Boroughs of New York City the term is used to refer to New York City as a whole unambiguously, avoiding confusion with any particular borough or with the Greater New York metropolitan area. The term is also used by politicians to counter a frequent focus on Manhattan and thereby to place all five boroughs on equal footing. In the same vein, the term "outer boroughs" refers to all of the boroughs excluding Manhattan, even though the geographic center of the city is along the Brooklyn–Queens border. All five boroughs were created in 1898 during consolidation, when the city's current boundaries were established. The Bronx originally
New York City Regional Center areas of New York City in need of long-term economic growth. Examples include: • $220 million to finance ground-up construction in the Bronx; • $108.5 million to finance ground-up and redevelopment projects in Washington Heights (an Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone); and, • $767 million to finance ground-up, redevelopment, and infrastructure projects in Brooklyn, including seven projects totaling $339 million in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Examples of economic development projects utilizing loans provided by NYCRC-managed funds include the following: • A new wireless infrastructure network in New York City’s subway stations • Redevelopment of a new cargo facility at JFK International