Working hand-in-hand with the Garment District Alliance (GDA) leadership team on the design and oversight of the Business Development Collaborative (BDC), a multi-year, multi-million dollar initiative to improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Garment District.
The Problem
For more than a century, New York City’s Garment District has played a unique historic, cultural and economic role for the city. It is home to the greatest concentration of fashion designers in the country and houses a tight-knit network of fashion-related businesses that combine design, technology and handcraft to support the city’s cutting edge fashion industry. Yet, like many manufacturing industries across the nation, the district has seen a steep decline in production and the closing of factories, largely due to overseas competition and the rising costs of operating in New York City. And while pedestrian counts, safety and even economic diversification have increased across the District, there continues to be opportunity to address the quality of life and experience for all who work, live and visit the neighborhood.
Intended Outcomes
Design and oversight of the Business Development Collaborative (BDC) program to (1) strengthen the capacity of District businesses, entrepreneurs and workforce, with a focus on legacy fashion manufacturing sectors, and (2) enhance the quality of life and sense of place for workers, residents and visitors alike across the District.
Our Work Streams
- Stakeholder Engagement & Alignment: Designing and leading sessions with GDA’s leadership, fashion industry experts and advocates, property owners, local businesses, elected officials, and community board members to build program buy-in and align on District opportunities, challenges and priorities. Conducting workshops and surveys with BDC delivery partners and beneficiaries to foster program participation, measure impact, and source lessons to inform future program delivery.
- Program Design, Oversight & Learning: Co-designing the BDC program impact areas and approach, while coordinating with 19 delivery partners to ensure impactful delivery, compliance and ongoing iteration based on lessons learned.
- Strategic Management & Communications: Facilitating regular management meetings with the GDA and delivering strategic updates, reports and presentation to the GDA’s Board of Directors, local elected officials, members of the Special Programming Advisory Committee, and current delivery partners.
Impact Numbers
755+
businesses and/or entrepreneurs engaged through the BDC
14,000+
hours of BDC programming delivered
93%
of program participants are likely to recommend the program to a colleague or friend
78%
of participating businesses have expanded their business reach through an increase in connections, leads or networks
26%
of participating businesses have reporting an increase in sales as a result of the program
48%
of participating businesses have increased productivity and efficiency in their operations and processes
Key Findings
130 people have been convened through the district's advisory committee. Discussion has advanced more quickly on economic resilience than on climate risk, and that is where the next round of framing is focused.