Sustainable South Bronx
Operates a community fabrication laboratory and green workforce training program, integrating hands-on digital manufacturing with environmental justice initiatives.
- CEO / Founder
- Majora Carter
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- Undisclosed
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; U.S. EPA; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Technology & Products
Key Products
Community FabLab access; Green jobs training programs; Environmental advocacy
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: Community-driven green manufacturing incubator. VERIFIED: MIT partnership for FabLab establishment (2008). DEFENSIBLE: Strong local community ties and grant-funded training infrastructure, but not a proprietary technology moat.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Delivers accessible digital fabrication training and green job placement, reducing barriers to entry for underserved communities while supporting local sustainable manufacturing projects.
How They Differentiate
Focuses on environmental justice and green-collar workforce development rather than commercial part production; operates as a non-profit social enterprise.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Local residents, green job seekers, community organizations
Industry Verticals
Workforce Development; Environmental Justice; Community Manufacturing
Competitors
Local community makerspaces; Technical colleges with fabrication labs
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Launched 2001; BEST Academy started 2003; Staff: Gentain Haxillari (Chief Financial and Operations, $141,027 compensation, recent IRS data); Challenges: Securing funders and expanding into water sector jobs (ongoing as of ~2014 case study); No quantitative metrics like revenue growth, headcount, or user scale available
Major Milestones
Founded in 2001 by Majora Carter; Established MIT-partnered FabLab in 2008; Merged into The HOPE Program in 2015
Notable Customers
Columbia University SIPA (academic/government consulting partner for water quality projects), municipal/industrial sector (Hunts Point Markets wastewater/stormwater initiatives), local community residents, and green construction trainees.