NYCEDC Launches First-In-Nation Offshore Wind and Waterfront Training Program for Minority, Women-Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises

Program to Offer Expert Resources, Information on Projects, And Tools to Access Contracting Opportunities in New Emerging Offshore Wind Sector

City Working to Eliminate Barriers and Create a Diverse Local Talent Pipeline to Fully Take Advantage of Opportunities in a New Green Economy

NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and TMI Waterfront Services today launched a first-of-its-kind offshore wind (OSW) training program for Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWDBEs) with the goal of eliminating barriers and easing participation in contracts. The OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways Program will assist New York’s MWDBEs currently working in waterfront construction, offshore wind or who are seeking to pivot to these industries.

The first cohort kicks off on March 14th, 2023, and consists of 18 construction and professional service firms. The program will be integral to Mayor Adam’s commitment to growing an equitable and inclusive offshore wind industry as outlined in his Blueprint for Economic Recovery.

The OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways Program will receive close to $1 million, allocated from the 15-year, $191 million OSW Vision Plan that was unveiled in September 2021. Additionally, Equinor and BP provided $500,000 for the development and implementation of the capacity building program, as part of the agreement to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a major regional hub for offshore wind.

“Supporting the growth of new, clean sectors, like Offshore Wind, for the city’s economy is a top priority of the administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “We have an opportunity to build an industry that has equity at its core. The OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways Program will advance these goals, helping to build the Offshore Wind Industry and actively engage New York’s Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises from the outset. We look forward to continuing to work on leveling the playing field for New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds and forging pathways to economic success.”

“New York City’s diversity is its greatest strength, and here at EDC it is a top priority to level the playing field for traditionally underrepresented communities and ensure that economic opportunity is equitable and inclusive. We are proud to launch the first-in-the-nation OSW and waterfront training program for Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises that will work to eliminate systematic barriers and create a diverse talent pipeline for the rapidly growing OSW industry,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “We look forward on continuing to work with our partners to expand opportunity and spark new economic growth while advancing equity, inclusion and diversity for New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs.”

“Congratulations to the participants of the NYCEDC’s first cohort of the Offshore Wind (OSW) and Waterfront Training Program for MWDBEs. The offshore wind industry is one of our newest sectors and will be very beneficial to our City. By prioritizing the incorporation of MWDBEs we are prioritizing our local economies. Thank you to the NYCEDC for this initiative and I look forward to working together to make sure our Black and Brown communities see the benefit the new Offshore Wind sector will bring to our City,” said Council Member Amanda Farías.

“Through our partnership with NYCEDC, Equinor is pleased to support this innovative program. The development of offshore wind not only is bringing renewable energy to the city and state, but it is creating a whole new industry that will provide great careers for decades to come. Equinor is pleased to play an important role in this exciting new sector through the revitalization of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal as a port and the hub for our Empire Wind and Beacon Wind projects. We are proud to participate in this great program that focuses on Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to help ensure that the offshore wind industry workforce in New York is diverse and open to all.” said President Equinor Wind US Molly Morris.

TMI Waterfront is a joint venture between TMS Waterfront, Menotti Enterprises, and Indigo River. The consortium was selected by NYCEDC through a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued last year. NYCEDC found TMI Waterfront to be uniquely qualified to deliver this program because of their combined knowledge and expertise, which includes waterfront management, sustainability, resiliency, education, and training. The makeup of the team reflects an emphasis on equity and experience as TMS Waterfront is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB), Menotti Enterprises is a Minority Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/DBE) and a SDVOB, and Indigo River is a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE).

The capacity building program, OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways offers small-to-mid-size MWDBEs expert resources, education courses, and information on NYCEDC projects to help improve access and awareness about the city’s contracting opportunities in waterfront construction. The training program also helps MWDBEs position their business for effective joint ventures and public-private partnerships so they can receive funding, grow, and get to the next level.

NYCEDC selected the following firms to participate in the inaugural OSW training program. To apply, firms must be certified as M/WBE, have an annual revenue over $1M, must have been in business for over three years, and perform services relevant to the waterfront industry.

• Active Design Group Engineering DPC, structural engineering, concrete and steel design, and marine engineering services.
• Amaracon Testing & Inspections, LLC, special inspections and material testing.
• Andes Consulting Engineering & Surveying, PLLC, land surveying, civil engineering, and aerial mapping services.
• Armand Corporation, construction management, inspections, and compliance consulting firm.
• Bay Environmental Consulting LLC, environmental site assessments, monitoring and sampling.
• Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc., architectural, coastal and marine engineering services.
• Boomi Environmental LLC, environmental consulting, waterfront development planning, and construction management services.
• CAS Group LLC, coastal and marine engineering services.
• Celtic Marine Services Corporation, marine construction and commercial diving services.
• ENGenuity Infrastructure, civil engineering, geophysical surveying, and permitting services.
• Huicatao Corporation, heavy civil construction services.
• Hydrotechology Consultants, Inc., environmental consulting services.
• Insight Civil Engineering, PLLC, civil engineering services.
• Laland Baptiste, construction management and civil engineering services.
• Power Connect Electric Corp., electrical construction and connection services.
• SA Engineering LLC, engineering consultancy and construction support services.
• Williams Electrical Mechanical Group, Inc., electrical construction and tug/barge services.
• Yu & Associates, hazardous materials, environmental and civil engineering services.

