When the Queens Economic Development Corporation was formed in 1977, New York City was a different place than it is now. The population was declining, and businesses were leaving. Though there were community leaders who believed in the future of Queens. They came together to make the borough a better place for residents, businesses, and visitors. This meant creating conditions to improve our diverse neighborhoods and promote growth and development.
They started with a small scale commercial-revitalization effort that has grown into many programs encompassing business counseling, entrepreneurship classes, an incubator for food purveyors, tourism promotion, and much more. The results are seen all over Queens – from a yoga studio in Jamaica to a tech company in Astoria to a rebuilt plaza in Corona to marketing that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Our founders’ vision still permeates what we do, and almost 50 years later, QEDC’s innovative programs continue to be a resource for those who aspire to improve their lives, businesses, and communities.