Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Heidi Klum, host and executive producer of Bravo's Emmy-nominated series Project Runway, announced today that dresses designed during the current second season of the Weinstein Company and Miramax Television co-production, will be available for auction at http://projectrunway.auction.shopthescene.com on the day after each episode and 50% of the proceeds will be dedicated to supporting the activities of the Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC).  GIDC is a non-profit organization that works to improve the strength of the City's textile and apparel industry.  Mayor Bloomberg and the City's Commissioner of Small Business Services (SBS ) Robert Walsh also announced today a $244,000 grant from the City to Garment Industry Development Corporation to train and improve the skills of workers in the City's garment industry.  Mayor Bloomberg and Heidi Klum were joined at Parsons The New School for Design in announcing initiatives for supporting the garment and fashion sectors by the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting Commissioner Katherine Oliver, GIDC Executive Director Sarah Crean, Bravo's Vice President of Production Andrew Cohen, and Parsons The New School for Design Dean Paul Goldberger. 

"Our City's entertainment and garment industries together support over 200,000 jobs for New Yorkers," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "We are thrilled that Project Runway highlights our City's superior garment industry and that the show is giving back to its community through the auction of its dresses. The New York City Business Solutions Training Grant underscores a key component of our five Borough economic development strategy which is to focus on ensuring that the garment industry and other important sectors will continue to thrive as we work to diversify our economy."

"We are thrilled that Project Runway is 'Made in New York,'" said Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB ) Commissioner Katherine Oliver. "By shooting in New York, this television show is not only supporting our City's $5 billion entertainment industry, which employs 100,000 New Yorkers, but also promoting our $35 billion fashion industry and contributing to the fashion community through its support of the Garment Industry Development Corporation."

"I could think of no better place to shoot Project Runway than right here in New York City," said Project Runway Host and Executive Producer Heidi Klum. "This truly is the fashion capital of the world."

"On behalf of New York City's talented garment workers and fashion companies, the Garment Industry Development Corporation is delighted to be a part of welcoming Project Runway to back to New York for its second season," said Sarah Crean, Executive Director of the GIDC. "We are incredibly grateful to Project Runway and Mayor Bloomberg for their support of GIDC and our mission to make New York the premiere location for apparel design and production."

Since 1984, the Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC) has worked to strengthen, support, and protect the City's apparel industry.  To that end, GIDC is responsible for the retention of tens of thousands of good manufacturing jobs. A non-profit service organization, GIDC provides marketing, buyer referrals, training and technical assistance to New York apparel manufacturers, designers and workers. GIDC is "the place where design meets production," linking designers, labels, and retailers with the City's high quality producers.

The NYC Business Solutions Training Grant of $244,000 to the Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC) will fund the training of more than 300 machine operators and first-line supervisors at eight garment manufacturers in New York City.  GIDC is one of eight recipients of the first-round of NYC Business Solutions Training Grants, administered by the Department of Business Services, which provides local employers with technical support and funding to develop the skills of their workers. 

"Mayor Bloomberg has led the way for making New York City more business friendly, and these grants are another great resource for the City's businesses and workers," said SBS Commissioner Walsh.  "Today, new technology can cause industries to change overnight.   These training grants provide New Yorkers with the skills to be successful in their careers, and give employers a competitive edge."

On Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m., Bravo, the premiere arts and pop culture network headquartered in New York City, presents the second season of the Emmy-nominated, premier reality series focusing on fashion designers, Project Runway.  The series pits 16 designers against each other in weekly design challenges at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City, until only three remain and face-off once at New York Fashion Week in February.   Eager to give aspiring designers a chance to break into the notoriously difficult-to-crack fashion world, supermodel Heidi Klum heads a panel of industry luminaries, including top women's and men's wear designer Michael Kors and Elle Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia.   Panelist serve as judges and industry mentors charged with selecting and molding the budding designers.  Parsons The New School for Design Fashion Chairman Tim Gunn guides the contestants through their challenges.

New Grant Programs

An additional $5 million in NYC Business Solution Training Grants is available over the next calendar year.  Interested companies in one of the nine targeted growth sectors - Aviation, Construction, Film/Media, Healthcare/Bioscience, Hospitality/Tourism, Manufacturing/Industrial, Financial Services, Retail and Technology-can call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions Training or download an application from www.nyc.gov/training.  More than 10,000 New Yorkers have been placed in jobs as a result of SBS-led hiring and training programs, which it has overhauled to be more responsive to the needs of businesses, especially high-demand occupations