$29.5 Million Will Support 33 Projects that Align with Region's Strategic Plan 

Region Awarded Additional $50 Million for Transformative Projects Through Inaugural ACHIEVE Competition 

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that New York City was awarded $79.5 million through Governor Kathy Hochul's 2025 Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Of this funding, $29.5 million will support 33 projects across five boroughs, leveraging $451.8 million in additional public and private investments. New York City was also selected as one of four awardees for the inaugural $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — or ACHIEVE competition — which empowered the REDCs to advance catalytic economic development projects. 

ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Governor Hochul’s REDCs continue to recommend proposals that will create jobs and spur new growth through a locally focused, bottom-up strategy to economic development. By awarding state funding to projects that align with regional priorities, New York is investing in new ideas, new efforts and new developments to promote community growth throughout the state."  

Secretary of State and REDC Chair Walter T. Mosley said, "Capitalizing on the successful momentum of the Regional Economic Development Councils, Governor Hochul’s new ACHIEVE Initiative provided regions with the motivation to amplify their ideas with dramatic game changing projects. Congratulations to New York City for coming up with a high impact, transformational project that will spur economic growth for years to come." 

New York City Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs William D. Rahm and Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, "We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued investment in New York City and in the people and communities that make our city thrive. We also thank our fellow Council members and partners for their collaborative vision and dedication. Together, these investments will support local organizations, create jobs, expand housing opportunities, and help ensure growth is shared across all five boroughs." 

Projects awarded funding in New York City include: 

• Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center Local Development Corporation – $2.5 Million Regional Council Capital Fund grant: The non-profit developer will demolish and rebuild the bulkhead along the northern side of its facility on Newtown Creek, a Superfund site on one of New York's most polluted waterways. Replacing the bulkhead is essential to maintaining the building and will secure the facility as the long-term home to several small manufacturing businesses and artisans working in the building. The bulkhead replacement will also have resiliency features and flood-risk reduction benefits and feature a public pedestrian promenade connected to the existing Manhattan Avenue street-end park.  

• The Mott Haven-Port Morris Community Land Stewards, Inc. – $2.5 Million Regional Council Capital Fund grant: The Bronx based not-for-profit will rehabilitate the long-vacant, city-owned former Lincoln Recovery Center on 140th Street into the Hearts Center. The center will be a community center for health, education, and arts. Once complete, the Hearts Center will provide affordable space for community-based organizations offering holistic health programs, job training, and arts programming to residents. 

• Mixteca Organization, Inc. – $1.5 Million Regional Council Capital Fund grant: The Brooklyn-based nonprofit serves Latinx and Indigenous immigrant communities through culturally responsive services in health, education, legal advocacy, and workforce development. Mixteca will acquire and renovate Sunset Park warehouse to establish a new headquarters, known as Casa Mixteca. This new facility will address long-standing space and accessibility constraints and enable the organization to significantly expand its programs which prioritizes accessibility, cultural relevance, and community empowerment. 

A full list of projects across all 10 regions is available here. 

New York City was also one of four regions awarded a combined $150 million based on their ACHIEVE proposals, which were reviewed by the Strategic Implementation Assessment Team comprised of members of the Governor's Cabinet.  

The New York City Breakthrough Initiative ACHIEVE proposal was awarded $50 million to advance a new model for neighborhood redevelopment that enables housing and workplaces to coexist in underutilized industrial and commercial areas, strengthening local economies and expanding access to quality jobs and housing. Building on recent zoning and land use procedure reforms, ACHIEVE funding will support anchor projects across the city through new mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial, and industrial uses, addressing the affordability crisis by creating and co-locating new housing and jobs.  

About the Regional Economic Development Councils 

The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov. 

About Empire State Development 

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X. 

Contact:
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313