Community Economic Development Craig Scharton, Director Downtown and Community Revitalization City of Fresno

My Background Fresno City Council-Tower District Downtown Property Owner Main Street Director Pleasanton/Hanford, President California Main Street CEO, Central Valley Business Incubator/Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator Downtown & Community Revitalization M.S. Community Economic Development

C.E.D Definition The study of: – Areas that have been bypassed by the traditional economic markets – Efforts to improve the conditions of economically marginalized people and places.

CED History The history of efforts to eradicate poverty is generally a history of failed attempts – Industrial Age/Ghettos – War on Poverty – Urban Renewal – Welfare

CED Principles People and Place Community-led Measurable Economic Improvement

Current Best Practices Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative Harlem Children's Zone Market Creek Plaza

Common CED Tools Community Development Corporations (CDC) Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Microenterprise Financial Literacy Individual Development Account (IDA) Homeownership Land Banks

Community Reinvestment Act Investment Branches Services Loans

TED vs. Economic Gardening Traditional Economic Development Helping the Local Guys

Main Street Program Design Marketing Economic Restructuring Organization Benefits of associations and networks

What We Are Doing in Lowell Coordinate City Departments and Focus City Resources Coordinate Neighborhood Coordinate Partnering Agencies – Nonprofits – Education CSU, Fresno, FCC, FUSD, FPU – HA, WIB – Federal Partnership

My House

Final Exercise Owner or Renter? My Neighbor Tony