MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES CREATION OF NATION'S FIRST CITY-RUN BROWNFIELD CLEANUP PROGRAM AND HOW NEW INITIATIVE IS SPURRING INVESTMENT IN NEW YORK CITY AND CREATING JOBS IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, August 26, 2012. 

“Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

“At first glance, it wouldn’t seem that vacant brownfields have much in common with e-commerce. But look a little closer, and you’ll find our Administration hard at work helping New York entrepreneurs take advantage of both. Last week, we celebrated a milestone in our brownfield cleanup program, and also launched two new initiatives to help our city’s businesses succeed in the digital age.

“First, let’s talk about how we’re reclaiming brownfields. They’re polluted sites that have sat vacant for decades, because they can’t be developed without a cleanup – and cleanups can be very expensive. In addition, businesses that may be willing to do a cleanup may face the threat of future legal liability, even though they had no role in polluting these areas in the first place. As a result, no housing or businesses get built on these polluted sites.

“But that’s changing. Our Administration has made reclaiming these properties a real priority. And it’s producing results. Take Ayton Performance, for example. It’s one of the leading race car motor design firms in the world. Starting next summer, Ayton will begin designing its award-winning, high-performance engines at a former brownfield in Williamsburg – one I visited last week. And that means more jobs for the community.

“To help businesses like Ayton, we created the Brownfield Cleanup Program – the nation’s first city-run program of its kind. Developers can receive up to $85,000 to investigate and cleanup brownfields. And working with State environmental officials, we’re also providing legal liability protection for developers who enroll in the program through 2016.

“So far, we’ve enrolled more than 50 projects, including Ayton, that together will generate over $1.5 billion in private investment and construction, and create more than 2,100 permanent jobs and 5,100 construction jobs.

“Last week we also rolled out two new ways to help entrepreneurs take fuller advantage of digital technology to build their companies and create jobs. The first is called the Small Business Digital Toolkit. We developed it with four of the tech sector’s most innovative firms – Google, Mashable, Tumblr and Weebly. By visiting NYC.gov, any New Yorker can now download content on everything from how to build a web page, how to drive traffic to your site, and how to sell your products online. And starting in September, we’ll begin offering classes so entrepreneurs can get in-person support.

“The second new way we’re helping entrepreneurs is through a partnership with the non-profit arm of Citi – Citi Community Development – and five neighborhood non-profits. Together, we’re forming the Small Business Technology Coalition. Starting this fall, the coalition will reach out to entrepreneurs in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and provide classes at their locations.

“From brownfields to broadband, we’re supporting entrepreneurs and connecting more New Yorkers to the tools and financing they need to create jobs.

“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening.”