The Threefold Mission of The Collaborative is to:

  • Strengthen the capacity of community development corporations (CDCs) to serve as leaders in neighborhood revitalization initiatives that meet community needs in a way that measurably improves residents' quality of life;
  • Stimulate systems development and change resulting in strong, durable CDCs capable of accomplishing specific demonstrable and significant objectives in the areas of affordable housing, economic development, community safety and other aspects of community building; and
  • Promote the community development industry as an effective vehicle for transforming Columbus' distressed neighborhoods into vibrant, sustainable communities.
The Collaborative achieves its mission by:
  • Supplying stable and increased funding for the industry.
  • Enhancing capacity building initiatives and direct technical assistance that will result in sustainable CDC production levels.
  • Supporting the increased production of affordable housing through the delivery of a high quality training curriculum.
  • Providing direct technical assistance to increase CDC capacity.
  • Elevating the perception of the community development industry as an active and viable development partner.
What is The Collaborative?

The Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus (The Collaborative) was created over a decade ago to provide leadership, financial support, training and direct technical assistance to Columbus, Ohio’s neighborhood-based community development corporations.

Since its inception in 1992, it has evolved from a program with no support staff and limited resources administered by a working board, to an independent organization, governed by a volunteer board and more than 1.5 million dollars in contributions and support annually.

Currently, the Collaborative is funded by financial institutions, foundations, corporations, philanthropies and government agencies and is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of partners who make a minimum investment of $25,000 annually.

The Board of Trustees works diligently to ensure a sustainable financial base for ongoing funding programs, operations and initiatives that produce measurable and meaningful results and makes certain that fair and equitable access is afforded to Collaborative resources for all qualified community development organizations.

An important outcome of the industry’s performance may be seen in the ability of the Collaborative to attract and retain investors to support the ongoing activities of the CDCs.

This may be evaluated at several distinct levels. First, through the attainment of tangible production outputs by funded organizations and their ability to meet stated organizational development goals. Second, the ability of the Collaborative to market the industry based upon future outcomes in the area of neighborhood revitalization, the production of affordable housing, and the overall benefit it has on the social and economic viability of the City. And, possibly most important, the overall perception of the viability of the Collaborative and its ability to deliver technical assistance and training, and administrate funding programs in a fiscally responsible fashion.

A key factor in the stability of the Collaborative rests with its strong relationship with the city of Columbus. The Department of Development has continued to contract for additional responsibilities with the Collaborative in the areas of grant and fund management and administration, training program development and planning and policy guidance. This is a strong testimonial to the Collaborative’s consistent commitment to the advancement of the community development industry in Columbus.

This level of confidence and overall endorsement of mission has positioned the Collaborative as the leading entity in the field of community development in Columbus and throughout Franklin County, Ohio.

Welcome

Welcome to the Collaborative's new web site. Please browse throughout the site to find out more about us, the services we offer, and how we may be able to help you build, develop or rehab affordable, workforce housing throughout Columbus and Franklin County.

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2012 Community Development Neighborhood Summit                                       
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For Questions Please Contact: Jess Patterson jess@hztrust.org     

Board of Trustees

©2008-2009 The Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus
185 S. Fifth Street | Columbus, OH 43215