The Port Authority has launched an online survey for local Queens-based businesses, especially Minority and Women-owned Businesses (MWBEs) near the John F. Kennedy International Airport, as part of the agency’s commitment to expanding opportunities in Queens through the $13 billion JFK Redevelopment Program.
As Governor Cuomo announced in Oct. 2018, the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council, composed of elected officials, community boards, nonprofit organizations, civic organizations and clergy leaders and chaired by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and U.S. Congressman Gregory Meeks, has been working with the Port Authority to expand community outreach efforts, ensuring this ambitious project solicits ongoing feedback from local stakeholders and provides meaningful opportunities for local businesses, Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), and jobseekers.
In response to guidance from the Advisory Council and other community stakeholders, the Port Authority has created a survey that aims to identify businesses that provide design, construction, professional services, transportation, machinery, labor, concessions, operations and maintenance services in the communities around JFK Airport: southeast Queens, southwest Queens, the Rockaways, Elmont, Valley Stream and the Five Towns. The Port Authority is committed to meeting the Governor's nation-leading good faith goal of 30 percent utilization of MWBEs, which applies to contracts, subcontracts, and financing interests. The Port Authority will be accepting information for the survey on a rolling basis throughout the pre-construction and construction phases. Pre-construction began in 2019 with an anticipated completion date of the unified JFK Airport in 2025.
Businesses that complete the survey will be included in the JFK Redevelopment Business Directory. The Port Authority will use the business directory to conduct outreach, solicit bids, and communicate important JFK Redevelopment Program deadlines. The Port Authority will also share the directory with its redevelopment partners: the New Terminal One Team, a consortium of four international airlines — Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines and Korean Air Lines, and operating and financial partners led by CAG Holdings and Carlyle, JLC Infrastructure and Ullico; JetBlue and the JFK Millennium Partners; and others who will be working alongside the Port Authority to ensure Governor Cuomo’s goals for the JFK Vision Plan are met.
“We recognize that major reconstruction projects like JFK Redevelopment directly impact our neighbors, and we want to ensure that the economic growth from these projects translates to real opportunities for local residents and businesses,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
"Engaging those who live and work in the community around JFK is a critical part of our redevelopment program,” said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority. “This survey has been carefully designed to further advance the Port Authority's priority to enhance diversity and inclusion efforts across all of our projects, including connecting MWBE businesses to available opportunities."
“Targeted Queens businesses interested in contracting with the Port Authority on the new JFK project should take part,” said Suzette Bather-Taylor, the senior program director of strategic capital initiatives at the Port Authority. “The JFK project will create a multitude of opportunities for local businesses in construction, professional services, goods and services, maintenance, operations, and concessions.”
Working with the Advisory Council, the redevelopment project will spur regional job growth in Southeast Queens and surrounding communities, as well as opportunities for new business ventures for qualified MWBEs. In Mar., a new community outreach office at 144-33 and 35 Jamaica Ave in Jamaica, Queens opened to the public serving as the central resource for job and contracting opportunities, training, business development, and access to educational opportunities for local residents. The JFK Redevelopment Community Information Center will provide extensive engagement with the surrounding neighborhood and other community stakeholders during the life of the JFK Redevelopment program.
As part of the JFK Vision Plan, JetBlue and JFK Millennium Partners are constructing a $3 billion, 1.2 million-square-foot terminal on the airport's north side that will connect to JetBlue's existing Terminal 5. Additionally, a new $7 billion 2.9 million-square-foot terminal on the airport's south side will occupy the area where the existing Terminals 1 and 2 are located, in addition to the area left vacant when Terminal 3 was demolished in 2014. The new south side terminal will be developed by the Terminal One Group, a consortium of four international airlines — Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines and Korean Air Lines -- with the Carlyle Group, JLC Infrastructure and Ullico as the financing and development partners.
