Annex building designated for growing food companies with a capacity for up to 10 tenants
Announced at grand opening of MOMO Dressing, the first small food manufacturer to expand to Annex
New York — (RealEstateRama) — New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today officially announced the creation of a food manufacturing hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT) Annex building. NYCEDC has designated the entire 55,000 square foot space to serve up to 10 growing food manufacturing companies and expects four new companies to move into the Annex by the end of the year. Based on NYCEDC’s projections, the full activation of the Annex building has the capacity to create over 100 new jobs in Sunset Park.
This announcement was made at the grand opening of MOMO Dressing, a family-owned Japanese salad dressing company, which is the first small food manufacturer to expand its operations to the Annex. MOMO Dressing will produce, bottle and distribute its salad dressing from their new 2,400 square foot space. The expansion has created three new jobs, and is fueling New York City’s economy by sourcing produce from companies like Gotham Greens and local farmers markets, when seasonally available.
“Just like farmers’ markets have expanded to nearly every neighborhood in our city, local food manufacturing is poised to take off,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen. “We have the most talented and diverse city in the world, and nobody is more passionate about food than New Yorkers. We are making targeted investments to spur this industry and grow good jobs in the food economy.”
“The Brooklyn Army Terminal has grown into a hotbed for modern manufacturing, diversified talent and entrepreneurial zeal,” said NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer. “By creating a hub for growing food companies at the Annex, we can build on the strengths of Sunset Park to foster one of the city’s fastest growing industries and create good jobs.”
“Brooklyn’s growing food manufacturing sector will have another opportunity to savor the sweet flavors of success with the new hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “As the Brooklyn brand continues to grow around the world, aspiring entrepreneurs have achieved success by creating products that are as unique and diverse as the borough itself. With support from NYCEDC, small businesses like MOMO Dressing are generating opportunities across Brooklyn and providing the quality jobs we need to build and sustain shared prosperity.”
“We welcome MOMO Dressing, a Japanese immigrant owned company, and congratulate them on becoming the first business to move to the new food manufacturing hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal Annex building. I know that MOMO Dressing will operate in the spirit of other Sunset Park companies – that they will proudly hire locally and enrich our local community. The very real potential for job creation in Sunset Park resulting from this food manufacturing hub is tremendously important and a big reason to celebrate today,” said Council Member Carlos Menchaca.
“The food manufacturing hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal is a shining example of small businesses choosing to create their goods in New York City when given the opportunity. Small businesses are the cornerstone of New York’s economy and NYCEDC recognizes that creating a location to foster these businesses during their infancy is vital to ensuring their prosperity. Made in New York is more than the clothes that we wear or the fashion that we buy, it is also the food that feeds our families. As Chair of the NYC Committee on Small Business, I wish MOMO Dressing success in their venture and I look forward to supporting the food manufacturing revolution that is expanding throughout our City,” said Council Member Robert Cornegy, Chair of the NYC Council Committee on Small Business.
“Brooklyn’s waterfront – particularly Sunset Park – is home to many incredible companies and tens of thousands of jobs, and this new hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal is the next step towards establishing it as one of the preeminent manufacturing centers on the East Coast. From Brooklyn Eats, to the borough’s pavilion at both the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, it’s clear that food manufacturing in Brooklyn is alive and well, and we must do everything we can to help new companies open and existing ones expand. Congratulations to EDC and President Maria Torres-Springer, the Brooklyn Army Terminal and everyone who helped make this a reality,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
“As a tenant of the Brooklyn Army Terminal, I have seen my own business thrive in Sunset Park,” said Jacques Torres, owner of Jacques Torres Chocolate. “I am thrilled to welcome MOMO Dressing and future tenants to the Annex building where we will grow—together—and create great food for New York City, and the world.”
Building on NYCEDC’s larger vision of creating a 21st century manufacturing center at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, the smaller Annex building is well suited to serve growing food companies.
The industrial space features centralized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as plumbing for industrial-sized sinks and kitchen appliances. The space also includes tenant spaces with double-door entrances, which allows for a seamless flow of raw and finished goods, preventing cross-contamination.
Tenants in the Annex Building will also have the opportunity to expand to retail with planned community spaces at Pier 4, the Atrium and renovated lobbies.
Over the past year, NYCEDC has invested over $15 million to renovate the Annex Building in order to foster growth-stage tenants. The 55,000 square feet building can accommodate customizable spaces for a range of operations specific to individual tenants. Further, by designating the entire Annex to food manufacturing, NYCEDC can create a network of similar businesses at similar stages of growth that are able to share ideas and resources, replicating other industry cluster models such as Silicon Valley.
The Annex building is also in close proximity to larger manufacturing spaces in BAT Buildings A and B. Food tenants that wish to expand their operations can do so while remaining within the BAT network. Currently, BAT’s largest food tenant is Jacques Torres—or Mr. Chocolate—who moved his international chocolate company’s factory to BAT’s Building B in 2013.
“EDC’s new food manufacturing hub is a recipe for healthy economic development, supporting the creation of ‘good food jobs’ in New York City’s expanding food manufacturing sector.” said Nevin Cohen, Research Director for the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute.
“We are delighted to hear about the City’s investment to create move-in ready spaces for small food manufacturers in the Annex at the Brooklyn Army Terminal,” stated Leah Archibald, Executive Director of Evergreen: Your North Brooklyn Business Exchange. “We work with so many growing food producers that have outgrown their start-up space, but can’t find appropriate or affordable step-up space. The Annex will help retain many of these growing businesses and their valuable manufacturing jobs here in Brooklyn.”
“Food manufacturing is important not just because it provides jobs that could lead to satisfying careers. It’s also essential to a wide range of other sectors in the city–restaurants, hotels and hospitality, tourism, conventions and meetings, downtown businesses, universities, and more. Food is also part of the cluster economy, and the Brooklyn Army Terminal is playing a vital role in fostering a wide range of clusters. The thicker, more complex, and dynamic our economic clusters, the more sustainable the growth for the city economy,” said Charles Euchner, Senior Researcher for the Center for an Urban Future.
A food manufacturing hub will build on the de Blasio Administration’s focused efforts to create quality jobs and fuel a 21st century economy in Sunset Park and across the City. In November 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced a 10-point Industrial Action Plan, which includes the creation of a new advanced manufacturing center at BAT. In May 2016, Mayor de Blasio also announced the opening of a Workforce1 Center at BAT, focused on connecting Southwest Brooklyn residents to industrial and transportation careers.
NYCEDC has also invested in another City asset in Sunset Park, the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT). The marine terminal was officially reactivated last month as it received shipments of crane parts to be used in the construction of the New York Wheel. NYCEDC released an RFP in late 2015 for a long-term tenant to operate South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and will make a selection by the end of next year.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City’s primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC’s mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City’s competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City’s many opportunities. Find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or visit our blogto learn more about NYCEDC projects and initiatives.
About MOMO Dressing
MOMO Dressing was founded in 2013 by Masaki and Yukimi Momose, two Japanese immigrants, who wanted to improve the quality of Japanese salad dressing served in the United States. After spending years selling their dressing at local farmers market across the region, MOMO caught the eye of Whole Foods and several other up-scale retailers. Today, MOMO can be found in over 30 stores across the city. MOMO Dressing is made in small batches with non-GMO ingredients and buys from local sources when seasonally available. Visit www.momodressing.com for more information.
