Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

La Casa de Don Pedro focuses on fostering self-sufficiency, empowerment, and neighborhood revitalization in Greater Newark and Essex County.  Established in 1972 as a grassroots organization committed to empowering marginalized Puerto Rican and Latino residents, by FY 2015, La Casa had grown to serve more than 50,000 people a year with 200 employees and an operating budget of $15 million.  Since 1988, La Casa has built and sold more than 150 units of quality, affordable homes. Between 2013-14 alone, La Casa provided energy assistance to more than 41,000 households, completed energy conservation measures for 600 households, counseled 361 people facing foreclosure, and prepared 231 people to purchase their first home.

Uniting People with Opportunities (UPO) Community Development Corporation aims to promote job creation through economic development.  To do so, it focuses on providing loans to individuals and organizations that create low to moderate income housing and/or business development opportunities and employment for low income individuals, start-ups, and businesses that seek to create jobs or upgrade wages for low income District residents.  UPO also provides administrative management services to nonprofit organizations serving low-income District residents. Read more about Uniting People with Opportunities (UPO) Community Development Corporation...

Established in 1969, the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) aims to meet the economic needs and improve the quality of life of the District’s Anacostia/Far Southeast community.  To do so, the CDC focuses on housing development, commercial revitalization, small/minority business development, and job creation.  The CDC also houses a Business Development Center, which provides free management and technical assistance to small businesses located in, or wishing to locate in, the District.  In 2013, the CDC partnered with Bright Farms and the District to develop a 100,000 square foot greenhouse, which is expected to grow over one million pounds of produce a year while creating new local jobs.

Established in 1965, North East Area Development aims to revitalize and stabilize Rochester’s Sector 8 neighborhood.  To do so, the nonprofit focuses on renovating homes for low to moderate-income residents and commercial properties to reduce neighborhood blight.  The nonprofit played a lead role in renovating a former plastics manufacturing plant to accommodate Freedom School, a year-round school for youth from K-12, which focuses on fostering reading and conflict resolution skills, and engaging students in civic and social action activities.  In 2012, it opened The Freedom Market, a community-owned store that enables area residents without access to transportation to access healthy food, and in 2013, it added a Café that provides workforce development and employment for area residents.

Launched in 1986, Ibero-American Development Corporation renovates and manages buildings and affordable homes in Rochester.  Projects include the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School and El Camino Estates, an affordable rental project with 25 units for low-income people with disabilities.  The CDC is an affiliate of IBERO American Action League (IBERO), a nonprofit established in 1968 to support the development of Rochester’s Latino population.  IBERO now aims to teach individuals of all backgrounds how to become self-sufficient and is the only dual-language nonprofit in Rochester, offering all of its services in Spanish and English.  In addition to providing early childhood, youth, family support, and developmental disabilities services, IBERO offers an entrepreneurial assistance program for people interested in developing small businesses and supports existing businesses and organizations aiming to expand into the Latino market.

Founded by five of San Francisco’s most prominent African American ministers in 2001, Tabernacle Community Development Corporation (TCDC) is a faith-based nonprofit aiming to provide safe, clean and reasonably priced housing for working-class families.  Completed projects include a $13 million development with 21 affordable units, and a $38 million facility with 100 affordable units, 80 for seniors and 20 for formerly homeless individuals.  TCDC currently has three projects underway that will create nearly 300 new, affordable units. Read more about Tabernacle Community Development Corporation (TCDC)...

Established in 1985, Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) works in partnership with residents and community groups to serve, revitalize, stimulate and invest resources in an affordable, safe and vital Mapleton-Fall Creek community.  To do so, it constructs and rehabilitates homes; develops affordable housing, parks, and public spaces; and offers a range of programs and services focused on community building and economic development.  Aiming to help revitalize its Central Avenue corridor, MFCDC is currently developing an intergenerational senior housing project that will include nearly 19,000 square feet of retail space, at least 150 market rate and affordable housing units, a 8,500 square foot community center, and computer center.  Committed to sustainable development principles, MRCDC uses LEED for Neighborhood Development, a rigorous set of green building and sustainable development standards created by the United States Green Building Council, as a roadmap and benchmark in all neighborhood projects.

Working in an area with one of the highest crime rates, highest unemployment rates, the highest drop-out rate, and the highest foreclosure rate in the city, Devington Community Development Corporation (DCDC) aims to help vulnerable populations attain economic justice, affordable green housing and health care, safe neighborhoods, excellent education, and jobs. Read more about Devington Community Development Corporation (DCDC)...