NYCEDC Selects BOC Capital Corp. as M/W/DBE Training Operator for ConstructNYC Program

ConstructNYC Firms Have Created Nearly 700 Jobs and Awarded Nearly $62 Million Across 106 Contracts Since the Program's Inception

BOC Capital Corp. Will Oversee Implementation of Expanded Training Program that Includes Green Construction Components

NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economy Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has selected BOC Capital Corp. to provide training, technical assistance, and access to public contract opportunities to ConstructNYC participants. The ConstructNYC Program is designed to connect small-to-mid-sized minority/women-owned and otherwise disadvantaged business enterprises (M/W/DBEs) with exclusive opportunities to work on NYCEDC construction projects. 

The capacity building program will now encompass new training, certification, and project opportunities in the green economy and explore a partnership with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ (DCAS) to tap into their $4 billion green retrofit capital project pipeline. Informed by the Local Law 97 Implementation Action Plan, DCAS will be releasing multiple contracts to meet immediate decarbonization mandates. 

ConstructNYC advances the commitment to equitable and sustainable economic growth, while marking NYCEDC’s first major investment in growing an equitable green economy focused on decarbonization – a key administration priority outlined in Mayor Eric Adams’ Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint of New York City’s Economic Recovery. Since 2016, ConstructNYC has prequalified 10 cohorts of M/W/DBE participants. 

“The ConstructNYC program advances our efforts to grow a green economy that is rooted in social equity by breaking down barriers and leveling the playing field for minority owned businesses. Last year, EDC achieved a 38 percent contract award rate to M/W/DBEs,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “We are thrilled to continue to build off this program's success with the addition of these new services led by BOC Capital Corp., coupled with the opportunity to tap into DCAS' green retrofit capital project pipeline. We will continue to work with our partners on creating a vibrant and inclusive economy in New York City.”

“We are thrilled to lend our support to NYCEDC’s ConstructNYC program and look forward to building a strong and diverse energy-focused workforce in New York City,” said DCAS Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “At DCAS, we are committed to strengthening our relationships with M/WBEs and we are confident that this collaboration will be a value add to help them advance their work.”

“M/W/DBE’s need and deserve. As we continue to prioritize our City’s economic development, it is critical that we have job pipelines and career training programs in place to give our local workforce equitable opportunities to thrive in the green economy. I look forward to supporting NYCEDC’s continued efforts in growing workforce opportunities citywide. Thank you to President Andrew Kimball and the entire NYCEDC team for your leadership,” said " said Council Member and Chair of Economic Development Committee Amanda Farías. 

“BOC is excited to continue our work developing and delivering ConstructNYC with NYCEDC and looks forward to expanding the program to prepare businesses for opportunities in Green Construction. This program allows us to continue our support in social, economic and environmental justice,” said Executive Director of BOC Capital Corporation Nancy Carin. 

Additionally, in March 2023, NYCEDC launched the first-in-the-nation offshore wind (OSW) and waterfront capacity building program for MWDBEs. The OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways Program will offer comprehensive business readiness and industry training, technical assistance, and direct access to EDC contracting opportunities in the fast-growing sector. 

Both ConstructNYC and the OSW NYC Waterfront Pathways capacity building programs reaffirm EDC’s commitment to increase development and utilization of M/W/DBEs. This work has resulted in strong performance as in FY22, EDC achieved a M/W/DBEs utilization rate of 38% on all awards. 

In addition to offering current business and public contracting readiness curriculum, BOC Capital Corporation has partnered with Lozier Inc and Soulful Synergies to deliver sustainability-focused green construction training (e.g., green roofs, circular construction, materials reuse, solar installation) and innovate solutions to barriers that M/W/DBEs are facing in public procurement. 

Additionally, this program will provide pathways for NYC Department of Buildings Sustainable Contractor status as well as certification through the Urban Green Council’s Green Professional program. Green training will have a management lens for owners including education on construction information management systems for green construction work. Participants will receive a G-Pro Construction Management certificate.

To address disparities in New York City’s public procurement process, NYCEDC launched ConstructNYC in 2016 to assist small-to-mid-sized M/W/DBEs in construction trades to bid on work in NYCEDC’s $9 billion capital project portfolio.

The program aims to level the industry playing field by offering the training necessary for M/W/DBEs to build-out financial, technical, and workforce capacity, to take on larger capital construction projects. The program pipeline includes project opportunities up to $3 million.

ConstructNYC training curriculum is designed to help M/W/DBEs learn best business and management practices to be successful. Since its inception in 2016, ConstructNYC firms have created 669 jobs in their communities and have been awarded close to $62 million across 106 contracts. 

In 2019, the Climate Mobilization Act mandated ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions for New York City’s portfolio of government and private buildings. To comply with the City’s emissions reduction targets, demand for green construction services has boomed. Urban Green Council estimates that Local Law 97 will create a total energy retrofit market opportunity of $16.6B- $24.3 billion.

New York City has led the charge to support achievement of these energy mandates by deploying DCAS to manage a $4 billion workstream of energy retrofits across public assets to be completed by 2030. DCAS will continue to support NYCEDC to share best practices in energy and building operations training and connect ConstructNYC firms to their project pipeline. Cohort 10 of ConstructNYC began in February 2023 and will run through May. 

The Green Training is scheduled to start in May. Green Training will be available to all ten cohorts of the program.   

About NYCEDC     
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.