NYCEDC Launches Request for Proposal Seeking Consortium to Establish $100 Million Climate Innovation Hub at BAT in Sunset Park

RFP Advances Key Commitment in NYC’s Green Economy Action Plan That Aims to Catalyze Innovation in Climate Technologies and Equitably Grow Innovation Ecosystem Along the New York Harbor

The World-Class Hub Will Serve 150 Startups Over 10 Years, Generate $2.6 Billion in Economic Impact, Create 600 Jobs, While Providing Local Workforce Training and Job Placement for Sunset Park Community

BROOKLYN, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the release of an up to $100 million request for proposal (RFP) for an operator to develop a world-class climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and advance New York City’s just transition to a green economy. This cutting-edge hub will grow New York City’s climate technology ecosystem, accelerate commercialization pathways for climate technologists, entrepreneurs, and talent working to develop, pilot, and deploy new solutions to combat the effects of climate change.

The Adams Administration is taking bold steps to mobilize public and private sector resources to support the companies, investors, and institutions that are driving innovation in the green economy. In February 2024, Mayor Adams released the Green Economy Action Plan, which outlines a number of City-led actions that will complement private sector activity to triple the green economy’s economic output and more than double the number of “green collar” jobs by 2040. As a key initiative, NYCEDC is embarking on an ambitious strategy, investing up to $100 million to create a premier Climate Innovation Hub at BAT.

The Climate Innovation Hub will be a crucial addition to the recently formed Harbor Climate Collaborative. The Collaborative is a partnership that will link climate tech piloting, tenanting, and programming opportunities at BAT with the rest of the Sunset Park District, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, and the Trust for Governors Island.

“The Climate Innovation Hub will further secure New York’s position at the center of the green economy revolution,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “As we laid out in our State of the City address, we’re going to have 400,000 green economy jobs in New York by 2040, and we’re going to harness the tremendous economic potential of building a cleaner, greener city for our children.”

“The release of the Climate Innovation Hub RFP is one more step in Mayor Adams' Green Economy Action Plan and an illustration of the city's strategy to address climate change, connect New Yorkers to quality jobs and support companies to start and grow in New York. Over the next ten years, the investment of up to $100M will generate $2.6 billion in economic impact and anchor the Harbor Climate Collaborative, an ecosystem of research, discovery, innovation and commercialization that will create green collar jobs, leverage blue highways, and propel a more equitable and resilient New York City,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer.

“There is no better location for the Climate Innovation Hub than at the historic Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, which will serve as a home for clean tech innovation and manufacturing, encourage climate innovation startups, all while training and positioning New Yorkers of all backgrounds to benefit from the nearly 400,000 projected ‘green-collar’ jobs in the City by 2040,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We are thrilled to release this RFP as it provides an exciting opportunity to find partners that are eager to develop and operate this cutting-edge innovation center, that will spark new economic growth and further advance New York City’s just transition to a green economy.”

“The climate innovation hub advances our PlaNYC initiatives to support entrepreneurship and industry innovation around climate change and grow our city's green workforce,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “The frontline community of Sunset Park has one of the worst nitrogen dioxide pollution levels in New York City and its residents will benefit from creative climate solutions that advance better health, resiliency, and sustainability, as well as new, green jobs.”

“The Climate Innovation Hub will help deliver on the promises of the Green Economy Action Plan by investing in the development of the next generation of technologies, companies and workforce training needed to address our climate crisis,” said Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development.” This $100M commitment will further advance innovation, green collar job growth, and robust career pathways so that all New Yorkers can contribute to and benefit from a more resilient City and a more inclusive economy.”

“The Climate Innovation Hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal will be at the cutting edge of transforming New York into the green energy capital of America - all in Sunset Park here in New York 10,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “This exciting new development at the intersection of ideas and implementation will be an incredible boon to the local community, providing jobs, training, and community investment at a pivotal moment for the future of the Brooklyn waterfront. I’m looking forward to partnering with NYCEDC as this work continues and ensuring that all our local community stakeholders are involved every step of the way.”

“Today's announcement marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards a sustainable future. With New York City's launch of its request for proposal for the Climate Innovation Hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal, NYCEDC is not just building a hub, but a solid foundation in which future projects will culminate from our City, and its brilliant minds, to develop 21st-century solutions to address the issues of climate change. By working together with Environmental Justice communities like Sunset Park, we will cultivate a community of innovators dedicated to combating climate change, transforming ideas into actions, and shaping a greener, more resilient tomorrow for all,” said New York State Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes.

“New York's green future is being built right here in Sunset Park,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “This new climate innovation hub will support the technologies and businesses we need to protect our city and our planet from climate change, while offering much-needed jobs and workforce training for the Sunset Park community. I'm looking forward to working with NYCEDC, Mayor Eric Adams and Sunset Park community leaders to build an equitable green economy for all of us.”

