Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC)

Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is a community-building organization that plans, promotes, coordinates, and advances responsible development to revitalize Jamaica, Queens and strengthen the region. 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. 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. GJDC is supported by corporate and foundation grants, by government contracts and by income earned from its project operations. With an overall annual operating budget of $12 million and a staff of 30, GJDC owns and operates several commercial projects including small office facilities, a food market, and public parking facilities serving the downtown area. 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.