LONG ISLAND CITY — The manufacturing sector in Western Queens is getting a financial boost.
The city is investing $100,000 this year into the Long Island City Industrial Business Zone (IBZ), officials said Monday — a 25 percent funding increase from 2014.
"We've got a lot of success stories, and we want to keep that success rolling here in Queens," City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said.
The funds were allocated in the 2015 fiscal year budget and were recently distributed to the Long Island City Partnership, according to a spokesman for Van Bramer.
The partnership runs the LIC Industrial Business Zone Program, which helps businesses with incentives, financing, energy efficiency, workforce training, permits and other services, according to LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin.
Long Island City is home to 2,100 industrial and manufacturing companies that employ over 39,000 people, she said.
"Our industrial mix is very rich, everything from cupcakes to concrete, 3-D printing to printed t-shirts," Lusskin said. "Our companies provide goods and services and good jobs that keep the economy growing."
Industrial business zones were designed "to protect existing manufacturing districts and encourage industrial growth citywide," according to the city.
Officials announced the funding expansion at the Falchi Building on 47th Avenue near 31st Street, which is located within the Long Island City IBZ.
The former warehouse building has been revamped in recent years, and current tenants include L'Arte Del Gelato and organic juice company Juice Press, which run production facilities there.