“The return to the waterfront either commercially, recreationally, or privately in New York City, as well as the shift to renewables, has been accelerating for the past 2 decades. Linking and activating the historically underrepresented DAC and EJ communities, as well as MWBE enterprises to the waterfront with the skills and connections to participate is long overdue – this program will do exactly that. TMS Waterfront is proud to participate with our partners, Menotti Enterprise & Indigo River, and we look forward to seeing the next generation of leaders in this program,” said TMS Waterfront President & Founder Shea Thorvaldsen.

“Indigo River is proud of the joint venture with TMS Waterfront and Menotti Enterprises, in partnership with NYCEDC, to launch New York City's Waterfront and Offshore Wind Infrastructure Training program geared toward minority and women-owned business. It is a critical component in developing our workforce in an emerging industry and vital to the long-term sustainability of our great city,” said Founder of Indigo River Dena Prastos.

“The EDC OSW Waterfront Pathways program represents a major step forward in creating a more equitable and inclusive energy future for our city,” said Menotti Enterprise LLC EVP Steven Menotti. “Our partnership with TMS Waterfront and Indigo River, along with the NYCEDC, is a testament to our shared commitment to empowering minority and women-owned businesses to take a leading role in the transition to offshore wind energy. This program will provide the necessary training and resources to ensure the success of these businesses and the growth of our city's workforce in this vital industry. We are proud to be a part of this visionary initiative.”

“Boomi Environmental LLC is a specialty environmental consulting firm focused on resilient and sustainable infrastructure aimed at preserving the environment for future generations. We are very excited to participate in the OSW/Waterfront program to expand our service areas in wind power development and mitigation of any environmental or waterfront impacts in NYC,” said Boomi Environmental LLC President and Principal Consultant Srinivasan Rangarajan.

“Celtic Marine Services Corp. is thrilled to be chosen to participate in the first cohort of NYCEDC’s Offshore Wind Waterfront Pathways program. As a NYC & NY State Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) this opportunity will empower my company to compete for NYC OSW and Marine Construction opportunities enabling me to ensure the company continues to thrive and remain profitable. Equally important to us at Celtic Marine Services is the opportunity to contribute to NYC Climate Goals by working collaboratively with Equinor to build the infrastructure to achieve Mayor Adams vision to make NYC a leading hub for the offshore wind industry,” said Celtic Marine Services Corporation President Catherine McHugh-Russo.

“Laland Baptiste, a Construction Management and Civil Engineering firm, is excited to have been chosen to participate in NYC EDC Offshore Wind Pathways Program. The industry is moving towards using our natural resources in more effective ways and EDC has partnered to see this initiative through. This program will ensure that Professional Service MWBE firms like Laland Baptiste are positioned to participate in the renewables space. We are looking forward to this partnership and its future developments,” said Laland Baptiste LLC CEO Schillivia Baptiste.

The OSW industry will play a pivotal role in achieving the City’s ambitious climate goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040, and carbon neutrality by 2050. The sector is poised to employ over 13,000 New Yorkers by 2030 and generate a supply chain of $109 billion for the east coast. The City and NYCEDC’s OSW vision plan works to ensure that 40% of job and investment benefits will be directed to women, minorities, and environmental justice communities.

Adjacent to the OSW industry opportunity is EDC’s contracting for waterfront and in‐water construction work. EDC’s waterfront inspection program, projected at $1B worth of work in water construction work on city assets over the next 5 years, has had little opportunities for M/WBE due to their limited capacity to deliver. Programs like the OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways Program work to eliminate barriers and ensure New York’s MWDBEs can take advantage of green opportunities.

By increasing MWDBE participation, the city can build a strong local and diverse talent pipeline of skilled leaders and entrepreneurs, which further advances gender and racial equity and promotes economic opportunity for historically disadvantaged groups. The City’s goal is to create 13,000 good paying jobs by 2035 in the OSW sector and ensure that 40 percent of job and investment benefits are directed toward women, minorities, and environmental justice communities.

To further build a more inclusive and equitable business environment, Mayor Adams announced Executive Order 26 last February, which focuses on increasing the number of underrepresented ethnic groups awarded city contracts and expanding opportunities for MWBE business owners.

Visit the OSW Waterfront Pathways Program webpage for more information. 

About NYCEDC    
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that creates shared prosperity across New York City by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. We work with and for communities to bring emerging industries to New York City; develop spaces and facilities for businesses; empower New Yorkers through training and skill-building; and invest in sustainable and innovative projects that make the city a great place to live and work. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram