The Jamaica NOW Action Plan drives many community-led development projects across the neighborhood of Jamaica.

It includes upgrades at our parks and on our roads, while spurring private investments in new housing, hotels and retail. The Jamaica NOW Action Plan is a strategic economic development investment of $153 million, launched on April 15, 2015 by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and the de Blasio Administration. The Plan includes 26 projects developed by community stakeholders across two conferences and more than 30 focus group discussions.
The Plan is being led by the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council [JNLC], a group of community stakeholders who provide oversight and guide implementation of the Plan through 2020.

2019 Members of The Jamaica NOW Leadership Council with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, seated, center, and flanked by Co-Chairs Tameka Pierre-Louis and Ian Harris.

The full Council includes: Ian Harris and Tameka Pierre-Louis, Co-Chairs; Vanessa Barrios (Regional Plan Association); Brian Browne (St. John’s University); Nick Buron (Queens Public Library); Ricardi Calixte (Queens Economic Development Corporation); Jennifer Furioli (Jamaica Center Business Improvement District); Patricia Ghizamboule-Robinson (Resident); Glenn Greenidge (Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District); Michael Griffith (New York City Department of Transportation); Howard Hecht (Resident); Derek Irby (165th Street Mall Improvement Association); Bilal Karriem (Community Board 12); Malikka Karteron (Resident); Philippa Karteron (Resident); Justin K. Rodgers (Greater Jamaica Development Corporation); Aaron Schwartz (Commercial Property Owner); Earl Simons (York College/CUNY); Vanessa Sparks (Resident); Richard Werber (King Manor Museum); Bryan D. White (Resident); Jonathan White (Community Member). The Council also includes the following Ex-Officio Members: U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, Councilwoman Adrienne Adams, Assemblyman David Weprin, and Councilman Donovan Richards; State Senators Leroy Comrie and James Sanders; Assemblymembers Vivian Cook, Alicia Hyndman, Michele Titus and Clyde Vanel; Councilmembers Adrienne Adams, Rory Lancman and I. Daneek Miller.
jamaica-culture

Jamaica NYC is home to many cultural activities and institutions.

The Jamaica Is organization was formed as part of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, to build organizational capacities, strengthen connections between artists and existing arts and culture institutions as well as residents, social service organizations, libraries, schools and other cultural stakeholders.
Many legendary jazz greats have called Jamaica home. Today, Jamaica continues to be home for a diverse community of people and growing families.

Almost two dozen LinkNYC kiosks, complete with free Wi-Fi, internet access and advertising opportunities for area businesses, have been installed throughout Jamaica.

A new and improved Jamaica.

Impact by the numbers

26 Projects, 25+ Partners.
$153 Million in New York City resources secured.
$10 Million in New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds secured.
$600,000 for Storefront Improvement projects for 10+ businesses.
• The installation of 21 free LinkNYC Wi-Fi kiosks along Jamaica Avenue.
$400,000 for the reconstruction of Brinkerhoff Mall Park.
• The Queens Feast, a 12-week food business training program hosted by Queens Public Library, graduated 100 applicants. As a result of its popularity, this program has been expanded to other locations, including The Rockaways.

Jamaica NYC is home to innovation

York College, located in Jamaica Queens, is a part of The City University of New York. It is home to STARTUP-NY, a state program, which helps new and expanding businesses through tax-based incentives and innovative academic partnerships.
jamaica-innovation
Thomas A. Edison High School
Through Career Exploration and paid internship programs, Scholars at Work supports NYC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school students in their pursuit of career opportunities, real-life work experience and development of workplace skills.

• In FY17, Scholars at Work provided Career Exploration services to 104 students across five CTE high schools, including eight students from Thomas A. Edison High School in Jamaica.
• In FY18, there were 41 students enrolled in Career Exploration across three CTE high school including 15 from Thomas A. Edison High School in Jamaica. An additional 113 students were enrolled in the Scholars at Work Internship program, of which 36 students were from Queens-based high schools, including five from Thomas A. Edison High School. These programs benefitted a total of 28 students from Thomas A. Edison High School over a two-year period.

On the horizon

• The Atlantic Avenue Extension project will extend Atlantic Avenue to meet 95th Avenue, creating one-way streets on both 94th and 95th Avenues, to ease traffic entering and departing from the Station area. The project, currently under construction, will also result in the development of three new public parks.
• The release of recommendations from the Transportation Study conducted by the NYC Department of Transportation. [In partnership with the T.I.P.S. Committee of the JNLC.]
• The development of a 10,000-square-foot co-working space to benefit entrepreneurs in the community.