Cars have many essential components. Until we replace them with electric vehicles, cars need spark plugs to prompt internal combustion and generate energy, and shock absorbers to smooth out the ride. Community development corporations serve many roles in their communities. We believe that, among their critical roles, CDCs serve as spark plugs and shock absorbers.

Time after time, CDCs provide the spark necessary to create change. CDCs provide high-quality and affordable homes for families without many options for either, while investing in the neighborhood’s stability, establishing a place for community, and creating a bridge to social, racial, and economic advancement. CDCs offer technical assistance and financing to BIPOC and other small business entrepreneurs, supporting their business growth and sustainability; providing economic opportunities for their employees; and goods and services for the broader community. Through their youth programs, CDCs invest in the education and cultivation of future leaders—generating a better future for all whose lives they will touch.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, CDCs have consistently absorbed the economic shocks that have beset countless families. During the depths of the pandemic, CDCs stepped up and made sure food was delivered to seniors and to families with school-aged children. As different segments of the economy recover at different rates, CDCs continue to administer emergency assistance to renters and homeowners at risk of displacement. CDCs create and preserve affordable housing at a time of rapidly increasing construction costs and increased demand for limited resources.