A major objective of the Port Authority is to ensure that we are being a good neighbor to the communities in which we operate. Underscoring that objective, the JFK Redevelopment Program (JFKR) seeks to minimize negative impacts caused by construction and airport operations on its neighboring communities, while also strengthening economic ties between the airport and the community.

By strengthening our community ties, we help to ensure that local residents can access employment opportunities, Local Business Enterprises (LBEs), Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs) can access contracting opportunities offered by the Redevelopment Program, and students can explore education and career pathways in aviation.

To achieve this objective, the JFKR Community Outreach team has created and manages a Community Development Program — supported and jointly funded by the Port Authority, the New Terminal One, JFKIAT, Delta Air Lines, JFK Millennium Partners, and American Airlines.

The Community Development Program initiatives are developed based on the goals of JFKR and the needs of the community, incorporating feedback and suggestions from the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council and its Committees.

Each Community Advisory Council Committee has a focus area that is based on Redevelopment Program’s community development goals.

• Business Development
• Career/Workforce Development
• Education
• Environmental Stewardship

To be eligible for inclusion in the Community Development Program, an initiative must facilitate the JFKR in meeting one or more of the following goals:

• Meet or exceed the thirty percent (30%) MBE and WBE (collectively, “MWBE”) participation goal.
• Meet or exceed the thirty percent (30%) Airport Concessions Disadvantage Business Enterprises (ACDBE) participation goal.
• Provide contracting opportunities for LBEs in the community.
• Establish and sustain a pool of MWBEs and LBEs to meet ongoing and future MWBE participation goals and LBE participation goals at the Airport
• Facilitate employment of local residents of the community
• Facilitate membership in building and construction trade unions for local residents of the community.
• Facilitate second-chance employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals and others with past involvement in the criminal justice system residing in the community.
• Facilitate second-chance employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals and others with past involvement in the criminal justice system residing in the community.
• Grow the community-based, long-term aviation workforce via primary, secondary and higher education and vocational training.
• Grow the community-based, long-term aviation workforce via primary, secondary and higher education and vocational training.
• Directly demonstrating an environmental stewardship towards the community as a result of the JFKR.

In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Community Development Program, an initiative must have each of the following characteristics:

• Nexus: projects must have a discrete and definable connection to the JFKR.
• Impactful: projects must either (A) make a meaningful difference in growing the economy of the community and increasing the capacity for businesses and the current and future workforce in the community or (B) demonstrate environmental stewardship.

In addition, the following characteristics are also considered:

• Scalable: the size and scope of a project is capable of being increased or decreased based on varying needs and available resources.
• Inclusive: the project allows for incorporation of, and partnership with, Community-based service organizations.
• Synergistic/Non-Duplicative: the project strengthens, builds upon and/or incorporates current Community institutions offering similar services, if any.

While individual initiatives may focus on benefits in a specific neighborhood or geographic area within the community, the initiative should be geographically balanced on the whole, enhancing services across the entire community.