget to secure a State match to this grant.  This demonstrates the positive outcome when all levels of government work in tandem with the private sector to deliver the results our constituents need and ask for,” said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

“Soaring diesel fuel costs have made it more important than ever that we do everything we can to boost freight rail, which remains an efficient and cost-effective way to transport goods and reduce congestion on our highways,” stated New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “The New York State Department of Transportation is proud to have supported — through our Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program — the New York & Atlantic Railway’s effort to upgrade its locomotives to Tier 4 emission standards, which will protect our environment while also boosting our economy.”

“Transport by rail is the most sustainable way to move goods on and off Long Island while reducing emissions, traffic congestion and roadway wear by diverting over 120,000 truck trips annually throughout the region,” said Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine. “The CRISI grant, along with funding from New York State and New York & Atlantic’s private investment, shows the power of bipartisan public-private partnerships in addressing some of our most pressing issues, including climate change, improving air quality and opening new opportunities for economic growth.”

“Queens residents will breathe a lot easier thanks to the emissions controls that will become a reality with this $6.5 million grant,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “It is imperative that we continue to do all we can to limit harmful pollution from all sources, including our railroad network. I thank the Federal Railroad Administration for awarding this grant, and I commend the New York & Atlantic Railway for its diligence in working toward reducing emissions and improving the efficiency of its operations.”

“New York is fighting climate change by transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy, and green transportation is a critical piece of this transition,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “We are happy to congratulate the New York & Atlantic Railway on receiving this $6.5 million Federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant to minimize carbon emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependency, improve our local air quality, and lessen the overall environmental impacts of transporting goods. This is another important step towards protecting public health and our local environment while making Long Island more sustainable for the future.  We look forward to NYA having the greenest fleet in the country soon!”   

“A healthy and efficient rail system is critical to reducing air pollution caused by diesel truck traffic,” said Julie Tighe, President, New York League of Conservation Voters. “NYLCV commends the New York & Atlantic Railway for investing more than $1 million in green locomotive upgrades, and we congratulate them on receiving a $6.5 million CRISI Program grant to help build on their commitment to a more efficient, more sustainable future for our rails.”

Mr. Taylor recognized several federal, state and local officials who were instrumental in securing the total funding for what will be the cleanest fleet of locomotives in the country. Among them are:  FRA Administrator David Fink and his team for the CRISI award; Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota for their strong support in securing this federal grant; State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. and NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez for securing the state match; Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for his support of the grant; New York City Council Member Phil Wong for his advocacy for this sustainable initiative, and to Governor Hochul, MTA Chair Janno Lieber and the MTA Board, and LIRR President Rob Free for partnership through their November 2025 procurement to advance the vital second portion of the 100% Green by 2030 initiative.

About New York & Atlantic Railway
New York & Atlantic Railway began operation in May 1997 due to the privatized concession to operate freight trains on the lines owned by Long Island Rail Road. The railway serves a diverse customer base and shares track with the densest passenger system in the United States. New York & Atlantic Railway connects with major Class I and regional freight railroads across North America. For more information about New York & Atlantic Railway, visit https://www.anacostia.com/railroads/nya.

Contact: Don Miller
West End Strategies, Ltd.
516-330-1647
don@westendstrategiespr.com

Bill Corbett
Corbett Public Relations
516-428-9327
wjcorbett@corbettpr.com

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SOURCE New York & Atlantic Railway

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Chelsea FC announces multi-year sleeve partnership with Sokin, the business payments and FX platform

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October 23, 2026

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Chelsea FC name fast-growing fintech platform as Principal Partner

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chelsea Football Club has today announced a multi-year partnership with Sokin, the embedded finance and payments company used by businesses worldwide. Sokin will be named a Principal Partner and Official Business Payments and FX Partner of Chelsea FC and Chelsea FC Women.

As a Principal Partner, Sokin will be represented on the sleeves of the Chelsea FC men’s, women’s and academy home, away, and third kits from the 2026/27 season.

The partnership brings together two ambitious London-headquartered organisations with worldwide reach – a club with millions of fans across the world and a fintech platform through which businesses move more than $11 billion a year. A club of Chelsea’s scale works in many currencies every day, with partners, competitions and supporters around the world, and needs a financial partner built to handle that.

Sokin gives finance teams business payments, multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, checkout and treasury in one place, so they spend less time juggling banks and providers and keep more of what they move.

As Official Business Payments and FX Partner, Sokin will simplify how Chelsea FC sends, receives and manages money in the currencies the club operates in.

The Sokin logo will feature on the sleeve of the Chelsea shirt for the first time [when the men’s team host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 24th October.]

Jason Gannon, President at Chelsea FC said:

“At Chelsea, we seek to partner with organisations that share our ambition and innovative mindset. Sokin’s expertise in business payments, and their focus on making both simpler for the businesses they serve, makes them a natural fit for the Club. We are pleased to welcome Sokin to the Chelsea family and look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

Vroon Modgill, CEO and founder at Sokin said:

“Chelsea plays on the biggest stage in world football, and its business runs in dozens of currencies. Sokin was built for that with regulated, multi-currency payments and foreign exchange for organisations that operate internationally. We’re proud to be the platform behind the business payments and FX of one of the most iconic teams in football. Sokin’s platform serves businesses in more than 170 countries. We’re thrilled to be partners for the season ahead. An organisation as sophisticated as Chelsea doesn’t leave its finances to chance.”

