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Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation Secures Funding to Launch Electric Vehicle Charging Workforce Training Program

Partnership with SmarterHelp will create accessible pathways into clean energy careers for
New Yorkers

BROOKLYN, NY (April 20, 2026) – The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) announced today it has been awarded $450,000 from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and launch a workforce training program focused on maintaining and repairing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This program will be delivered in partnership with SmarterHelp, marking the company’s first-ever initiative in New York City.

The funding is part of a statewide $5 million NYPA initiative supporting workforce programs aligned with New York State’s clean energy transition. Training is expected to begin later this year at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, following the buildout of a dedicated Smart Lab equipped with EV charging units and instructional tools.

Once launched, the program will provide hands-on, industry-aligned training designed to prepare New Yorkers for in-demand technical roles in the growing EV sector. Participants will gain skills in:

  • Electrical systems and codes
  • Energy fundamentals
  • EV charging equipment maintenance and repair
  • Industry certification preparation

Graduates will earn industry-recognized credentials and be connected to job placement opportunities developed by BNYDC and SmarterHelp. The program is intentionally part-time, allowing working adults and individuals from underserved communities to participate without sacrificing income. This approach reflects BNYDC’s broader workforce strategy, which prioritizes accessibility, equity and economic mobility.

“Workforce development should be driven by actual jobs and designed around the lives people actually lead,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “By making this program part-time, accessible, and rooted in a growing industry, we’re ensuring that NYC is expanding clean energy capacity while simultaneously creating lasting economic mobility for New Yorkers who have too often been shut out of the promise of a good job.”

“The SmarterHelp Training Center is aligned with the Navy Yard’s vision of creating pathways into skilled jobs for underserved New Yorkers,” said Lindsay Greene, president and CEO of the BNYDC. “By meeting people where they are, we are ensuring that the future of the green workforce is both sustainable and inclusive. We are grateful to both Governor Hochul for her support and the NYPA for working closely with us as we expand access and opportunities for workers across New York City.”

“We’ve always believed that technology alone isn’t enough—you need people prepared to
maintain and lead the systems of the future,” said Kianna Scott, CEO of SmarterHelp. “Through our partnership with the BNYDC, we’re opening the doors to well-paying EV careers for New Yorkers who need them most.”

“As New York expands its EV charging network, it’s critical that we have trained technicians ready to support and sustain that growth,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “Through this collaboration with the Brooklyn Navy Yard and SmarterHelp, we’re not only strengthening the reliability of the state’s charging infrastructure, we’re creating new, accessible pathways into the clean energy workforce for New Yorkers.”

For more information on the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s training programs, including the EV Charger Training Program, please visit: https://www.brooklynnavyyard.org/training-opportunities/

New York continues to lead the nation in developing a green economy, with nearly 185,000 clean energy jobs already created. For additional details on careers in Electric Vehicles and charging, please visit: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Energy-Workforce-Development-and-Training/Energize-Your-Future/Careers-in-Electric-Vehicles-and-Charging

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About the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation

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 they need to invest, grow, and thrive and where diverse candidates can attain quality jobs. Brooklynnavyyard.org