NYC Industrial Plan to Boost 21st Century Economy, Support Industrial Businesses and Good-Paying Jobs - DCP

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For Immediate Release
September 16, 2024

Contacts:
Casey Berkovitz, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

Adams Administration Launches NYC Industrial Plan to Boost 21st Century Economy, Support Industrial Businesses and Good-Paying Jobs

Multilingual Survey, Website Mark the Start of Engagement for the Industrial Development Strategic Plan

New Research Offers Insight into Strengths, Challenges Facing Industrial Sector

NEW YORK – Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick, Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Acting Commissioner Dynishal Gross, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) President Andrew Kimball today announced the launch of the NYC Industrial Plan, a comprehensive framework to support the development of industrial businesses and jobs. Outlined in Local Law 172-2023, sponsored by City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias, the New York City Industrial Development Strategic Plan will bolster the development and adaptation of a modern, sustainable industrial economy.

To kick off the planning process, the Adams administration is initiating a period of public engagement, which includes a multilingual survey and outreach to a wide range of stakeholders across New York City, including industrial businesses, service providers, advocates, and New Yorkers who work in and live nearby industrial businesses. In combination with robust analysis of the industrial sector’s strengths and challenges today, the insights gained from this engagement will inform the NYC Industrial Plan’s draft vision and goals. A draft report developed by an interagency team including DCP, EDC, SBS, the Department of Transportation, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and other relevant agencies is expected in mid-2025, and the final NYC Industrial Plan will be released by the end of 2025.

“New York City is at an all-time high for private sector employment and the city continues to make the investments in people, places and sectors that will create more family-sustaining jobs, catalyze innovation and foster a competitive and resilient 21st -century economy,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “I encourage all New Yorkers to participate in the process that starts today, an inter-agency, data-driven and community-informed effort to develop a citywide Industrial Plan that informs the city's policies and programs for a modern industrial sector in the years to come.”

“New York’s industrial areas face 21st century challenges and opportunities, but are saddled with 20th century planning. We are excited to work with our agency partners to bring a fresh and thoughtful approach to industrial planning that ensures businesses, workers, and neighbors can all succeed in a 21st century economy,” said DCP Director Dan Garodnick. “I encourage all local stakeholders to get involved as we embark on this industrial planning process.”

“SBS's support for industrial and manufacturing businesses has included connecting them to affordable financing and providing training to New Yorkers who have the motivation to become career industrial sector employees,” said NYC Department of Small Business Services Acting Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “The launch of the NYC Industrial Plan process reflects a citywide commitment to ensure that New York City is a place where manufacturing businesses can thrive for decades to come. We look forward to working closely with City Planning Commissioner Garodnick, EDC President Kimball, industrial and manufacturing business owners and partners across the city to learn and accomplish all we can.”

“Finding creative ways to support economic development and small businesses throughout the five boroughs – especially within our industrial sectors – is essential to building an equitable economy for New Yorkers,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The NYC Industrial Plan will provide a roadmap for supporting the development of industrial businesses and jobs that will continue to promote a diverse economy and make New York City a great place to live, work, learn, play, and do business.”

“New York City’s industrial sector is an economic engine of innovation, bringing hundreds of thousands of jobs to working New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We look forward to collaborating with our sister agencies on this important plan and delivering our vision for safer, greener, and more efficient movement of commercial goods.”

"The NYC Industrial Plan will show the broad scope of this city's industrial sector, which includes several film & TV production studios," said Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment Pat Swinney Kaufman. "Recent additions to our city's production infrastructure will create new jobs and boost economic activity throughout the city, including in our industrial sectors, and we will continue to work with DCP, SBS and EDC to include NYC's film & TV production industry in the Plan."

“While it's pivotal that manufacturing industry remains in New York City, we must also re-imagine the potential of the city’s industrial areas,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “We have the capacity to lead on clean manufacturing, renewable energy, and technology innovation while benefiting the communities that have traditionally endured the most harm from industrial processes – and we are excited for the future of our industrial neighborhoods.”

