Queens is the future

The world would be better off if it were more like Queens.

Queens is the truest version of the American Dream. This is where you can be from anywhere and become anything. This place is proof positive that a diverse and pluralistic community doesn’t just work – it thrives. And in a moment when some people want to shut the door and drive us apart, Queens is here, welcoming the world with open arms.

That’s exactly what Queens did for my own family in a previous generation. And it’s what we’ll do again today, and tomorrow, and every tomorrow after it.

Speaking of thriving, that’s the business we’re in at QEDC. Since 1977, we’ve helped thousands of entrepreneurs start businesses that employ thousands more, promoted events and attractions that have driven tens of millions of visitors, and supported organizations and leaders that made our neighborhoods the envy of the world.

This month, I’m honored to start as the new Executive Director of QEDC. I’m thrilled to work with our dedicated staff, board, and network of partners to build opportunity in this special place. And I’m grateful to my predecessor, Seth Bornstein, for the incredible legacy he leaves behind after more than 40 years with the organization.

As we enter this new chapter, you’ll see new branding and a refreshed website for the organization. And as we move forward, you’ll see more updates and initiatives that further our mission.

We’ll continue our work in all corners of the borough, from business counseling to our food incubator, from a vendor market in Corona Plaza to re-entry programs, and from tourism marketing to tech and innovation competitions. Each year, these programs help more than 3,000 of our neighbors bring their American Dreams to life.

Finally, I’ll let you in on my secret mission at QEDC. I told this to our team on my first day: 

Our mission is to make Queens thrive. But our real goal is to be the unfair advantage for why Queens thrives. We want to be the reason that businesses, customers, and visitors increasingly choose Queens. Why entrepreneurs succeed more in Queens. Why Queens is a more just and equitable economy. We want every other community to wish they had a group like ours.

I look forward to doing this with you. Thank you, and speak again soon.

Your neighbor,

Ben Guttmann

Executive Director, Queens Economic Development Corporation