Can the Brooklyn Navy Yard revitalize New York City's industrial workforce and make the Big Apple an attractive destination for manufacturers?
The historic naval site has been undergoing a transition into a thriving center for innovation, sustainability, and workforce development, offering cutting-edge training and employment opportunities tailored to meet the demands of modern manufacturing.
A legacy of manufacturing, a future in innovation
The yard has long been synonymous with industrial activity, and today, it serves as a hub for advanced manufacturing. Under the leadership of Lindsay Greene, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the space has adapted to the 21st-century economy by investing in real estate and infrastructure while attracting a diverse range of tenants, from tech startups to established manufacturers.
This mix of industries has not only revitalized the area but also positioned the Navy Yard as a leader in urban manufacturing innovation.
The centerpiece of the workforce initiative is the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) training program. This program offers free upskilling opportunities for individuals with some experience in CNC operations, aiming to bridge the gap between basic operational skills and advanced CNC programming.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard invested in CNC training to address the growing need for skilled labor in advanced manufacturing.
The rise of automation and precision machining in industries such as aerospace, medical devices, and electronics has created a gap between the skills workers traditionally had and the skills modern manufacturing now requires. CNC technology is central to this transformation, allowing businesses to produce parts with greater accuracy and efficiency than manual methods.
We are now focusing on life-sustaining, working-class careers in modern industries like CNC machining.
The Navy Yard recognized that its tenants, many involved in high-tech manufacturing, needed a workforce capable of operating and programming CNC machines, Greene said. By offering a CNC training program, the Navy Yard aimed to equip local workers with these in-demand skills.
The program focuses on upskilling individuals with basic CNC experience, teaching advanced techniques like CAD/CAM design, 2D and 3D milling, and lathe operations, and prepares them for Mastercam certifications.
"We invested in the workforce side of it, so that local community members and people from Brooklyn could attach themselves to all the new stuff. While they may have been able to get a welding job, we are now focusing on life-sustaining, working-class careers in modern industries like CNC machining."
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This investment also aligns with the Navy Yard’s broader mission of community inclusivity. The CNC training provides residents, many of whom might not have access to such specialized training, with career pathways in stable, well-paying industries. As Greene explained, the program helps individuals "attach themselves to all the new opportunities" within advanced manufacturing sectors, ensuring that the benefits of the Yard’s growth extend to the surrounding community.
By developing a pool of skilled CNC operators and programmers, the Navy Yard not only supports its tenants but also strengthens New York City’s position as a hub for modern manufacturing. This training initiative is critical for helping manufacturers stay competitive by ensuring they have access to a local, trained workforce capable of meeting the demands of precision and efficiency required in today’s automated production environments.
The CNC training program aims to equip local workers with in-demand skills.
A model for urban manufacturing hubs
As manufacturing executives weigh their options for facility planning and site selection, the Brooklyn Navy Yard offers a compelling model. It combines the best aspects of modern urban manufacturing—sustainability, innovation, and workforce development—while maintaining a deep connection to its historical roots.
Greene’s vision for the Yard is one where both businesses and workers thrive. By focusing on both the technological and human elements of manufacturing, the Brooklyn Navy Yard has created an environment where companies can grow and innovate, supported by a local workforce that is equipped to meet the challenges of modern industry.
