At 29 years old, Sara Covelli has been named one of Long Island Business News’ Emerging Leaders 30 Under 30.
“I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and mentors within the Town of Oyster Bay community,” she said. “This recognition is a testament to the administration’s dedication to enhancing and protecting the natural resources and infrastructure of the third-largest township in America.”
Covelli works in the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Environmental Resources. In her role there, she develops sustainability plans and policies.
“I focus on developing environmental policies and securing funding for habitat enhancement and restoration projects that benefit the community,” Covelli said.
Covelli has worked in the department since 2018. In her time there, she’s seen expansion in enviornmental programming and outreach, she said.
“We’ve expanded both marine and land-based restoration efforts and strengthened our environmental education initiatives,” she said.
There has been an increase in resident participation as well, she said.
“One of the most notable changes has been the increased participation of younger generations in town programs, whose environmental consciousness has become far more heightened than what I had at their age,” Covelli said.
This participation includes involvement in educational contests and hand-on efforts in local protection programs, she said.
Covelli said the favorite program she’s worked on has been the town’s shell recycling program. This program is in partnership with 15 local restaurants, which contribute shells for bay bottom restoration and conservation, she said.
This program “has successfully diverted over 30 tons of oyster and clam shells from landfills over the past two years,” she said.
One major contribution to this program will be the upcoming Oyster Festival. The fair will be on Oct. 19 and 20, where festival-goers will have the opportunity to learn more about the program.
“Volunteers help collect shells from festival-goers, raising awareness about the program and marine conservation,” she said.
Covelli has been a full-time employee for the past six years, but her work with the department goes back nearly a decade. She said that she interned with the town shortly after her family moved to Oyster Bay Cove in 2014.
Her internship with the department taught her how municipalities address climate concerns, she said.
“This experience introduced me to securing grants and bringing infrastructure and efficiency projects from concept to implementation,” she said.
In college, Covelli used these skills to secure grants for sustainability on campus.
She secured a $24,000 grant to add solar panels onto student dorms, later expanding into a $100,000 solar array with additional grant funding. Her name was placed on the building to recognize her contributions.
“These experiences inspired me to pursue a full-time role with the town, where I could channel my passion for environmental problem-solving and project management to benefit my local community long-term,” Covelli said.
Looking forward, Covelli said, she is excited about the department’s future.
“We recently successfully secured a $640,000 grant for the design and implementation of floating wetlands, native plantings, and wetland restoration in Oyster Bay Harbor,” she said.
The initiative aims to filter water and remediate stormwater runoff, she said. Covelli said that the program will introduce Nassau County’s first floating wetlands.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino presented Covelli with a citation from the town for her recognition.
