2013 Progress Report
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NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2013 Progress Report September 2013 New York Regional Economic Council Members Chair Matthew Goldstein Chancellor Emeritus, The City University of New York Representatives Stuart Appelbaum Kenneth Knuckles President, Retail, Wholesale and President & CEO, Upper Manhattan Department Store Union Empowerment Zone Development Wellington Chen Corporation Executive Director, Chinatown Gary LaBarbera Partnership Local Development President, New York City Building and Corporation Constructions Trades Council Marlene Cintron Nick Lugo President, Bronx Overall Economic President, New York City Hispanic Development Corporation (BOEDC) Chamber of Commerce Cesar J. Claro Ashok Nigalaye President & CEO, Staten Island Economic President & CEO, Epic Pharma LLC Development Corporation Kevin Ryan Carol Conslato Founder & CEO, Gilt Groupe President, Queens Chamber of Commerce Speaker Sheldon Silver Mike Fishman State Assembly, 64th District International Executive Vice President, SEIU Steven Spinola President, Real Estate Board of Martin Golden New York State Senate, 22nd District Douglas C. Steiner Monique Greenwood Chairman, Steiner Studios Former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine and owner of Akwaaba Marcel Van Ooyen Mansion Bed & Breakfast Executive Director, Grow NYC Gail Grimmett Peter Ward Senior Vice President for New York, President, Hotel & Motel Trades Council Delta Airlines Sheena Wright Steve Hindy President & CEO, United Way of NYC President, Brooklyn Brewery Kathryn Wylde Dr. Marcia V. Keizs President & CEO, Partnership for President, York College, CUNY New York City Contents 2 PART ONE: Overview of Progress Strategy Overview 2 Implemenation Overview 3 Overview of Job Creation and Investment 3 Public Engagement 4 Performance Measures 7 8 PART TWO: Implementation Opportunity Zones Updates 8 New Strategies 24 27 PART THREE: Opportunity Agenda Statement of Opportunity 27 Opportunity Agenda Strategies 29 Implementation Plan 29 Performance Measures 30 31 PART FOUR: List of Proposed 2014 Priority Projects 48 Conclusion PART ONE Overview of Progress Superstorm Sandy dealt a serious blow to the metropolitan New York region. This necessarily aected REDC strategy and implementation plans for 2013, as city priorities shifted to recov- ery, rebuilding and an urgent focus on improving the resiliency of vulnerable communities and infrastructure. The result has been some delay in imple- mentation of some projects, and revi- sions to REDC strategy and priorities that are reected in this plan update. Fortunately, the city, state and federal governments mobilized quickly to address the implications of Sandy, positioning the region to rebound and address critical issues swiftly and eectively. That process is well underway and the proposed priori- ties in this Progress Report, if funded, will complement and reinforce the work that is underway to insulate the region against rising sea levels and extreme weather events. of poverty, and better preparing New The priority projects that the REDC STRATEGY York City’s residents for good jobs in a targeted in its rst two years reected OVERVIEW innovation economy. Importantly, this eorts to build on the city’s strengths is a ve-borough strategy that encour- (its strong academic research in- The New York City Regional Economic ages partnerships between govern- stitutions, its thriving tech startup Development Council (REDC) strategy ment, business, labor, academia and community, and the strength of the in 2013 has focused on continued civic organizations as well as inter-re- city’s anchor industries) while shor- eorts to realize the vision that the gional cooperation aimed at maximiz- ing up those areas that threaten the Council laid out in its original plan ing benets of economic growth and city’s continued vitality and growth, for the continued strengthening of job creation for the entire state. including a skills gap that has left New York City as a center of global many people behind in the innova- economic activity and innovation In October 2012, less than a month tion economy, aging and inadequate while also making the local economy after completion of the 2012 REDC infrastructure, a shortage of aordable more inclusive, alleviating conditions Progress Report and Plan Update, housing, the concentration of poverty 2 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2013 PROGRESS REPORT Superstorm Sandy necessitated revisions to the REDC strategy and priorities—the proposed priorities in this progress report will complement and reinforce the work that is under way to insulate the region against rising sea levels and extreme weather events. and joblessness in certain economi- In addition to