Strategic initiative strengthens local entrepreneurship and creates pathways for growth among Brooklyn’s diverse small business community

BROOKLYN, NY – December 10, 2025 – The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) announced the completion of its inaugural Microbusiness Support Program, an 8-month initiative designed to help local entrepreneurs strengthen and scale their small businesses.

Launched in February 2025, the program provides minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) with targeted training, mentorship, and access to resources that help them improve operational efficiency, financial planning, marketing, and business development. Participants in the first cohort – each designated as an early-stage startup with under $250,000 in annual revenue – received over 20 hours of training and technical assistance, as well as individual coaching, and in-person events.

“The Brooklyn Navy Yard is and has always been a place where innovation and entrepreneurship thrive,” said Lindsay Greene, president and CEO of BNYDC. “Through the Microbusiness Support Program, we’re investing in Brooklyn’s M/WBE small business owners as they build stronger foundations for growth and new pathways to access opportunities. These graduates represent the next generation of business owners shaping our city’s economic future.”

The program’s cohort-based model connects entrepreneurs with industry experts and mentors through monthly workshops. Participants receive tailored needs assessments, ongoing one-on-one coaching and access to collaborative events and sales opportunities, including the Yard’s annual Wallabout Wonderland Holiday Market, where several graduates showcased their products this December.

In addition to training and mentorship, the program connects participants with local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to help them access capital and financing tools to support long-term sustainability and growth. The program, which is currently in planning stages for a second cohort next year, was made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Santander Bank, N.A., and TD Charitable Foundation.

By investing in women- and minority-owned microbusinesses, BNYDC continues to expand its mission of supporting equitable economic development and creating pathways for local entrepreneurs to thrive.

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About the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) is a not-for-profit corporation that serves as the real estate developer and property manager of the Yard on behalf of its owner, the City of New York. BNYDC’s mission is to fuel New York City’s economic vitality by creating and preserving quality jobs, growing the City’s modern industrial sector and its businesses, and connecting the local community with the economic opportunity and resources of the Yard. BNYDC helps connect local talent to quality jobs via the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center and the Brooklyn STEAM Center high school located on the campus. BNYDC’s vision is a vibrant and dense, modern manufacturing community where businesses are provided the stability needed to invest, grow, and thrive and where diverse candidates can attain quality jobs. brooklynnavyyard.org/