NYCEDC Selects Fordham University as First Awardee of Greenlight Innovation Fund, Fueling Growth in Future-Focused Sectors
Fordham University Awarded $3 Million to Support Creation of Workforce and Community Center Focused on Green Jobs Training, Apprenticeships, and Environmental Justice Advocacy
The Greenlight Innovation Fund Provides City Capital for Development of Spaces That Support Growth and Commercialization of Innovation Industries in the Five Boroughs
Advances New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan and “New” New York Initiative
BRONX, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced Fordham University as the inaugural awardee of the Greenlight Innovation Fund, a $50 million dollar program that is driving development in the future-focused sectors of the life sciences, green economy, and advanced technology. The Greenlight Innovation Fund supports projects which generate good-paying jobs, support commercialization of technologies in future-focused sectors, and catalyze an ecosystem of entrepreneurs with a focus on equity. Fordham University will receive $3 million dollars from the Fund, as well as support from additional funds including a $1.1 million grant from Councilman Oswald Feliz, to create the Bronx Green Job Center (BGJC), a first-of-its kind collaborative workforce development and entrepreneurship hub that will create an equitable green-job pipeline in the heart of the Bronx.
The Greenlight Innovation Fund advances New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan, launched in February of 2024, and aims to supercharge the economy, spark cutting-edge innovation, and support nearly 400,000 jobs by 2040. Additionally, the Greenlight Innovation Fund follows through on a commitment from the “New” New York Panel’s Making New York Work for Everyone Action Plan, to support and accelerate the equitable growth of future-focused sectors.
“Congratulations to Fordham University on this exciting project and their leading role in helping educate the future leaders of New York City, especially in the Bronx,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This project advances the Adams’ administration’s Green Economy Action Plan and will further demonstrate that we can and should continue to invest in the green economy, support entrepreneurs in the Bronx, and work to create more green-collar jobs that will generate economic prosperity, especially in The Bronx.”
“The Greenlight Innovation Fund will play a central role in uplifting New York City's future-focused sectors through the development of spaces where innovation can thrive—while also advancing key commitments in the City’s Green Economy Action Plan and “New” New York Initiative,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “NYCEDC is thrilled for Fordham University to develop a first-of-its kind collaborative workforce development and entrepreneurship hub that will equitably grow our future-focused industries and position New Yorkers for success within these sectors.”
“This award will help us launch the Bronx Green Jobs Center—a collaboration with community partners and a diverse coalition of other prospective partners—to help power the future of New York’s green economy,” said Fordham University President Tania Tetlow. “By training and developing Bronx-based workers, innovators, and leaders, it will fulfill a dual mission of advancing economic opportunity for the Bronx community and contributing to environmental stewardship.”
In December 2023, NYCEDC launched the Greenlight Innovation Fund, a $50 million City capital-funded Request for Proposals (RFP) to support projects that develop spaces for innovation to thrive. These innovation industries have experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, contribute to New York’s continued economic growth and recovery, and address our society’s greatest opportunities in areas such as sustainability, healthcare, deep tech, and artificial intelligence.
Through the Greenlight Innovation Fund, the City and NYCEDC plan to make multiple awards of at least $3 million per project for the acquisition of space, construction or renovation of facilities, or purchase of equipment. The Fund recently closed its third submission round in May 2025. Future funding rounds may become available and will be posted to NYCEDC’s RFP website.
Fordham University will use the funds to renovate a university-owned, 12,946 square foot space located at 585 East Fordham Road in the Bronx and create the BGJC, which will aim to address multifaceted challenges faced by the Bronx community through a comprehensive suite of programs and services, with a particular emphasis on supporting workforce development initiatives in the green economy.
The launch of the BGJC will mark a pivotal moment for the Bronx, by providing a fully accessible hub for workforce development and economic opportunities, as well as dynamic space for community development and resource navigation serving over 25,000 community members annually. The BGJC workforce development programs are set to launch in the Fall of 2026.
“I could not be prouder of both the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Fordham University for leading the way on green jobs, and their laser-like focus on bringing the economy of the future here to the Bronx!” said Assemblymember George Alvarez. “Congratulations to Fordham on being the inaugural award recipient of the Greenlight Innovation Fund, that will support the creation of a workforce and community center right here at 585 East Fordham Road focused on green jobs training, apprenticeships, and environmental justice advocacy.”
“Congratulations to Fordham University for being the 1st Awardee of The New York City Economic Development Corporation's $50 million Green Light Innovation Fund that looks to creatively identify bold and innovative ways to push the economy forward! Receiving $3 million in City capital dollars will not only help support the creation of a Bronx Green Jobs Center, it'll go further by training up a workforce that prioritizes the use of new technologies, apprenticeships, and environmental advocacy,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank Fordham University for demonstrating its leadership and dedication to creating future-focused jobs, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, for actively searching and awarding organizations that see it as a way to drive the economy.”
“The launch of the Bronx Green Job Center is exactly the kind of investment our communities need—one that creates economic opportunity, supports climate justice, and prepares our workforce for the future,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development. “I’m proud to see the Bronx leading on green innovation and thrilled that Fordham University will be home to this first-of-its-kind hub. The Greenlight Innovation Fund is helping turn visionary ideas into real progress for New Yorkers, and this partnership sets a strong example for what equitable, community-based development can look like.”
“Today's announcement by NYCEDC to provide $3 million from their Greenlight Innovation Fund to Fordham for the Bronx Green Job Center is important news,” said Matt Petersen, CEO of LACI. “Along with LACI's recently announced partnership with EDC on climate programming at BATWorks—including bringing our expertise with startup piloting to the campus and growing our partnership with NYC via our City Climate Innovation Challenge--this represents the growing momentum for growing an inclusive green economy.”
This announcement is also a reflection of the City’s dedicated commitment to investing in deep tech initiatives to deliver transformational impact by solving existing challenges through innovation and opening New York to new markets. Some key investments include the creation of BATWorks, a climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, the AI Nexus, launching the Greenlight Innovation Fund, supporting the NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)’s Micro-mobility Charging Pilot, the Pilots at BAT program, Newlab’s Urban Tech Hub, and the Mount Siani BioDesign Center for Surgical Devices.
The Making New York Work For Everyone action plan was launched in May 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams to examine the future of New York City and the region’s economy. The panel created a set of 40 proposals intended to make New York City the best place to work and serve as a roadmap for the city’s future. The initiative, follows through on a commitment of the “New” New York Panel Making New York Work for Everyone Action Plan, to support and accelerate the equitable growth of future-focused sectors.
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, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