About Sokin

Sokin is the financial layer global business runs on. Businesses can transact, convert and hold money in 70+ currencies across 170+ countries. Some businesses use Sokin to manage global finance in-house. Others build it into their products to power financial experiences for their customers. Businesses move more than $9 billion a year on licenses Sokin holds in 36+ countries and infrastructure Sokin owns. Founded in 2019, Sokin has raised over $100 million from investors including Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and Prysm Capital.

About Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club is one of the biggest, most successful football clubs globally and our men’s team are reigning world champions, having won the four-yearly FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Our women’s team, Chelsea Women, are also multiple trophy winners.

Founded in 1905, Chelsea is London’s most central football club, based at the iconic 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. Nicknamed the Blues, the club lifted the Champions League for the first time in 2012 and domestically has won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times and the Football League Championship once, in 1955.

The Chelsea Women’s team have enjoyed a huge amount of success and in 2025 won the FA Women’s Super League for a sixth consecutive year and the eighth time overall. The Women’s FA Cup has been won on six occasions. We have also captured the FA Women’s League Cup four times as well as reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021. In two seasons, 2020/21 and 2024/25, a domestic treble of trophies was secured.

The Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, helping to improve the lives of children and young people all over the world.

Media Contacts:

Taina Biggs
taina.biggs@sokin.com 

Nerissa Chesterfield
nerissa.chesterfield@chelseafc.com 

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Amy Johnson Appointed President of GDIT

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October 23, 2026

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RESTON, Va., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) announced today that Amy Johnson has been appointed as president of GDIT, effective November 3.

Johnson is a 27-year veteran of General Dynamics Mission Systems, where she held increasingly senior roles in engineering, engineering management and business leadership across cybersecurity, defense electronics, space and intelligence systems, most recently as vice president and general manager for Space, Cyber and Intelligence. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science and computer systems engineering. 

“Amy has a proven track record of leading teams to solve complex and highly technical challenges for our customers,” said Phebe Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics. “I am confident that her dynamic leadership, operational rigor and deep commitment to our values and culture will deliver value to our customers, employees and shareholders.”

GDIT delivers digital modernization, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software development solutions to the U.S. federal government, defense, intelligence agencies and other customers. It is a business unit of General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 120,000 people worldwide and generated $52.6 billion in revenue in 2025. More information is available at gd.com.

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SOURCE General Dynamics

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Yazan Al Homsi Invests US$500,000 in Toronto Drone Maker Arcanus Aerial Systems

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October 23, 2026

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Private investment comes as Arcanus builds out Canadian manufacturing capacity for autonomous aerial systems

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yazan Al Homsi, a UAE-based investor and managing partner of Catalyst Communications DMCC, has invested US$500,000 in Arcanus Aerial Systems Inc., a Toronto-headquartered developer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems for defence, public safety and critical infrastructure customers. Al Homsi is an investor only and holds no operational, advisory or board role with the company. Other terms were not disclosed.

Arcanus is a Canadian-controlled company. It currently lists more than 15 platforms across heavy-lift, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), cargo, strike and counter-drone missions. According to the company, its published line-up includes:

AB 516e: a long-endurance vertical take-off fixed-wing aircraft rated for three hours of flight.AE 401: a counter-drone interceptor with a top speed of 300 km/h.AC 5250: a cargo platform with a 250 kg payload and a range of more than 2,300 km.

Alongside defence, Arcanus markets its systems for wildfire detection, search and rescue, Arctic sovereignty, border and maritime patrol, and pipeline and power line monitoring.

The company has spent 2026 assembling its domestic production base. In April, Arcanus signed a binding term sheet with Portugal-based Beyond Vision, granting it rights to manufacture, commercialize and support Beyond Vision’s unmanned aerial systems in Canada.

In June, Arcanus announced a five-year agreement appointing FeralX Systems Inc. as a non-exclusive Canadian contract manufacturer for several of its platforms.

“Canada has the engineering talent to build these systems at home, and recent years have shown how much depends on having that capacity domestically,” said Yazan Al Homsi. “What stood out to me about Arcanus was the manufacturing groundwork already in place: licensing, a production partner, and a range of aircraft that serves wildfire crews and search-and-rescue teams alongside defence customers.”

About Yazan Al Homsi

Yazan Al Homsi is a UAE-based investor and managing partner of Catalyst Communications DMCC, which he founded in Dubai in 2018. He was previously based in Vancouver, where he founded Founders Round Capital in 2017 and built a track record of investments in early-stage and small-cap companies. He earned a finance degree from McGill University in 2004 and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Before turning to investing, he spent more than a decade with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Middle East, rising to director and focusing on transaction due diligence and valuation.

Media Contact
Catalyst Communications DMCC
catalyst-wire@protonmail.com

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