DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT

Times were tough, but New York was tougher. When the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) was formed in 1977, the city was at one of its lowest points in history – population was plummeting, businesses were fleeing, and the city was coming apart at the seems. And that July, the lights literally went out in New York City.

But through it all, there were still leaders who believed in the future of Queens. In that dark hour, they came together to build a better borough.

Originally known as the Queens County Overall Economic Development Corporation, QEDC was established to "improve the available job market," "attract new industry," "encourage the development of industry," and to "enhance economic development opportunities" in Queens. In short, to make Queens a better, more prosperous place to live, work, and visit.

Today, after weathering the challenges of nearly five decades, QEDC is still the most powerful force for economic opportunity in the world's most indispensable borough. Our programs are as diverse as as our home – business counseling and education, a food and manufacturing incubator, tourism marketing, neighborhood development, and economic justice initiatives. But they all serve the same goal: we're in the business of making Queens thrive.

Our work can be seen all over our community. From a yoga studio in Jamaica to a tech startup in Astoria to a thriving vendor market in Corona, we've supported thousands of entrepreneurs and driven countless millions of dollars in business. And we're just getting started.

Queens is the purest distillation of the American Dream. Whether your Queens story goes back five generations or five months, this borough is for you. QEDC is here to make that dream a reality.