“We are proud to support DCP and our partner agencies in this critical initiative as we work to build a more resilient future for the city’s industrial sector, which continues to be an engine of opportunity for New Yorkers,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “This sector plays a significant role in New York City’s economy, and we are committed to ensuring that these businesses have the space and resources they need to thrive.”

“A city with a thriving industrial sector is a city where all New Yorkers – regardless of background, economic status, or educational attainment – can succeed,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Generations of New Yorkers, especially those with limited educational opportunity and English language proficiency, have relied on our manufacturing districts for well-paying, quality jobs that provide a path to the middle class. I am eager to see DCP, SBS, and EDC working together to pursue the NYC Industrial Plan and look forward to working together alongside fellow elected officials and community members to champion a Brooklyn for all.”

“I am proud to have been the prime sponsor of Local Law 172 requiring DCP, SBS, and NYCEDC to develop a citywide industrial development strategic plan. Our industrial zones have not been updated in decades and these outdated regulations have hindered the sector's growth and the growth of our local economy. The industrial workforce supports pathways to the middle class for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and currently has a workforce of over 80% people of color. With the renewed interest and investment in the industrial sector from the Biden-Harris Administration, every City across America should be focusing on how they can protect and bolster their industrial jobs the way New York City is. This plan will ensure that we are preparing for the future green economy, creating more union jobs, and bolstering our local economy and supply chain,” said City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “I look forward to supporting the survey's distribution and thank our Commissioners at DCP, SBS, and NYCEDC for kicking off this plan today!”

“This City Council, in partnership with the Department of City Planning, is prioritizing New York City’s manufacturing sector in a way that hasn’t been seen in decades. This is not just about protecting an essential business sector – it’s about good jobs, a skilled workforce, green energy, our supply chain and so much more. Manufacturing is a quiet but integral part of the ecosystems of this City and this strategic focus ensures that we’re building a modern, sustainable industrial economy that benefits everyone. It’s a win-win for the city, the economy, its residents, and the environment,” said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, M-Zone Coalition lead.

"I am excited to see a comprehensive framework that will support the growth of industrial businesses and create quality jobs across our city. The Jamaica Industrial Business Zone in my district is a prime example of a thriving hub with great potential, but also faces unique challenges coexisting with an increasingly residential community," said Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams. "This plan represents a crucial step toward ensuring a balanced and sustainable future for industrial development in Jamaica and beyond. By working together, we can create a pathway for innovation, investment, and opportunity that benefits all New Yorkers."

New York’s industrial sector plays an important role in the city’s economy, encompassing more than 590,000 public and private sector jobs across sub-sectors of construction, transportation and logistics, wholesaling, information and media, manufacturing, waste management, repair, and energy/utilities. The Industrial Plan comes at a pivotal moment, as the sector adapts to modern business needs and faces challenges such as competition for space and climate change. The plan will serve as a guide for policymakers to support businesses, workers, neighbors and neighborhoods, and the industrial sector as a whole.

In addition to the survey, the NYC Industrial Plan is launching with a website that features new research on the composition and geography of the industrial sector, as well as early descriptions of the challenges it faces and role it plays in the city’s evolving economy. The final plan will include additional detailed research on land use and development conditions in the city’s industrial areas, market research on the growth patterns and space needs of industrial businesses, information on the infrastructure and environmental challenges of industrial areas, and the first ever designation of "Primary Industrial Areas," a new classification for predominantly industrial areas.

The NYC Industrial Plan will build on recent and ongoing initiatives across New York City, including:

the adoption of City of Yes for Economic Opportunity, which updated the city’s commercial and manufacturing zoning for a modern economy;

the Green Economy Action Plan, which laid out a vision, analysis, and policy blueprint for how the city will grow “green jobs,” especially those in industrial sectors;

the EJNYC Report and Mapping Tool which assess key environmental justice issues facing the city;

the development of a Last-Mile Facility Zoning Text Amendment, led by the Department of City Planning;

the Truck Route Network Redesign, led by the NYC Department of Transportation;

the comprehensive freight strategy detailed by NYC DOT in Delivering New York and Delivering Green; and

the Blue Highways initiative to explore waterborne freight and modernize marine infrastructure, led by NYC DOT and NYC EDC.