challenges and delays legislation to provide the incen- cally distressed communities, and a associated with Superstorm Sandy, tives required to implement the challenging business climate. the REDC has encountered obstacles zone was not enacted this year. to timely implementation of several • Finally, despite extensive outreach priority projects and plan strategies, to more than a dozen upstate IMPLEMENTATION including: universities and investment or- OVERVIEW • The New York City Region has not ganizations, the SeedStart Enter- The REDC has focused on the imple- been successful in winning the prise Program was not successful mentation of a range of strategically largest grants in the competitive in attracting any viable upstate important projects over the past year REDC process, so that several of startups from the more than 100 as well as on accelerated development the Council’s priority projects did applications for its accelerator and in the fteen areas of New York City not receive the full funding need- mentoring program. There appears that were designated as “Opportu- ed to proceed to the development to be a serious dearth of state- nity Zones” for development and job or implementation phase. based entrepreneurial rms in the enterprise software space outside creation in the Council’s initial 2011 • Negotiations stalled between the New York City. On the other hand, Five-Year Strategic Plan. As detailed in City and the Hunts Point Terminal two of the seven rms accepted the following progress report, imple- Produce Market on the private for the initial program came from mentation of many aspects of the nancing component required to other states and have now set up updated plan is going well, backed redevelop the market. This market operations in New York. by collaborative eorts between the renewal was intended to anchor REDC, the city, and state agencies. The a major expansion of the food in- transformational “Applied Sciences dustry in the South Bronx and con- OVERVIEW OF JOB Initiative” is moving forward, with tribute to a larger produce supply both Cornell Tech and the NYU Center chain extended through upstate CREATION AND for Urban Sciences Program having New York. At such time that the INVESTMENT begun to teach their rst classes of market owners are prepared to students in temporary locations, and fund their share of redevelopment The REDC views the creation of good development approvals and construc- costs, the REDC will be strongly in jobs as a central focus of all of the eco- tion plans for their permanent campus favor of the State’s support of this nomic development initiatives that facilities being processed according important project. it supports. Through public hearings to schedule. Similarly, the Steiner and private meetings with project Studio, Green Manufacturing Building • Although the Staten Island Eco- sponsors, investors, developers and and New Lab projects in the Brooklyn nomic Development Corporation employers seeking state aid, the REDC Navy Yard, and Create@Harlem Green (SIEDC) has made progress in has made clear that good jobs, local are all moving forward on schedule, mobilizing local support and mov- employment, commitment to on-the- albeit with some funding gaps. ing forward with planning for the job training and career ladders are Staten Island “Green Zone,” state key criteria to receive support. Model NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2013 PROGRESS REPORT 3 projects include those in the Brooklyn part of its Opportunity Agenda initia- Navy Yard, where all employers receiv- tive this year. As part of that, The City PUBLIC ing aid have committed to these prin- University of New York (CUNY) is work- ENGAGEMENT ciples and are implementing local hir- ing with the New York City Depart- ing and training initiatives. The various ment of Education, private employers, Implementation of the public en- partnerships developed or encour- the Partnership for New York City and gagement process has been intense aged through the REDC are further various industry associations to scale and highly successful, with the REDC described in the detailed progress up successful “early college” educa- becoming an eective clearinghouse report that follows. The total amount tion models and career and techni- for proposals seeking state funding as invested in New York City, both public cal education initiatives in order to well as a coordinator of regional and and private, through rounds I and provide students and graduates with inter-regional planning eorts. Follow- II of the Regional Council initiative the skills, knowledge and workplace ing is a summary of public engage- comes to $1.36 billion. Approximately experiences needed to prepare them ment initiatives that have taken place 11,500 jobs will be created or retained for 21st century jobs