2515 Frankford Ave · Philadelphia, PA 19125 · phone: 215.427.0350 · fax: 215.427.1302
Mission & Goals
NKCDC's mission is to strengthen the physical, social, and economic fabric of the community by being a catalyst for sustainable development and community building.
NKCDC draws on the strengths of the community to empower residents and promote resident-driven development. While strategies have shifted over the past twenty years, NKCDC has developed into a community development corporation with a multi-faceted approach to neighborhood revitalization. As just one of a team of players in these communities, these combined efforts have had great impacts on neighborhood development.
NKCDC aims to empower residents through an active, informed and self-sufficient citizenry. Each year NKCDC serves more than 30,000 low and moderate income families and 60,000 residents. NKCDC accomplishes its mission through a holistic approach to community organizing:
Economic Development - NKCDC seeks to further local business development in order to create jobs and community wealth. We assist start-up and existing businesses, maintain an inventory of available property, help local entrepreneurs identify and obtain services and funds to help their businesses grow, and work with the arts as a vehicle for economic stimulation.
Real Estate Development - NKCDC brings life to abandoned buildings by providing affordable housing to first-time homebuyers, converting old factories to new uses, and collaborating with city, state, & federal agencies on brownfield redevelopment. NKCDC renovates single-family homes for first-time homebuyers, and in 2004 created the vibrant Coral Street Arts House, converting an abandoned factory into affordable artist live-work space.
Housing Counseling - NKCDC works to expand homeownership opportunities for working families. In the past twenty years NKCDC has helped more than 4,000 low and moderate income families purchase their first homes. We offer homebuyer workshops and work closely with city and state officials to offer weatherization education and other forms of energy assistance. Financial literacy, personal budgeting mentoring, and foreclosure prevention assistance is also available.
Land Use Management - NKCDC creates clean and green open spaces, organizes volunteer greening projects and tree plantings, and stabilizes and maintains vacant lots. Since 1997 NKCDC's Garden Center, a plant-filled urban oasis located at Frankford & Berks, has offered high-quality low-cost plants, gardening supplies, and informative workshops to the community at large. The Garden Center also features a community greenhouse, which features a wide array of herbs and vegetables.
Community Organizing - Through interaction with city and state governments, NKCDC gives voice to resident concerns. Both the New Kensington Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Kensington Area Neighborhood Advisory Committee (KANAC) work closely with the community to organize and mobilize residents. Quarterly community forums help disseminate information and address neighborhood issues, empowering residents in both the 19125 and 19134 zip codes.
Neighborhood Planning - Working closely with the community, NKCDC assists residents and businesses in creating neighborhood plans that help guide future development. These plans ultimately serve as vehicles for collaboration between the community, the city, and developers as well as leverage funding for these projects.
