Business Development Collaborative
Supporting Businesses
Strengthening the Garment District
The Business Development Collaborative connects Garment District businesses, entrepreneurs and workers with free resources designed to support growth and strengthen the neighborhood.
Through our participating program providers, the BDC offers training, consulting, creative services, workforce development, events and other resources, as well as initiatives focused on placemaking and improving the Garment District’s public realm.
Explore our participating program providers below to learn more about the resources, services and initiatives available through the BDC.
Workforce Development
Business Consulting
& Events
kat@closelycrafted.org / A free talent and resource hub connecting Garment District businesses with potential hires, industry peers, and shared resources.
info@customcollaborative.com / Workforce training, apprenticeships, and job placement connecting emerging fashion talent with Garment District businesses.
lenesecalleea@lcapparelconsulting.com / Workshops, technical assistance, networking, and tours connecting businesses with the Garment District’s apparel supply chain.
jomazllc@gmail.com / Free one-on-one technical consultations on patternmaking, fit, sample development, and construction, along with preservation documentation highlighting traditional Garment District craftsmanship.
tsansone@mfta.nyc.gov / Internships and workshops connecting fashion students with Garment District businesses and industry careers.
info@projectgoldenbear.org / Apprenticeships
colan246@newschool.edu / Workforce training for garment workers and sustainability consulting for Garment District businesses and brands.
AWard@itac.nyc / One-on-one business consulting and marketing support helping Garment District manufacturers grow and strengthen their operations.
allen@e-comfashion.com / One-on-one e-commerce consulting to help businesses improve websites, digital marketing, SEO, and online sales.
jacqueline_jenkins1@fitnyc.edu / Professional training, trade shows, networking, industry events, and pop-up opportunities for Garment District businesses.
taylor@madeinnyc.org / Sales, marketing, photography, internships, and networking opportunities supporting Garment District manufacturers and makers.
awalter8@kent.edu / Fashion student internships and free event and meeting spaces for Garment District businesses.
carisakelly@gmail.com / Feasibility study for a dedicated garment industry building.
mparuta@manhattancc.org / Offering experts to help businesses plan, launch, and assess a high-impact strategy for the 2026 holiday rush.
dbernard@vanguardenyc.com / Workshops, one-on-one consulting, apprenticeships, networking, and AI-powered digital marketing support to help businesses adopt new technologies and strengthen their digital presence.
Garment District
History, Tours
& Activation
framptont@hdc.org / Placemaking workshops, networking, public programs, and oral histories celebrating Garment District businesses and culture.
info@turnstiletours.com / Workshops helping Garment District businesses create engaging in-person experiences and activations within their spaces.
mikesnyctours@yahoo.com / Free Garment District history tours featuring an inside look at the fabric flower making studio.
Special Programming
Advisory Committee
The Special Programing Advisory Committee reviews all programming proposals and collectively makes recommendations to the GDA board for the upcoming cycle of the BDC.
Members
- Elizabeth Allen - Elizabeth Cotton
- Jennifer Conovitz - NYC Comptroller's Office
- Myron Johnson - The Port Authority of NY & NJ
- Steven Kolb - CFDA
- Virginia Maloney - NYC Council
- Carl Wilson - NYC Council
- Marty Meyer - Meyer Equities LLC
- George Scheer - Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts
- Kirsten Sibilia - Dattner Architects
- Guillermo Silberman - Silver Eight Capital LLC
- Melissa Stewart - Community Board 5
- Lane Tabb - Sustain Brand Advisory +Lab
- Andy Udis - ABS Real Estate Partners Real Estate, LLC
- Charles Weed - GCAM LLC a G. Holdings Company
- Community Board 4
- NYC SBS
Program design and administration is led by Resilient Cities Catalyst, a global non-profit organization of urban practitioners and resilience experts that helps communities solve their most pressing challenges.
Please reach out to Ameneé Siahpush (asiahpush@rcc.city) for more information or general questions about the Business Development Collaborative program.