“Investing in this Climate Innovation Hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal signals a pivotal moment for New York City's commitment to combatting climate change and fostering a greener economy,” said Council Member James F. Gennaro, Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency & Waterfronts. “I applaud EDC for taking concrete steps to accelerate innovation, create jobs, and build a sustainable future for all New Yorkers.”

“The Climate Innovation Hub will be the bud that grows New York City’s green economy, but its success relies on committed partners and an equitable operator. As Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I am excited to see the request for proposal announced today so we can begin to develop the Climate Innovation Hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal. I look forward to this competitive RFP process and supporting the establishment of the hub, which will play an important role in our City’s economic future,” said Council Member Amanda Farías.

“The Climate Innovation Hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal will help establish Sunset Park as a critical part of NYC's growing green economy,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Hubs for innovation like this will not only play an essential role protecting our communities against climate change, they will also offer entry into high-paying, growing career opportunities for our neighbors. Congratulations to New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Sunset Park community for this exciting project built around a sustainable, green future for Brooklyn and New York City.”

“We all need to do our part to right the wrongs plaguing our great planet, especially the businesses that are creating the tools we need to help us in this critical endeavor. Initiatives like the forthcoming Climate Innovation Hub will meaningfully build on the City’s existing climate solution research and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Governors Island and here at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We look forward to growing the sustainability industry together,” said Lindsay Greene, President and CEO, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

“Developing climate solutions equitably will take collaboration at an unprecedented scale,” said Clare Newman, President and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island. “Here on Governors Island, an ecosystem of partners are creating a hub for research and education to accelerate the solutions cities need to respond to the global climate crisis, and we’re excited to work with our city partners and the future operator of the Climate Innovation Hub at BAT to help scale ideas that will protect New York City’s future.”

Through this RFP, the city is soliciting a consortium led by a single respondent to design and operate the Climate Innovation Hub. NYCEDC recommends that proposals include one or more stakeholders responding together to this RFP with key expertise in accelerator/incubator operations, real estate operations, lab/prototyping facility operations, pilot testing facility operations, an academic or R&D institution, workforce/talent development organization, business development entity, or a financial investor to develop, launch, and support the Hub.

The 112,000 square foot hub for business development, incubation, and research commercialization will serve 150 startups over 10 years and offer workforce development opportunities for the local community. This new space will enable emerging market innovators, small companies, and growth-stage and commercialization-stage companies to build and rapidly prototype products, provide business support using the for-purpose space, and carry out product research and development.

The RFP seeks to solicit premier, mission-aligned entities to design and operate the Climate Innovation Hub at BAT. The procurement will seek a consortium to:

• Develop and operate the Hub with cutting-edge facilities—from prototyping labs to testing platforms.
• Establish business development services to accelerate both startup and incumbent climate innovation businesses to navigate pathways to commercialization.
• Support New York City’s just transition to a green economy by creating workforce development programming for New Yorkers from all backgrounds, including the immediate Sunset Park community, to engage in green job training and opportunities.
• Pilot climate technologies through the recently launched “Pilots at BAT” program—an effort committed to demonstrating climate technologies and solutions at this historic industrial site.

Successful proposals will put forward plans for a new space to incubate and accelerate climate tech businesses and create employment and training opportunities for New Yorkers. The Hub will enable these goals through catalytic business growth programs, advanced manufacturing facilities for prototyping and product development, piloting opportunities, and workforce development initiatives. Compelling proposals will also include plans to develop ecosystem partners across the private and public sectors; attract resources and investment to the local climate tech ecosystem; and implement a business model for the Hub to become financially self-sufficient.

BAT is home to 125 industrial businesses that collectively employ 4,000 New Yorkers. In the last ten years, NYCEDC has invested $270 million at BAT to bring new leasable space online, improve open space, common areas, and campus infrastructure. In addition to the $100 million available for the Hub, NYCEDC is investing nearly $200 million to upgrade the BAT campus to modernize its buildings, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in compliance with Local Law 97, and provide more amenities for workers and visitors. NYCEDC is partnering with UPROSE and development partners on a planned large rooftop community solar installation on the roof of Building B and has engaged with numerous climate tech companies to pilot new products throughout the campus.

Amenities at BAT include 1,500 private parking spaces for businesses on the campus, and 450 public parking spaces on Pier 4. There are 118 loading docks campuswide and Building A is served by a dedicated loading dock with nine individual bays. Additional tenant amenities include a growing offering of food and beverage amenities, on-site childcare providers, a NYC Workforce One Center, and events spaces and conference rooms.

Beyond BAT, the nearby South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) is being redeveloped into a world-class offshore wind port facility. In addition, the two million square foot Made in New York (MiNY) Campus at Bush Terminal will host movie studios and space for light manufacturing and creative uses.

Through this historic municipal investment, the Climate Innovation Hub is poised to provide the innovation facilities, piloting infrastructure, business growth programs, and workforce development opportunities that will not only address the existential threat of climate change but generate enduring shared prosperity for all New Yorkers for years to come.

Responses to the Climate Innovation Hub RFP are due on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 11:59pm EST.

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.