“We are pleased to see the next crucial step in safeguarding and advancing New York City’s vital industrial sector through the launch of the Industrial Development Action Plan’s public engagement phase. We are particularly heartened by the City’s commitment to proactively engage industrial business service providers and community advocates, ensuring that diverse voices are heard throughout the process,” said Christopher Casey, Senior Campaign Organizer at the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD). “ANHD will continue working with our member and ally organizations, City agencies, and the City Council to ensure that New York’s industrial sector remains vibrant, resilient, and a source of economic stability for generations to come.”

“The New York Building Congress is pleased to support the Department of City Planning, Department of Small Business Services, and the Economic Development Corporation on the launch of the New York City Industrial Development Strategic Plan,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President and CEO of the New York Building Congress. “By assessing the needs and building out a comprehensive framework, this interagency initiative will help reinvigorate our city’s robust industrial sector and allow it to meet our current—and future—needs. On behalf of our entire Board, I look forward to seeing the vision and goals put forth by this plan, and the positive impact it will have on the development of industrial businesses and jobs.”

“We are grateful for the NYC Council's efforts to conduct a comprehensive review of industrial NYC to achieve their goal of supporting economic development and the expansion and retention of businesses in the industrial sector. We look forward to working with NYC DCP to ensure that NYC's land use, capital investment and other city policies are aligned to achieve our shared goal of growing industrial businesses and jobs throughout NYC,” said Leah Archibald, Executive Director, Evergreen.

“We are encouraged that the City continues to recognize the importance of the industrial sector and the diversity of manufacturing jobs that underpin New York City’s resilient and growing economy. The launch of the Industrial Action Plan is a key policy initiative that will protect the sector and the good paying, middle class jobs that it supports,” said Brian T. Coleman, CEO of Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center. “GMDC is proud to have partnered with our Industrial Jobs Coalition advocates and lead agencies at EDC, DCP, and SBS, to shape the strategic goals of the Industrial Action Plan. We also thank the City Council, DCP Chairman Garodnick, and the M-Zone Coalition Councilmembers, for their continued support of and advocacy on behalf of the industrial sector.”

“The Industrial Development Action Plan represents a pivotal step towards fortifying New York City's industrial sector. This comprehensive citywide initiative aims to collectively plan for the future, striving to sustain well-paying jobs and transition into the green economy. BOC Network is pleased to support this plan, as it allows us to unite in pursuing common goals and achieving key policy objectives to support the expansion of industrial businesses and the quality jobs they provide local communities. The plan safeguards and expands our industrial foundation, propelling the city toward a more resilient and thriving future,” said Quincy Ely-Cate, Director of Industrial Business Development, Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network.

“We commend DCP for taking a comprehensive approach with the LL172 Project, especially as industrial sectors have evolved so much over the past two decades,” said Laura Rothrock, president, Long Island City Partnership. “This plan, the first since the Bloomberg administration, is a crucial step in addressing these changes and ensuring that industrial businesses—especially those in key hubs like Long Island City—remain supported and prepared for the future. We’re excited to collaborate on public engagement efforts to make sure the plan truly reflects the needs of the industrial community in LIC and beyond.”

“Regional Plan Association (RPA) supports the launch of the NYC Industrial Plan,” said Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Vice President of Transportation at RPA. “As part of the city’s post-COVID recovery, industrial businesses and jobs were essential to our strong economic recovery. Creating a comprehensive framework to protect and grow this sector is necessary for our region’s continued prosperity and sustainability. We applaud this effort towards inclusive engagement with multilingual surveys and look forward to a robust analysis to better understand current challenges and opportunities facing this community today.”

“This comprehensive, first of its kind in New York City plan presents an opportunity to reimagine policy to meet the needs of the industrial economy for the 21st century,” said Jesse Lazar, executive director, American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY). “We are thrilled to see this plan begin to take shape, building off AIANY’s Delivering the Goods report, to critically examine the changing needs of the sector and the growing challenges due to climate change and competition for space in the city.”

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.