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NYCEDC President James Patchet, Commissioner of Office of Media & Entertainment Julie Menin, Mayor de Blasio, and Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen at future site of Made in NY Campus
Mayor Creates Made in NY Campus for Fashion & Film
(released
Saturday, February 18, 2017)
By Kimberly Burke
The city will invest $136 million to support the garment manufacturing, film and television production industries by providing much needed space for production and sustainable job growth. In the Mayor's state of the city address held at the Apollo Theater on February 13, 2017, he stated his commitment to create 100,000 jobs in the next decade and to bring 40,000 of those jobs online in the next 4 years.
"A good job gives workers skills." said Mayor Bill de Blasio, and he believes these skills can carry a worker for decades.
Mayor de Blasio plans to provide skill training as an educational component in the Sunset Park plan. The Mayor also communicated his understanding of residents five boroughs wide and their fears of affordable housing or acquiring work that allows for them to provide for their families. Good paying jobs, as defined by the Mayor, allow a family to make decisions beyond just squeaking by to pay rent. The Mayor said he believes at least 50,000 dollars annually is a good paying job. The fashion industry average wage is 57,000 and film average is 53,000.
"We have used our 'Made in NY' brand to grow fashion and film companies, and today we're committing some of our most important real estate assets to support them as well. These industries support hundreds of thousands of families with good wages, and they need affordable and modern space to grow. The 'Made in NY' Campus represents the collision of our creative economy and advanced manufacturing. This is going to be a 21st century working waterfront that keeps our city the capital of film and fashion," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen.
The investment will renovate two existing buildings offering nearly 200,000 square feet of garment manufacturing space. Construction on a state of the art 100,000 square foot building for film and television production and allocations for improving streetscapes, the 43rd Street corridor, and utility upgrades.
The Made in NY campus is seeking a tenant to anchor the 7,500 sf Cafe Building providing both food retail and food manufacturing. Providing affordable food and beverage to campus business, visitors and the larger Sunset Park community is the goal.
"New York's local foods are one of the things that make this city so great. More importantly, the local food economy provides good jobs and a career path for many New Yorkers, as well as improving our health and environment. We are thrilled to support the Made in NY Campus, so that more food can be produced right here in New York City," said Barbara Turk, Director of Food Policy at the Office of the Mayor.
The campus is expected to open in 2020. NYCEDC will require new Bush Terminal tenants to utilize the City's HireNYC and WorkForce1 programs to connect with New Yorkers and job opportunities.
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