Staten Island Hosts Full-House Event on Local Content & Offshore Wind Opportunities
(Staten Island, NYC) – The Staten Island Industrial Alliance (SIIA) is proud to have partnered with LocalContent.com and Vineyard Offshore to bring the New York Local Content Insights Series to Staten Island’s North Shore Community District 1. This event, graciously hosted by May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation, brought together a full house of small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and key stakeholders to discuss opportunities in New York’s manufacturing and offshore wind sectors.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners at LocalContent.com and Vineyard Offshore for helping us make this event a success.
Key Topics and Highlights
The event explored the following topics critical to small businesses and community stakeholders on Staten Island:
I. Public Sentiment and Business Development
LocalContent.com emphasized that public sentiment—including opinions, attitudes, and perceptions—is a key driver of business development. Positive sentiment fosters trust, enhances compliance, and mitigates project risks. This data-driven approach helps businesses secure access to public benefits such as contracts, grants, and permits.
Key insights shared by Dwayne R. Wilkins, Economic Development Director of LocalContent.com, included:
Public sentiment on offshore wind: In New York, public sentiment improved in 2024, with 14% positive, 5% negative, and 81% neutral. Engaging the neutral majority remains crucial for workforce and economic education efforts.
Demographic analysis: 62% of online discussions about offshore wind originated from individuals over 55 years old, indicating a need to attract younger voices to the conversation.
Over 50% of event attendees were not registered in NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind Supplier Database, highlighting an opportunity to increase local business participation.
The full dataset and analysis will be available to the public through LocalContent.com on February 3rd, with free access provided by Vineyard Offshore.
II. Supply Chain Resources for Small Businesses
Attendees were introduced to key supply chain tools designed to help project owners identify qualified contractors, including:
These resources aim to enhance market access for small and diverse businesses.
Insights were led by LocalContent.com’s Economic Development Director, Dwayne R. Wilkins.
III. Regulatory Compliance and U.S. Domestic Content
Over 60% of attendees were unaware of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). During the event, they learned about:
The CLCPA’s goals for 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The 40% investment mandate for disadvantaged communities, providing funding for MWBE and SDVOB-certified businesses.
Guidance on achieving compliance with state requirements, including certification and supplier directory utilization.
SIIA and Local Content are committed to ensuring Staten Island businesses are equipped with the tools to meet these regulatory expectations. For attending businesses that were at least 51% women-, veteran-, and/or minority-owned, a regulatory framework was provided to encourage certification as a Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) or a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOB). While not every business may qualify for MWBE or SDVOB certification or be located within a disadvantaged community, attendees learned how to integrate these regulatory requirements into their operations to enhance compliance, visibility, and business opportunities. This included guidance on using New York’s MWBE and SDVOB directory and the NYSERDA disadvantaged community map to source suppliers and verify geographic eligibility.
The official NYSERDA Disadvantaged Community maps for the Staten Island area.
By focusing on supply chain data collection and local content state regulatory requirements, small businesses and nonprofits can strengthen their ability to access public-private investments, contracts, grants, tax credits, loans, bid solicitations, and regulatory permitting support—reinforcing U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure resilience for economic growth and national security.
IV. Industry Perspectives from Staten Island Small Business
Both Staten Island and New York business leaders shared their expertise on market entry strategies and economic opportunities in New York’s offshore wind and manufacturing industries. Speakers included:
Staten Island-based Nadia Adam, President of the Staten Island Industrial Alliance (SIIA) and Founder of Ecowind Solutions, is advancing Staten Island’s industrial sector with a focus on promoting growth in the green energy field. She is leading efforts for the Staten Island Transportation & Infrastructure Summit this May, which will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to address the island’s most pressing transit and development challenges.
Long Island-based Dominic Castiglione, Owner/Operator of the transportation and heavy machinery relocation firm Sal C Machinery Movers, shared his experience breaking into the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. He achieved this by becoming the transportation subcontractor for concrete mattresses and rock filter bags from the manufacturing firm Romain Stone Concrete, which he has delivered to several offshore wind projects along the East Coast.
V. Vineyard Offshore’s Excelsior Wind Project
Vineyard Offshore presented their Excelsior Wind project, a 1.3 GW offshore wind development expected to deliver $2.6 billion in direct economic benefits to New York. Project highlights include:
Community Investments: Up to $578 million allocated to disadvantaged communities by year three.
Job Creation: Over 2,000 direct jobs and 5,200 job-years committed, with union labor agreements in place.
Workforce Development: A $50 million investment in workforce training, supply chain support, and MWBE/SDVOB upskilling.
Infrastructure Development: Investments in New York ports, upstate supply chains, and Long Island infrastructure to support offshore wind expansion.
The session concluded with a presentation from Vineyard Offshore’s team members including:
Andrea Bonilla, External Affairs Manager
Blake Hyatt, New York Labor Relations Manager
Aaron Siegel, New York Community Liaison
Ali Alrayes, Senior Manager of Business Development
Their team participated in market discussions, detailed their supply chain development work, and reiterated their commitment to a “local first” approach across their U.S. portfolio.
For the full Vineyard Offshore Contracting Orientation presentation, please HERE.
Next Steps for Staten Island Businesses
SIIA encourages local businesses to engage with upcoming offshore wind projects in the region, such as:
By registering as suppliers, aligning with state regulations, and leveraging supply chain databases, businesses can position themselves for future opportunities in both offshore wind and manufacturing projects.
SIIA remains committed to fostering collaboration, economic development, and sustainable opportunities for Staten Island’s business community. Together with our partners, we are leading the charge in advancing Staten Island’s role in New York’s clean energy and manufacturing sectors.
Stay tuned for more updates, workshops, and resources from SIIA. We also encourage our readers to visit LocalContent.com for further insights and access to their innovative supply chain tools and sentiment data solutions. For additional information or to register in the SIIA Supplier Database, please visit SIIA’s Supplier Form Page