NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a $136 million commitment to transform Bush Terminal, in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, into a vibrant campus for 'Made in New York,' an effort to encourage manufacturing here.The underutilized buildings will be transformed into a hub for garment manufacturing and film and television production, and support more than 1,500 permanent jobs. The build out of modern garment manufacturing space, sound stages, and other campus improvements is expected to create more than 800 construction jobs.

Revealed during the Mayor's State of the City address, the move is part of a larger commitment by the city to add 100,000 “good-paying jobs,” including these Sunset Park positions within the next decade, as well as 40,000 jobs in the next four years.

“Good paying jobs are the bedrock of a strong city,” declared Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We will continue to invest in the 'Made In New York' brand and in New Yorkers. This is still your city, today and tomorrow.”

Added Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen, “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.”

She continued, “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.

The Made in NY Campus, anticipated to open in 2020, will work to synergize creative manufacturing uses and provide affordable, 'best-in-class' industrial facilities for garment manufacturing, film and media production, and related services and industries.

The fashion industry already represents 182,000 jobs, 5% of the city's job force, according to the Mayor's Office. The film industry is home to 130,000 jobs in the city. Both sectors face a shortage of stable, affordable space necessary for companies to grow and add jobs. By investing at Bush, the city will help fashion designers increase their local manufacturing, and help increase to city's capacity to attract new film and television productions.

“The Made in NY Campus will not only serve as a state-of-the-art industrial facility, it will provide a dedicated and affordable home for garment manufacturers and media production in Sunset Park,” asserts NYCEDC president and CEO James Patchett. “Strategically investing in these job-intensive sectors is a key element of Mayor de Blasio's commitment to create 100,000 quality jobs within the next ten years.”

“Mayor de Blasio's commitment to the Made in New York Campus will reinvigorate Bush Terminal into a state-of-the-art facility for growing companies in the manufacturing and film industries,” notes Carlo A. Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress. “In addition to creating great jobs in construction, fashion and production for more than 2,000 New Yorkers, this is the type of enlightened initiative that ensures that the city's prosperity is spread across all five boroughs.”

The city's investments will result in: renovations to two existing buildings to create nearly 200,000 square feet of garment manufacturing space; a newly constructed 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, film and television production facility; pedestrian-friendly streetscape improvements and new plaza space, including improvements to the 43rd Street corridor within the campus, to improve visitor access to Bush Terminal Piers Park and significant utility upgrades.

Instant Insights /

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