Power Authority, LaGuardia Community College Collaborate To Provide Free Educational and Technical Assistance for Small and Diverse Businesses
PowerUp2030 To Strengthen New York State’s MWBE Pipeline
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first cohort under PowerUp2030, a new program developed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC) to support small and diverse businesses, has recently graduated. The program is designed to strengthen New York’s growing clean energy sector through 10-week courses that provide firms with technical training, networking opportunities, and valuable information on how to secure clean energy contracts. PowerUp2030 builds on New York’s efforts to strengthen its supply chain pipeline in the energy space with small businesses, minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOB).
“I launched the PowerUp2030 program this spring to help ensure that New York’s supply chain truly reflects the vibrant diversity of our great state,” Governor Hochul said. “As this first graduating class in the program shows, by providing small and diverse firms with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive, we are strengthening our clean energy economy and supporting a more equitable future.”
New York State-based firms with at least five years of experience in fields related to construction, electrical, engineering, and HVAC are eligible to participate in nine modules hosted at LAGCC. The modules are taught by experts from LAGCC and NYPA, and cover topics including the renewable energy landscape; opportunity and risk analysis; fiscal management; construction safety essentials; automation and AI; and operations, maintenance and installation. Additionally, participants are paired with a dedicated business advisor to provide one-on-one technical assistance throughout the program and after completion. NYPA and LAGCC will host multiple cohorts of 25-30 businesses under PowerUp2030 annually. The first PowerUp2030 cohort began in June and graduated this week.
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “PowerUp2030 empowers small and diverse businesses in New York State to participate in and help advance New York’s clean energy transformation. A robust and resilient supply chain is vital to the energy industry, and through the Power Authority’s unique partnership with LaGuardia Community College participants who graduate this week and those in future cohorts will have the expertise needed for growth and success in the energy field that will power our state’s economy and benefit all New Yorkers.”
LaGuardia Community College Kenneth Adams said, “LaGuardia Community College is proud to partner with the New York Power Authority to launch PowerUp2030 — an innovative initiative that empowers small and diverse businesses to thrive in New York’s clean energy future. This program aligns perfectly with our mission to drive economic mobility and equity through education and workforce development. By providing critical training, resources, and connections, PowerUp2030 will ensure that more entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities have a seat at the table in the state’s green economy.”
Earlier this year, as part of the State’s broader efforts to expand opportunity, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the “AAPI Enterprise Empowerment” initiative, a targeted effort to help MWBEs complete their New York State Certification applications. This work builds on a series of certification focused initiatives led by Empire State Development including Trailblazers in Business, Sail-Thru Summer, Whirlwind Winter, and others that provide MWBEs with dedicated support and resources to successfully navigate the certification process.
Building on this foundation, Empire State Development and NYPA have expanded business development opportunities through programs like the Business Growth Accelerator (BGA 3.0) Program, which equips participating businesses with direct access to industry expertise, procurement guidance, and networking opportunities. Programs like BGA 3.0 and PowerUp2030 strengthen connections with diverse businesses and are among a variety of supplier diversity business development programs aimed to increase the number of businesses able to participate in NYPA and New York State Canal Corporation contracts.
In the past year, the Power Authority and Canal Corporation’s total spend for MWBEs was $121 million and $14.9 million for SDVOBs. Since 2020, the Power Authority’s MWBE spend has increased by 7 percent, from $113 million to $121 million. In the same timeframe, its SDVOB spend increased by 229 percent, from $4.5 million to $14.9 million. Since 1983, NYPA has spent more than $1.8 billion with NYS small and diverse businesses. Additional information on NYPA's supplier diversity program is available on its webpage. Procurement information for NYPA and Canals, can be found on nypa.gov/procurement and on the New York State Contract System at nyscr.ny.gov.
LAGCC trains thousands of individuals annually across several dozen adult and continuing education workforce training programs in the healthcare, technology, construction, building operations, media, finance, business, industrial, renewable energy, and education sectors.
New York State Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said, “PowerUp2030 exemplifies New York's dedication to diversity and inclusion within the clean energy sector. By offering comprehensive support and targeted training, this program will help small and diverse firms overcome barriers and seize new opportunities.”
Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight said, “PowerUp2030 is a powerful example of how New York State is ensuring that small and diverse businesses have the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to succeed in the clean energy sector. By strengthening the MWBE pipeline and expanding opportunities in this growing industry, we are not only supporting business growth but also advancing an equitable clean energy economy that benefits communities across the state.”