8/6/2019 DNAinfo - Applied Sciences NYC RFP Manhattan

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Applied Sciences NYC RFP Manhattan

(Headline)

During keynote, Bloomberg announces Applied Sciences NYC proposal requests.

By Kareem Johnson

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN Recalling images of New Yorkers of the past with big ideas, Mayor Mike Bloomberg in a keynote address toattendees of the Crains New York Business 2011 Future of New York City conference, pressed his case for a big idea of his own;the citys Applied Sciences NYC initiative on Tuesday.

"New York was start-up city before there were start-ups," Bloomberg said in his keynote. "We became the countrys economicengine because our entrepreneurs were the most innovative and their ideas and investments built our city into a globalpowerhouse."

The initiative aims to boost the applied sciences sector, a key part of the citys economy that the city says will be a driver of thefurther diversification of New York City's economy, which could generate billions of dollars in economic activity, Bloomberg is sayingit starts with universities.

Universities are so important to our future and that is why we have worked so hard to support major expansions at Columbia,Cooper Union, Fordham, and [New York University] NYU and why we have provided more than $1 billion to [City University ofNew York] CUNY in recent years, Bloomberg said. But by extending this offer, our goal is not to help any particular institution grow;its to help our entire city grow.

Bloomberg announced that the city would provide a location and $100 million in infrastructure upgrades in exchange for auniversitys commitment to build or expand a world-class science and engineering campus in New York City, calling it a virtuallyno-cost commitment.

Governors Island, the Navy Yard, and Roosevelt Island are locations that the city has identified.

We are offering sites at three possible locations, all of them under-utilized, and all of them overflowing with potential, Bloombergsaid. By extending this offer, our goal is not to help any particular institution grow; its to help our entire city grow.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation estimates that a new or expanded applied sciences campus located in thecity will generate $6 billion in economic activity, creating 22,000 permanent jobs and $1.2 Billion in direct and indirect taxes for thecity.

This is an 'Erie Canal moment' for our City - an opportunity to change the City's economic trajectory for years to come. By makingthis significant investment in the science, technology, and research sectors in New York City, we are poised to expand andstrengthen our already world-leading economy," said Seth Pinksy, president of the NYCEDC in a statement.

Calling the Applied Sciences NYC initiative bold thinking, Senator Charles Schumer indicated his support.

"Adding a world class engineering and applied sciences school will only strengthen the city's position as a leader in high-tech, and apremier destination for the talented and ambitious young people looking to make their mark in the new global economy, Schumersaid in a statement.

The city is looking for proposals that will expand the applied sciences sector, create construction and permanent jobs, generating

tax revenue.

Over 27 academic institutions worldwide have expressed interest so far, including Stanford University, DNAinfo reported inFebruary. The Palo Alto-based university filed an expression of interest in March of 2011. RFPs are being accepted until October28.