New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press
conference at Terrafina today, announcing 4 winners of
grants from New York City for employee training that total
more than $182,000. Terrafina was one of the 4 companies
awarded. Mayor Bloomberg was joined by Small Business
Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh, New York City
Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky,
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Council Member
Sara M. González and Terrafina CEO James Locke.
Terrafina CEO James Locke
speaking to the Press
“Creating jobs is the primary goal of our economic
development strategy, and the most effective way we’re doing
it is creating conditions for growth and making it easier
for businesses – large and small – to locate and expand in
New York City,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “These workforce
training grants give hundreds of small businesses like
Terrafina the capacity to hire and train New Yorkers and
increase their wages. It’s just one of the things we’re
doing to help businesses and New York City’s economy grow,
and it’s working.”
Mayor Bloomberg speaking to
the Press“Successful businesses invest in their people, and we want
to make it as easy as possible for the small businesses to
create dedicated training programs and to succeed and expand
in New York City,” said Deputy Mayor Steel. “These training
grants allow entry-level workers to get the skills they need
to be promoted, which means better wages for those workers and
more openings for new entry-level workers. This combination of
public and private investment is a win-win-win for employees,
businesses and the City.”
“Strong small businesses are critical to our City’s
long-term economic strength,” said New York City Economic
Development President Pinsky. “Whether it’s infusing capital
during early growth stages, increasing training for our City’s
already stellar entrepreneurs, or helping newly established
and expanding businesses find affordable workspace, we are
committed to providing resources to help these businesses
succeed. I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner
Walsh, and all our partners in government for their efforts to
ensure small businesses, as well as New York City’s economy,
continue to grow and thrive.”
“Bravo to Mayor Bloomberg, the New York City Department of
Small Business Services and the employers themselves for
recognizing the importance of job training to make us more
competitive, and congratulations to Brooklyn's own Terrafina
LLC." said Borough President Markowitz. “
“We have received considerable help from the City,
particularly from the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial
Development Corporation, and also NYC Business Solutions with
recruiting and general advice, and now these funds will allow
us to better train our team, achieve greater efficiencies in
systems and processes, and compete in a global marketplace,”
said James Locke, CEO of Terrafina, LLC. “Terrafina will be
moving to a new and much larger facility in New York City
later this year. We plan on hiring at least 25 more employees
over the next 18 months, and we are excited about our future
plans.”
Terrafina CFO, Kenan Izci, James
Locke and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
Mayor Bloomberg and James
Locke with some production staff
It was a packed Press room!
