Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2005

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce hosted a breakfast meeting with Carl Hum, Director of the Mayor's Office for Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses.  Several Brooklyn-based manufacturing companies attended including Scott Jordan Furniture Inc., Fixture Hardware Manufacturing, Wonton Food Inc., Brooklyn Brewery, Trim Corp. of America, 4C Foods Corp., Pfizer, Belmont Metals Inc., Spinner Industries Inc., Linda Tool and Die, IceStone, and others. 

At the breakfast on Feb. 24, Mr. Hum provided a detailed presentation on the Mayor’s industrial policy, including the formation of new Industrial Business Zones (IBZs).  IBZs will replace the existing In-Place Industrial Parks by redrawing the boundaries around predominately industrially zoned areas for the purpose of protecting such areas and creating new incentives for businesses to expand and relocate to these areas.

"It was great that the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce set up this face-to-face meeting between Carl and several Brooklyn manufacturers.  The policies represent a great step forward and it’s helpful to have direct contact with the officials charged with implementing them,” said Steve Hindy, President of the Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg.

In addition to managing the creation of IBZs, the office will guide city policy and investment with respect to manufacturing and industrial businesses as well as carry out a number of initiatives to assist the manufacturing sector throughout the boroughs.  The office will also look to restructure the benefits that are available to industrial companies that relocate to an IBZ. 

“The manufacturing sector represents a significant 15 percent of New York City’s workforce, amounting to 500,000 jobs,” Mr. Hum told the group.  “This is why it is important that we do all we can to support this sector.” 

The concerns that were raised during the meeting provided first-hand accounts on the difficulties faced by Brooklyn manufacturers, many whom have operated in the borough for decades.  Some of the current challenges cited include, finding qualified and English-literate employees, heavy ticketing by city departments, and the increased pressure on the price and availability of industrial real estate due to increased residential conversions.  All of these issues will be carefully looked at by the Mayor’s Office for Industrial and Manufacturing Business in the upcoming months with an emphasis on providing workable solutions that meet the current needs of the industrial sector.

To download a complete copy of the New York City Industrial Policy – Protecting and Growing New York City’s Industrial Job Base, visit the New York City Web site at http://www.nyc.gov/.