Community development corporation

Type of corporation typically operating for the benefit of a local area's public

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A community development corporation (CDC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated to provide programs, offer services and engage in other activities that promote and support community development. CDCs usually serve a geographic location such as a neighborhood or a town. They often focus on serving lower-income residents or struggling neighborhoods. They can be involved in a variety of activities including economic development, education, community organizing and real estate development. These organizations are often associated with the development of affordable housing.

The first community development corporation in the United States was the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

Activities

Real estate development
- Affordable housing
Economic development
- Small business lending
- Small business technical assistance
- Small business incubation (i.e. provision of space at low or no cost to start-up businesses)
Education
- Early childhood education
- Workforce training
Nonprofit incubation
- Fundraising for local causes as a corporate donor, public charity, or foundation
- Financing Housing cooperatives or other cooperatives
- Fiscal sponsorship of community-based associations
Youth and leadership development
Advocacy
- Sustainable development advocacy
- Locally-owned business advocacy
- Environmental justice and brownfields redevelopment
Community planning
- Master planning for retail and community development
Community organizing
- Lessening neighborhood tensions
- Facilitating community and stakeholder participation in local programs and activities
- Facilitating community access to targeted grants

In some jurisdictions in the United States, a CDC is by definition targeted towards direct investment in the community, while a "community development advocacy organization" is a category eligible for recognition as a tax-exempt charity or service organization.

Notable examples

References

"Guide to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation publication and photograph collection ARC.124". New York Public Library. Brooklyn Historical Society. 9 December 2011.

Bibliography

Florence Contant (1974), Community development corporations: an annotated bibliography, Exchange Bibliography, US: Council of Planning Librarians, ISSN 0010-9959 – via Internet Archive

External links

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