New York City Economic Development

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of moderating a powerful conversation hosted by the Disability Inclusion Alliance (DIA) ERG at New York City Economic Development Corporation , welcoming Bailey Binke , Yuvraj Ramsaywack , and Victor Calise, PLY for a discussion on Universal Design, Inclusive Design and advancing accessibility across New York City. The conversation reinforced that accessibility is not simply about compliance — it is about designing environments that allow everyone to participate fully and equitably in public life. A few moments that stayed with me: • Bailey Binke shared how tactile maps at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are creating more meaningful experiences for visitors who are blind or visually impaired. • Yuvraj Ramsaywack highlighted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ’s use of NaviLens technology, helping people with low vision navigate the subway system independently while making transit information accessible in dozens of languages. • Victor Calise, PLY reminded us that the ADA should be the floor — not the ceiling — and challenged us to continue push beyond minimum compliance standards. One of the most impactful reflections came when Victor spoke about experiencing The EDGE as one of the few places where he could truly enjoy the feeling of being at such a height. He also gave a special shoutout to NYC Ferry , as one of the most accessible places which was exciting to hear. We also discussed an important question: if playground equipment for example is designed to challenge non-disabled people, who decides what a disabled person is capable of using? Thank you to the DIA Leadership Natalie Taktachev Leyla Arcasoy Steven Nelson Len Greco for continuing to create space for conversations that challenge the status quo and strengthen our collective commitment to a more inclusive built environment. Photo Credit: Thomas Oh #UniversalDesign #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibilityMatters

Coming to Women's Health Week USA? Come say hi to us at the New York City Economic Development Corporation booth on May 13th or 14th at the The New York Academy of Medicine ! Zehra Ansari Alan Chramiec, PhD Viq Pervaaz

Honored to have represented New York City Economic Development Corporation alongside colleagues from the Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion (CWAI) at the NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development, and Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities at the National League of Cities ’ Expanding Workforce Opportunities for All Learning Lab. New York City was one of eight cities competitively selected to participate alongside Albany, Birmingham, Boise, Chicago, Houston, Little Rock, and Miramar. One of the biggest takeaways was learning how cities across the country are approaching disability-inclusive workforce development while working toward a common goal: expanding access to meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The conversations reinforced the importance of collaboration, shared learning, and aligning inclusive practices across sectors and systems — and challenged us to think about how we continue building and scaling this work in New York City. As a next step, NYCEDC is bringing together public, private, and nonprofit leaders from across NYC on May 21 for a citywide conversation on inclusive hiring, retention, and career pathways for people with disabilities. If you’re interested in joining the conversation, registration information is included below. Invitation: https://lnkd.in/exgtG2xy

Yesterday, we kicked off a new series at NYCEDC: the Choose NYC Breakfast Series, bringing together the partners who help us attract and grow companies in New York City. We started with our “Global Advisors” network, bringing in 50 law firms, accounting firms, and professional services leaders who specialize in helping international companies enter the U.S. market. I had the chance to walk through how our Business Development team supports companies, from first touch to ribbon cutting, and then sat down with Rajiv D. Shah from Kraken for a fireside chat on their decision to establish their North American HQ in NYC, and how we supported them throughout that journey. The room was packed, the conversation was strong, and we’re just getting started. Next up: sessions with brokers, VCs, bankers, and site selectors. Coincidentally, later that day, we joined our interim CEO Jeanny Pak to celebrate Kraken’s official ribbon cutting at their new headquarters at 99 Hudson St. A great milestone and 100 new jobs out of the gate, with significant room to grow. Huge credit to Anne-Sophie Mahle and Josefina Echeverría for pulling together an outstanding event, and to Maleeka Zainab for helping bring Kraken to NYC! All roads lead to the Choose NYC Summit on June 23 at Civic Hall! New York City Economic Development Corporation Empire State Development London & Partners Youcif Almegaryaf Lia Manos Justin Kreamer Erica Biegen Gould Jeff Holmes Elizabeth Ginsburg Rafaella Claudette R. James Kostenblatt Steven Gold Stephen Feline Amrit Kang #businessdevelopment #FDI #ribboncutting #economicdevelopment #jobs