Thomas-Henry asks about MWBE mentor-protégé capacity building programs
Thomas-Henry asks about mentor-protégé programs to help MWBEs build capacity for green economy work. Jung describes Construct NYC, EDC's MWBE construction capacity building program with designed on-ramps to EDC procurements, and Waterfront Pathways, funded by Equinor to help MWBEs enter offshore wind and waterfront construction.
Max, one more question.
Just to piggyback on that, is there anything in the plan to help these MWBEs, like any mentor protege programs to help them build capacity?
So if they're not currently...
Capable of performing this that they will be?
Yeah, thanks for council member for the question.
We have a shared value there supporting MWPE's access opportunities within the green economy.
We have longstanding programs called Construct NYC and a newer program called Waterfront Pathways, both which we run in-house at EDC.
Construct NYC is our premier best-in-class MWPE construction business technical assistance and capacity building program.
We're proud to say that we've graduated multiple cohorts.
We have designed on-ramps onto EDC projects in particular for those companies to ensure that once they get those skills, they're able to get first offers on any EDC
procurements that we put out to bid, particularly for construction work.
Waterfront Pathways was also invested by Equinor.
It was a program that Equinor invested in as well.
That program was specifically created to address the disparities in waterfront construction and services work to enable MWPEs to enter offshore wind, but also to grow their capacities.
And contracting opportunities in waterfront construction, just given the nature of how many assets are on our 520 miles of coastline.
So we're happy to follow up with more information on those two programs.
They've been running very well, and kudos to our EDC and WPPE team for running those.
Thank you.
Thank you to both chairs.
Council member Hanif for your questions.