DATE: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
FROM:
Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition
Bronx Economic Development Corporation
CONTACT:
Allison Manuel, NWBCCC Communications Director / allison@northwestbronx.org / 917-213-6028
Jilleen Barrett, BXEDC Director of Marketing and Communications | jbarrett@bxedc.org
Bronx Economic Development Corporation and Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition Launch Public Assemblies to Create the Bronx’s First Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Bronx, NY—Yesterday, the Bronx Economic Development Corporation (BXEDC) and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) launched a series of public assemblies to create the Bronx’s first federally-certified Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The Bronx CEDS process is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between community, government, business, real estate, education, labor, and finance sectors, working together to create a unified economic development plan. Over 115 Bronx residents, workers, small business owners, and youth attended the kickoff event.
“The Bronx has a strong sense of community, with many of its residents having a vested interest in the betterment of the borough,” said BXEDC Director of Economic Development Marshall Strawbridge. “Now, we’re calling for those people to join us and share what they want to see happen in The Bronx. The Bronx Economic Development Corporation is committed to hearing out all kinds of perspectives so we can create a truly unified economic development plan.”
This historic process offers a vital opportunity for the Bronx to put forth a bold, coordinated plan to address urgent challenges–including housing affordability and stability, health equity, environmental sustainability, and the rising costs of food, insurance, and everyday living. For the first time, the Bronx will develop a federally-certified CEDS, opening new pathways for collaboration across sectors and unlocking opportunities to secure government funding to implement and scale solutions.
“Bold and lasting solutions to the Bronx’s biggest challenges require durable infrastructure and strong partnership between the diverse institutions that make up the Bronx, grounded in a unified vision,” said Sandra Lobo, Executive Director of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. “We are proud to co-lead the Bronx CEDS, which has convened a cross-sector table to guide this strategy for the long-term. That’s how we build shared wealth and resilience for Bronx residents and workers—and how we create a model for transformational economic development that can inspire communities across the country.”
This first assembly, co-hosted with Laborers’ Local 79, marks the launch of four borough-wide events and a public survey aimed at gathering input from Bronx residents, workers, youth, faith leaders, and small business owners. These public engagements are complemented by sector-specific focus groups with elected officials and industry experts. The feedback collected will inform a long-term strategy to grow good jobs, support small businesses, and strengthen Bronx neighborhoods for decades to come.
“At Laborers’ Local 79, we know that real economic development means putting working people at the center. By investing in high-road, union jobs with good wages, benefits, and career pathways, we’re not just building infrastructure, we’re changing lives. That’s what this process is all about," said Laborers' Local 79 Business Manager Michael Prohaska. "We’re proud to stand alongside our community partners and the Bronx EDC in this historic endeavor to create a bold, community-driven economic vision for the Bronx.”
The Bronx CEDS builds upon the long-term vision developed by the Bronx-wide Coalition, a cross-sector collaboration of community, labor, and faith that have been working together since 2019 to advance community wealth and ownership.
The assembly featured an interactive gallery walk exploring the Bronx’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT), followed by story-sharing and strategy-building sessions that invite participants to help shape the plan. A draft CEDS will be released for public comment in early 2026, with the final plan and borough-wide summit to follow in summer 2026 to unveil key goals, initiatives and investment strategies.
Partner organizations across the Bronx will co-host additional public assemblies in the coming months and have expressed their excitement for the unprecedented opportunity to shape the borough’s future.
“The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) is inspired by the growing momentum and collective commitment to shape the Bronx’s first federally-certified Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS),” said WHEDco President Davon Russell. “This vital planning process will strengthen local capacity and chart a path toward lasting economic prosperity and resilience for the Bronx. With input from residents, community organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and private industry, we will confront the critical challenges facing our borough — from housing safety and affordability, to health, environmental sustainability, rising costs of food and insurance, and the need for family-sustaining jobs and careers. Together, we will craft a strategy that aligns with the Bronx’s priorities and positions our communities for long-term success and a vibrant, inclusive economic future.”
“Mothers on the Move is pleased to partner with the Bronx Economic Development Corporation and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition to host an assembly that engages local stakeholders to develop the first federally-certified Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Bronx,” said MOM Executive Director Wanda Salaman. “This process ensures that residents, workers, and businesses have opportunities to learn about our current economy, meaningfully engage in conversations, and help develop future possibilities for a more prosperous and resilient borough.”
“As the Executive Director of Bronx Bethany, I am proud to affirm our commitment to initiatives that foster sustainable economic change within our traditionally underserved community,” said David Vassell, Executive Director of Bronx Bethany Community Corporation. “Hosting and supporting this event with BXEDC and NWBCCC reflects our ongoing mission to be a receptive and transformative influence in the Bronx and beyond. We believe that by taking even small steps like this, we help pave the way for meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.”
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