About Us

FRANKFORD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Frankford Community Development Corporation is working to revitalize a community in decline. In 1992, more than 210 committed and involved neighborhood residents met weekly for six weeks to direct Frankford’s future. They created the Frankford Plan, a 9-initiative neighborhood plan that resulted in the creation of FCDC and its activities since 1995. The Plan engendered programs that caused property values and wages to rise, businesses to open, and economic vitality to return to a once-declining neighborhood.

We have dedicated our efforts toward “re-weaving” the social and economic fabric of the Frankford community. Frankford has a rich history of community-based planning starting with the original Frankford Plan adopted in 1995 and continued in Frankford Plan 2000. FCDC continued to build on this tradition with Frankford Plan 2005. Based on the model developed in the original Frankford Plan:

  1. Children and Families
  2. Education
  3. Economic Development and Jobs
  4. Affordable Housing Development
  5. Housing Counseling
  6. Neighborhood Building: activities to unite the Frankford community in the common purpose and goal of revitalizing the neighborhood and addressing the need to nurture Frankford’s diverse racial and economic resident base.
  7. Public Safety
  8. Arts, Culture, Recreation and Green space
  9. Transportation

When Frankford residents achieve one or more of their goals: a house, an education leading to an employment opportunity, a thriving business, financial solvency, a living wage employment situation- then the community-established goals are met.

Presently, the Frankford Community Development Corporation administers the Frankford Economic Development Program including Frankford Main Street. The Ten-member Board of Directors manages the daily activities of the CDC and its three-member staff.

FRANKFORD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF WORK 2008

In order to improve the quality of life, employment opportunities and entrepreneurial opportunities for very low, low and moderate income individuals and neighborhoods, and recognizing the importance of Philadelphia’s small business sector in achieving the foregoing, FCDC, a neighborhood-based organization, will assist the City of Philadelphia in the implementation of its ReStore Philadelphia Corridors Strategy which is intended to help revitalize commercial corridors through the City.

Neighborhood Revitalization

  1. FCDC will provide direct assistance to the Frankford Business and Professional Association When appropriate, FCDC will provide this assistance in cooperation with Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (PCDC). FCDC will contact the business association at least once a month to review their needs. This collaboration between FCDC and the business association will assist FCDC in determining the needs of the entire commercial district and provide important information on public services and capital improvements needed to maintain and improve the overall area. FCDC’s support to the business association includes but is not limited to:
  2. Assistance in the development of an Implementation Plan for physical and service improvements;
  3. Assistance in the development of a Calendar Corridor of Events, such as promotional events, public safety meetings and business workshops;
  4. Assistance in carrying out promotional and advertising activities, based on Calendar of Events;
  5. Assistance to enhance the security, maintenance and general aesthetic appeal of their area.
  6. Assistance regarding organizational structure, financial management.
  7. Assistance in the implementation of FBPA’s business plan.
  8. Assistance in increasing its membership.
  9. Additional assistance as determined necessary and appropriate, in carrying out the City’s economic development strategy.
  10. FCDC shall work with the FBPA, the Main Street and residents to facilitate cooperation between the Frankford residential community and the businesses, determine improvements needed, act as a liaison, facilitate the delivery of the improvements to the neighborhood and assist individuals in the resolution of concerns as they may arise.
  11. FCDC shall provide business associations and businesses located in the service area with assistance in the resolution of concerns with the delivery of efficient and effective City Services.

Business Assistance

  1. FCDC shall actively support the revitalization of the Frankford Business District by disseminating information about the specific Frankford Commercial Corridor incentives such as the Façade Rebate Program and PCDC’s Revolving Loan fund to area businesses to facilitate business retention and start up.
  2. FCDC shall individual for-profit firms that provide goods or services to this low and moderate-income neighborhood in obtaining financing for business expansion and start-up, working capital, and real estate for business uses. In addition, FCDC will provide other limited technical assistance as necessary. Types of assistance provided include but is not limited to assistance with management, sales promotions, public relations, inventory.

Community Economic Development Program

  1. FCDC shall assist in the marketing of publicly and privately owned vacant commercial and/or mixed-use properties in FCDC’s target areas. FCDC will prepare and distribute a Hot List of commercial properties located in these areas which are available for rent, lease or purchase. The Hot List will be distributed to real estate brokers, developers and retailers. The goal is to reduce and maintain a lower vacancy rate in project areas where vacancy is a problem.
  2. FCDC shall conduct a snap shot survey of properties on Frankford Avenue from Church to Bridge Streets and the surrounding business area. The information will include name of owner, vacant or occupied, general conditions, name of business, type of business and hours of operation.

Workforce Development

The FCDC shall work with other community service organizations and businesses located in the Frankford service area, and make efforts to maximize employment opportunities for low and moderate income area residents.

FRANKFORD MAINSTREET PROGRAM

The Frankford Community Development Corporation continues in their efforts of the revitalization of the Frankford Business District. The Frankford Business District runs along Frankford Avenue, beginning at the 4200 block through the 5300 block. The perception of the community and the greater Philadelphia area is that Frankford Avenue is not a very safe and aesthetically pleasing place to shop. Frankford CDC has the intention of bringing the business district back to a level of retail success. In order to accomplish this FCDC will:

  • Encourage business owners to take an active interest in the business district and join the Frankford Business & Professional Association.
  • Visit with and assist business owners in upgrading their facades to create a more attractive business district.
  • Paint facades using the Historic Trust color palette to update project on 4900 block.
  • Initiate window boxes as a method of improving appearance to roll gates and second floor windows through the Main Street façade program.
  • Initiate improvements to second and third floor windows to improve the appearance of facades from the El.
  • Provide education for appropriate committee members to receive Main Street training.
  • Co-host a series of promotional events in the Frankford Community including, but not limited to the Frankford Festival, Frankford Concert Series and Halloween parade.

Event Calendar

Business Resources

The Board