The Jamaica Business Resource Center was designated in 1994 through Presidential authorization to become the national model and pilot for former President Clinton’s “One Stop Capital Shop” small business program. This program was developed at the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Since becoming operational in 1995, the Jamaica Business Resource Center has provided technical and financial assistance to over 7500 new and established businesses, secured over $585 million in financing and procurement opportunities for small, minority and women-owned businesses,  and provided high quality, in depth training in the fundamentals of business management to over  6500 entrepreneurs.

JBRC has also assisted small business clients in creating or retaining hundreds of jobs  by providing business research and planning; profit and loss management; legal and accounting; marketing and procurement; capital access; credit counseling.

Following the establishment of the Jamaica Business Resource Center, 16 additional ‘One Stop Capital Shops’ were launched in cities across the nation. JBRC has also been a regional model for numerous economic development initiatives throughout the New York metropolitan area. Official designations have been received by the U.S. Department of Commerce to operate the Queens, Nassau, Suffolk Minority Business Enterprise Center as well as a new International Trade Center for New York based small businesses.

JBRC has provided direct training to “One Stop Capital  Shops” in Harlem and Detroit and provided orientation to over 100 LDC’s, CDC’s, EDC’s, Banks and other public/private sector organizations throughout the tri state area on its OSCS model.

This has resulted in the establishment of satellite centers, mini BIC’s, and other business development organizations. As a result of this assistance, many new and established businesses have benefited from JBRC’s support, and positive economic benefits have accrued to surrounding communities throughout the tri state area. JBRC has also initiated internal Welfare to Work and Minority College/High School Internship programs over the past decade.

Because of its regional and national impact in the economic development arena, JBRC has been invited to address global conferences in Geneva, Switzerland (the United Nations International Conference Center); South Africa; Amman, Jordan; Montreal, Canada; and Lusaka, Zambia on the topic of sustainable economic development models. In October, 2005 JBRC addressed a global conference in Thailand on Rebuilding the Pan Asian Economy following the Tsunami crisis.