Bronx Borough President highlights $20M Morris Park grant, Kingsbridge Armory work and green jobs push

Vanessa Gibson, Bronx Borough President, told attendees at the 27th annual Bronx Bankers Breakfast that a mix of state grants, transit investments and workforce programs are putting the Bronx on a growth trajectory.

Gibson highlighted a $20 million grant from the New York State Downtown Revitalization and Resiliency Initiative (DRRI) for the greater Morris Park community and said the borough submitted transformative projects that will support local business revitalization. She also cited major transit-related investments tied to Metro-North expansion that the administration expects will unlock new commercial space, an estimated 10,000 jobs, nearly 3 million square feet of commercial and community space and about 7,500 new housing units, of which Gibson said 1,900 would be permanently affordable.

The borough president reiterated that housing affordability remains a priority: her office has allocated $16 million across 29 projects to advance affordability and $9 million in capital for economic and community development. Gibson said those investments are designed to preserve existing affordable housing, spur new construction and support workforce housing.

Gibson previewed a Bronx Green Jobs Center in partnership with Fordham University, describing it as a hub to train residents for solar, electric-vehicle infrastructure and other clean-economy occupations. She said the administration has broken ground on the center and has committed capital and partnerships to connect young adults and college students with training and placement opportunities.

On cultural and tourism fronts, Gibson flagged the planned reimagining of the Kingsbridge Armory and credited a substantial state contribution; she also highlighted the upcoming Bronx Hip Hop Museum and the borough's growing tourism economy tied to events and the Yankees' season.

Gibson closed by urging continued public-private cooperation and by reminding attendees that Bronx Week programming runs through Sunday, May 17.

The borough president's remarks were delivered to a meeting hosted by the Business Initiative Corporation of New York, which the moderator described as an SBA-certified development company that provides below-market loans and long-term capital for local businesses.