Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Greater Southwest Community Development Corporation

The Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) is a CDC leader in commercial and industrial development. Successes include developing a supermarket, attracting the interest of developers seeking to build a ten-screen movie theater, and bringing a newly constructed plastics manufacturing plant owned and operated by an African-American female entrepreneur to a previously underutilized site at 77th Street and Columbus Avenue.  Since its establishment in 1974, GSDC’s initiatives have resulted in over $500 million in development activity in southwest Chicago.

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation

Founded in 1967 to serve low and moderate-income residents in Chicago’s West Town, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, and Avondale communities, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation has produced more than 1,328 affordable homes and rental units. Membership and voting privileges are extended to individuals who live or work in the target area as well as organizations operating there. In 1992, Bickerdike developed the food market El Mercado, where locally owned Cermak Produce serves as the anchor business, employs over 50 people, and is committed to ensuring that at least 75 percent of its jobs are filled by local residents.  Bickerdike also owns the social enterprise Humboldt Construction. The company, incorporated in 1981, provides union construction jobs and contracting services for Bickerdike and employs an average of 15 carpenters annually.

Bethel New Life

A faith-based community development organization serving residents of the West Garfield neighborhood of Chicago since 1979, Bethel New Life has invested over $650 million in a range of programs and initiatives aimed to reduce poverty.  Since its establishment, it has created over 1,000 units of affordable housing, facilitated the development of a mixed-use, transit-oriented development project around the “West Garfield” elevated transit stop, and has been a leader in developing a comprehensive asset-based approach to community development. Read more about Bethel New Life...

Shelterforce

Sponsored by the National Housing Institute, Shelterforce is a leading periodical of the community development community.

Next American City

Founded in 2003 by a couple of recent Yale graduates still in their twenties, Next American City has brought a fresh perspective to issues of community development. Published quarterly, each magazine focuses on a different urban or community development theme.

LISC Online Resource Library

The LISC Online Resource Library provides a host of practical community development resources on affordable housing, land use and planning, and organizational development issues.

Knowledgeplex

Sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation, Knowledgeplex organizes a wide variety of research materials on affordable housing and community development issues.

HUD USER

This is the leading federal government research site regarding issues of housing and urban development. The site is host to over 800 publications and data sets.

HousingPolicy.org

HousingPolicy.org is an online guide to state and local housing policy developed and maintained by the Center for Housing Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference. The site includes information on a broad range of state and local policy tools, as well as guidance on how to put them together to form a comprehensive and effective housing strategy.

Foreclosure-Response.org

Maintained by the Center for Housing Policy, KnowledgePlex, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Urban Institute, Foreclosure-Response.org is a new website to help states and localities respond to the foreclosure crisis. In addition to policy information, maps and other foreclosure data, the site provides a forum for practitioners, policymakers, and others to come together and discuss affordable housing and foreclosure issues.

City Limits

This publication focuses on New York City, but covers a wide variety of national community development debates and issues.

CDC Oral History Project

Although the profiles were completed in the early 1990s, this site contains valuable historical information outlining the history of 19 leading community development corporations.

Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

CDC Oral History Project

Although the profiles were completed in the early 1990s, this site contains valuable historical information outlining the history of 19 leading community development corporations.

City Limits

This publication focuses on New York City, but covers a wide variety of national community development debates and issues.

Foreclosure-Response.org

Maintained by the Center for Housing Policy, KnowledgePlex, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Urban Institute, Foreclosure-Response.org is a new website to help states and localities respond to the foreclosure crisis. In addition to policy information, maps and other foreclosure data, the site provides a forum for practitioners, policymakers, and others to come together and discuss affordable housing and foreclosure issues.

HousingPolicy.org

HousingPolicy.org is an online guide to state and local housing policy developed and maintained by the Center for Housing Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference. The site includes information on a broad range of state and local policy tools, as well as guidance on how to put them together to form a comprehensive and effective housing strategy.

HUD USER

This is the leading federal government research site regarding issues of housing and urban development. The site is host to over 800 publications and data sets.

Knowledgeplex

Sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation, Knowledgeplex organizes a wide variety of research materials on affordable housing and community development issues.

LISC Online Resource Library

The LISC Online Resource Library provides a host of practical community development resources on affordable housing, land use and planning, and organizational development issues.

Next American City

Founded in 2003 by a couple of recent Yale graduates still in their twenties, Next American City has brought a fresh perspective to issues of community development. Published quarterly, each magazine focuses on a different urban or community development theme.

Shelterforce

Sponsored by the National Housing Institute, Shelterforce is a leading periodical of the community development community.

PUSH Buffalo (People United for Sustainable Housing)

People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo), first founded in 2005, is a membership-based community organization dedicated to affordable housing, equitable jobs and ecological sustainability for the West Side of Buffalo.

PUSH has four main arms: Read more about PUSH Buffalo (People United for Sustainable Housing)...

Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo

Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo (GGB) is a non-profit community gardening program working to revitalize neighborhoods and improve the quality of life in the city by targeting vacant land for reuse and beautification. Acting as a liaison between the City of Buffalo administration and community gardeners, GGB establishes leases with the city and indemnifies the properties, enabling gardeners to focus on gardening without the added burden of liability. Read more about Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo...

Forever Elmwood

Founded by a partnership of business owners and residents in 1994, Forever Elmwood is a not-for-profit, whose mission is to create a strong sense of community by working with businesses and residents to preserve the historic nature of Elmwood Avenue. In its efforts foster an economically sustainable commercial district, Forever Elmwood utilizes a four point approach that centers around enhancement, consensus, promotion and economic restructuring. Read more about Forever Elmwood...

Belmont Shelter Corp.

Founded in 1977, Belmont Shelter Corp. has been working to provide individuals, families, seniors, and people with disability-based needs with affordable housing and other housing services. To date, Belmont manages 14 residential properties, including three properties – consisting of 71 apartment and 30 housing units - within the city of Buffalo proper. Read more about Belmont Shelter Corp....

Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Community Development Corporations (CDCs) are nonprofit, community-based organizations focused on revitalizing the areas in which they are located, typically low-income, underserved neighborhoods that have experienced significant disinvestment. Read more about Community Development Corporations (CDCs)...

Urban Edge CDC

Founded in the 1970s by the Ecumenical Social Action Committee to expand its homeownership counseling and housing rehabilitation work, Urban Edge is a minority-controlled and minority-led nonprofit community development organization aiming to develop and sustain stable, healthy and diverse communities in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and surrounding Boston neighborhoods.  To date, the CDC’s work is credited with developing or preserving nearly 1,500 units of affordable housing.  Valuing “green development,” Urban Edge has created green development standards that it follows to ensure its real estate projects create high-quality living environments, promote healthy lifestyles, and reduce their impact on environmental resources.  In 2016 alone, its homeownership workshops educated 863 people, 167 of whom became first time homeowners.  The CDC also provided tax preparation support to 628 families, returning $1.4 million to the local economy.

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation

Founded in 1977, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) aims to ensure low-income Jamaica Plain and adjacent neighborhood residents can access affordable homes, paths to prosperity, and real leadership.  Its work is credited with developing 630 affordable homes, securing over $11 million in financing to support over 80 local small businesses, and connecting more than 1,500 resident to jobs, education, and training.  In 2009, the nonprofit restored an empty, neglected brewery into The Brewery Small Business Complex, a project it now manages.  The Brewery currently houses 50 small businesses, half of which are owned by women or people of color, that employee about 500 people.  Revenues from the Brewery enable JPNDC to provide community programming free of charge.