Events Coincide with New Report, “Making More: Industry’s Role in an Affordable, Livable City,” Offering a Roadmap for Bolstering Manufacturing in Brooklyn
***Register for Events Here***
Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso today announced a slate of events highlighting the borough’s manufacturing sector organized in collaboration with Made in NYC Week. With events held May 3-5, the Borough President aims to shine a light on manufacturing’s integral role in Brooklyn’s economy. Now in its 8th year, Made in NYC Week is an annual event series which spotlights New York City’s vibrant manufacturing community. Event information and registration available here.
Coinciding with these events, Borough President Reynoso has also released “Making More: Industry’s Role in an Affordable, Livable City,” a report that outlines the economic importance of manufacturing jobs to Brooklyn’s continued economic growth. Today, the industrial sector remains an essential pathway to middle-class wages for non-English speakers and those without college degrees. In order to ensure New York City remains a city where the working class can afford to live, the report argues, it’s essential to continue investing in the future of manufacturing. The report issues several recommendations for bolstering industry including mapping new industrial zones, strengthening unions, investing in the green economy, planning for industrial use of the Interborough Expressway, and fully funding Industrial Business Service Providers. Read the full report here.
“For generations, manufacturing jobs gave immigrant and working-class Brooklynites a pathway to the middle class. That story isn’t over. From garment manufacturing in Sunset Park to fortune cookie factories in East Williamsburg, industry continues to shape this borough’s economy and creative identity,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This new report and our partnership with Made in NYC is about spotlighting the makers who are keeping Brooklyn’s rich industrial tradition alive and making sure future generations of Brooklynites can continue to access these life-changing opportunities.”
Made in NYC is an initiative of the Pratt Center for Community Development that has fostered a community of over 1,900 manufacturers and makers for more than 20 years.
“Made in NYC Week is a powerful reminder that manufacturing remains a cornerstone of New York City’s economy and identity,” said Executive Director of Pratt Center for Community Development Alexa Kasdan.“Through Made in NYC, we’re not only celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship of local makers—we’re strengthening pathways to quality jobs, supporting small businesses, and ensuring that production continues to have a place in our city. This work is essential to building a more equitable, resilient, and locally-rooted economy for all New Yorkers.”
On Sunday, May 3, the Borough President’s office, in partnership with the Regional Plan Association, will host a Jane’s Walk – The Interborough Express: Trains, Cranes, and (Fewer) Automobiles.This walk invites participants to observe the future route on the Bensonhurst/Borough Park border of the Interborough Express and asks: how can we best balance moving people and moving freight? What could the future hold for jobs and industry along the route?
On Monday, May 4, the Borough President will host a Green Jobs Fair at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Participants will have the opportunity to connect directly with representatives from local organizations and City agencies. They will also be able to learn about a wide range of educational programs, job training pathways, and career opportunities designed to prepare Brooklyn residents for the next generation of green jobs. The participating agencies and organizations include:
- Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
- Brooklyn Workforce One Center
- Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
- Fortune Society
- Green City Force
- HOPE Program
- New Women New Yorkers
- NYSERDA Brooklyn/Bronx Clean Energy Hub
- NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development
- Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
- RETI Center
- RiseBoro Community Partnership
- St. Nicks Alliance
- Solar One
- Willdan Clean Energy Academy
On Tuesday, May 5, the Borough President will host a symposium, Making More: Industry’s Role in an Affordable, Livable City, at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The event will feature presentations and discussions about the evolving and critical role of the manufacturing sector and a keynote address by Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE.
Panel 1: Challenges and Opportunities in Brooklyn’s IBZs will be moderated by NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez. Panelists include:
- Leah Archibald, Executive Director at Evergreen Exchange
- Miquela Craytor, Senior Advisor at Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation
- Bill Wilkins, Executive Director at LDC of East New York and East Brooklyn BID
- Quincy Ely-Cate, Director of Industrial Business Development at The Business Outreach Center Network
Panel 2: Moving More: Manufacturing and Intermodal Freight in Brooklyn will be moderated by Brit Byrd, Senior Planner at the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. Panelists include:
- Sandra Rothbard, Founder and Principal at Freight Matters
- Marlon Taylor, President at New York & Atlantic Railway
- Daisy Chung, Campaigns Director at ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York
- Mark Maglienti, Assistant Director of Planning and Program Management at New York Metropolitan Transportation Council
Panel 3: The Future of Brooklyn’s Green Economy will be moderated by Lacey Tauber, Legislative Director at the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. Panelists include:
- Ana Fisyak, Executive Director at WindScape Brooklyn
- Max Levitzke, Managing Director at Solar One
- Nikki Evans, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development at Brooklyn Navy Yard Corp
