The Community Development Program at CEDF actively engages communities in its target areas to plan and carry out community economic development projects. CEDF has operated from the understanding that urban neighborhoods cannot be revitalized without local small business owners investing in and expanding their businesses. Local businesses provide employment, goods and services, and stability in urban neighborhoods. However, for small businesses to be successful, they need the community to create a stable environment to do business. This means making neighborhoods safer, eliminating blighted buildings, cleaning up sidewalks and streets, and carrying out promotional activities on behalf of the business community. The spirit of CEDF's community development effort is in short, to help make the environment better for business.

The CD program comprises three forms of neighborhood assistance: direct grant support for economic development projects, technical assistance in economic development to local organizations, and training on various aspects of economic development. Since 1996, CEDF has sponsored CD activities in many communities including Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Britain and in smaller communities such as Willimantic, Hamden, and Norwich. 
CEDF grants and technical assistance have supported retail market studies, commercial district revitalization studies, industrial brownfield analysis, and commercial building feasibility studies.

CEDF Community Development Program:
In the low and moderate income neighborhoods where CEDF operates, economic development initiatives have been sparse despite a strong state economy. Traditional financing can be difficult to find. In order to sustain and attract small business, neighborhood based public and private investments must be made within the context of a well thought-out neighborhood plan.

CEDF's philosophy is that projects and investments are more likely to be successful to if they,

• Have broad support from the community
• Are part of a comprehensive neighborhood development plan and investment strategy
• Bring together a partnership of public and private sector interests
• Have strong market interest and implementation potential

The ultimate goal of our CD program is to create a compatible environment for neighborhood reinvestment at all levels. CEDF works with residents, business owners, community groups, and municipal officials to identify the strengths as well as the needs of local communities. As neighborhood stakeholders create a plan for development, CEDF assists them to identify the gaps in technical assistance and financing that are holding back reinvestment. By assisting in this way, CEDF can help open doors to the community for small business development, commercial real estate development, or other community projects. As multiple projects are accomplished within a community's plan, each investment builds on the next, making the environment better suited for sustainable economic development.