New York Construction Report staff writer
Anthony Shorris has been appointed president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), bringing more than 40 years of experience in government, infrastructure, housing and nonprofit leadership to the city’s economic development agency.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment this week, naming Shorris to lead NYCEDC, which oversees major economic development initiatives, public-private partnerships and investment projects across the city.
Shorris has managed multibillion-dollar budgets, tens of thousands of employees and the operations of some of the country’s largest public-sector and nonprofit organizations.
“I’m honored to take on this role at a moment when New York is asking bigger questions about who its economy is for,” Shorris said. “I look forward to working with businesses, labor and communities to grow an economy that all New Yorkers can share in.”
Shorris previously served as first deputy mayor under Mayor Bill de Blasio, where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of a city government with about 350,000 employees, a $100 billion annual budget and more than three dozen agencies.
He also served as executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, deputy chancellor for operations at the New York City Department of Education, and held senior healthcare leadership roles at NYU Langone Health and Healthfirst, a nonprofit insurer he helped launch to serve low-income New Yorkers.
Earlier in his career, Shorris served as a senior budget official under Mayor Edward I. Koch, where he helped develop the city’s Ten-Year Housing Plan. The program invested more than $4 billion in city capital funding to support the construction and rehabilitation of nearly 200,000 affordable housing units in neighborhoods impacted by disinvestment and arson.
The appointment comes as NYCEDC continues work on major development initiatives involving housing, infrastructure, commercial growth and neighborhood revitalization.
The New York Building Congress congratulated Shorris on his appointment, highlighting his experience with public infrastructure and economic development.
“The New York Building Congress congratulates Anthony Shorris on his appointment as President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation,” said Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress. “Throughout his distinguished career, Anthony has led some of New York’s most consequential public and private sector institutions . . . His decades of leadership and deep understanding of government, infrastructure and economic development make him exceptionally well suited to lead NYCEDC.
“We look forward to working with him to advance the projects, partnerships and investments that will strengthen our economy, create jobs and build a more prosperous New York City.”
Shorris teaches at Princeton University and serves as vice chair of the Regional Plan Association.
Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, said Shorris’ background will be valuable as the agency moves forward.
“Tony Shorris is a longtime civil servant who will bring decades of leadership experience and a deep understanding of New York City’s forward trajectory to the helm of the Economic Development Corporation,” LaBarbera said. “This role requires integrity, versatility and a clear vision for our business community and the hardworking people who keep our economy running, and Mr. Shorris brings just that.
“The Building Trades looks forward to collaborating with him closely to redefine a vision for NYC EDC that centers economic justice and will create more opportunities for our members and all middle-class New Yorkers working to support their families and maintain roots in their communities.”
