Inner Kingston development project

The evaluation covered the period 1986-94. The Kingston Restoration Company (KRC) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) are implementing the project. The project has achieved the intended results. In particular, it has promoted an estimated 4,614 jobs, substantially above Jamaica"s annual job growth rate, and many of the new jobs are held by low-income or unemployed residents of Inner Kingston. KRC has met or exceeded many project targets. Its investments have spurred over 225% more in private sector investment and its job generation and delivery of social services have equaled or exceeded expectations. UDC has been unable to complete major infrastructure projects on time and budget; nonetheless, new major infrastructure elements are in place today. KRC and the project have also achieved many positive outcomes that were not originally goals of the project. All these achievements have promoted investment in Inner Kingston. Overall, the project has achieved wide-ranging and important impacts on downtown Kingston. The results from relatively small USAID annual funding are impressive. Recommendations are as follows. (1) USAID should consider additional program and technical assistance support, as most similar redevelopment projects take 20-25 years even in the United States. (2) KRC should continue its business planning to clarify its strategy given likely available financial resources. (3) The Government of Jamaica should implement planned redevelopment tax incentives and continue to relocate offices to Inner Kingston. (Author abstract, modified)