Keeping Manufacturing in NYC

This interview with Adam Friedman of the New York Industrial Retention Network, illuminates reasons for retaining manufacturing in NYC, such as sustainability and job creation.

1 minute read

October 9, 2009, 8:00 AM PDT

By Alek Miller

From the corresponding article:

"These jobs also contribute to the vitality of the city and our neighborhoods. High wages, unionized workplaces, benefits, the high walk-to-work ratio of blue-collar communities – for many people, industry jobs are the only jobs in the city that offer a living wage and decent work. Even so, there are tremendous pressures on manufacturers in the city to leave. High rents and inadequate and outdated zoning laws are squeezing manufacturers out of the city."

From the interview:

"The biggest threat to manufacturing in the city today is around land use and the shortage of decent, affordable, stable space. If you don't have stable space, if you don't have a solid industrial area, if your area is being gentrified and you're a manufacturer, there's no way you're going to make an investment 'cause you don't know if you can stay when your lease ends. So how can you buy a new piece of equipment if you're going to incur the expense of moving it or if you don't even know if your business is going to be in operation in a couple years."

FULL STORY: Manufacturing a Real Economy

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 in Urban Omnibus

Community / Economic Development New York Economic Development New York City Manufacturing

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