About Us

Harlem Community Development Corporation (“Harlem CDC”), a New York State public benefit corporation, was created in 1995 to serve the greater Harlem community, including East Harlem, Central Harlem, West Harlem and Washington Heights, through planning and facilitating the development of a range of community development projects and revitalization initiatives and restore Upper Manhattan as an economically stable and culturally vibrant community.

To implement its mission, Harlem CDC targets the redevelopment of vacant or underutilized commercial and residential property and publicly-owned spaces. Its goal in this regard is to attract new businesses, retain and grow existing businesses, provide access to homeownership opportunities, create employment opportunities and improve the quality of life and the environment in partnership with Upper Manhattan residents, businesses and property owners and other agencies.

Harlem CDC also seeks to empower local Harlem businesses and entrepreneurs so that they can more fully participate in new and ongoing business opportunities. We do this by:

• providing information and technical assistance to community-based organizations to assist them in the planning, development and management of their economic development projects;
   
• encouraging the participation of community-based organizations in major projects being undertaken in Harlem by private developers, especially projects seeing assistance from New York State, and;
   
• facilitating the community’s access to New York State economic development resources, including financial assistance and skills training.

Harlem CDC is a subsidiary of the NYS Urban Development Corporation d.b.a. Empire State Development Corporation (“ESDC”). Harlem CDC has four primary departments:  Commercial Development, Residential Development, Urban Planning and the Weatherization Assistance Program.

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