Greater Jamaica Development Corporation

Our Mission Statement Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is a community-building organization that plans, promotes, coordinates and advances responsible development to revitalize Jamaica and strengthen the region. Marshalling the resources of the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth. About Us Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is one of New York’s oldest not-for-profit local development corporations. Since its founding in 1967 by the Regional Plan Association and local business, civic and community leaders, GJDC has stressed economic development as it pursues its community-building mission. GJDC envisions Downtown Jamaica as a modern and efficient mixed-use regional center offering a pleasant and productive experience for those who work, live, and visit here. We see Downtown Jamaica as a major employment center for enterprises directly connected to JFK International Airport, via the new AirTrain light rail service. We also envision a quality residential and retail community built around Jamaica’s regional transportation hub, which provides easy access to a large skilled and educated multicultural work force. GJDC is supported by corporate and foundation grants, by government contracts and by income earned from its project operations. It has an overall annual operating budget of $12 million and a staff of 30 professionals. It owns and operates several commercial projects including small office facilities, a food market, and a public parking system of facilities serving the downtown. Its activities include planning and predevelopment work, development projects with private developers through a special entity, a real property holding company, a small business loan fund, administration of government programs in industrial retention and commercial revitalization, and the marketing of the Downtown Jamaica area. Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is a New York State membership organization with some 85 Members; it is governed by a Board of Directors of 25 business and community leaders.