In 1983, through a unique collaboration effort, the John F. Kennedy Center and the General Electric Company’s Elfun Society launched a new for-profit non-metallic machine shop called the JFK Minority Development Corporation (JFK-MDC). A Property and buildings at 1842-1858 East 12th Street was purchased for the business enterprise. Today, the JFK Minority Development Corporation does metallic and non-metallic work for the transportation industry throughout the Eastern United States . This business is certified as a Minority Business enterprise by public authorities in New York City , Chicago , and Pittsburgh . JFK-MDC serves two roles: to provide jobs and to provide financial resources to the non-profit entity, the John F. Kennedy Center .