The temporary home for BATWorks, a climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, officially opened on April 15 as city agencies and partners launched the first phase of a long-term clean energy and workforce development project.
The initiative is led by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, alongside the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and the Cambridge Innovation Center. It is designed to support climate tech startups testing and scaling new technologies while creating training and job pathways for local residents.
Programming begins immediately in the temporary space and will include startup events, industry convenings and community workshops. Residents in Sunset Park will also have access to workforce development training tied to the growing green economy, officials said.
“In NYC, we know that the climate crisis affects everyone and communities of color and poor communities bear the hardest and most immediate cost,” said Julie Su, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice. “We also know that government leadership to combat the crisis matters and doing so is not just good for the climate, it can be an engine for economic growth. BATWorks is what active industrial policy looks like: public investment, public land and public purpose aligned to build the clean economy here. As this project proceeds, we want it to be a space for New Yorkers, especially Sunset Park residents, to participate in shaping our climate future, whether it's a startup looking for space to innovate or a young person looking for a career where she can make a difference.”
The permanent BATWorks facility is under construction inside Building A at the Brooklyn Army Terminal and is expected to open in 2028. Once complete, it will serve as the largest green workforce training hub in New York City.
City officials say the broader project is expected to generate about 600 permanent jobs and roughly $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next decade. The initiative is part of a larger $100 million investment in the site.
Partners including CUNY, NYU, Brooklyn workforce organizations, and climate nonprofits will help design training programs and expand access to careers in clean energy, sustainable manufacturing and building decarbonization.
"There is no time to waste in combatting the climate crisis — that’s why we’re proud to launch BATWorks temporary space, where we will support emerging companies creating the next wave of climate solutions, while giving the Sunset Park community a place to engage, learn, and connect to the future of green jobs and trainings," said NYCEDC Interim President and CEO Jeanny Pak. "This space creates an on-the-ground presence now, bringing the Sunset Park community and industry together to connect, learn and help shape BATWorks activities ahead of the permanent hub's completion in 2028 — accelerating the city's $100 million investment and ensuring its benefits begin to reach New Yorkers now."
