CYPRESS HILLS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

CAREER & EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING - CHLDC SERVED 1,378 RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH OUR CAREER & EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN FY25 WHICH INCLUDES THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AND SECTOR SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, IN HIGH GROWTH EMPLOYMENT SECTORS: TRANSPORTATION, IT, AND CONSTRUCTION SKILLS. LAST YEAR, 196 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS GAINED AN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL AND 159 SECURED EMPLOYMENT AT AN AVERAGE WAGE OF $21 AN HOUR. CHLDC ALSO PROVIDED ORGANIZING SUPPORT TO THE CYPRESS HILLS BUSINESS PARTNERS MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION THAT SUCCESSFULLY WON THE CITY'S APPROVAL TO ESTABLISH A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS DESIGNATION ENABLES SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR TO TAX THEMSELVES AT SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATES AND USE THE FUNDS TO OFFER SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY, SANITATION AND PROMOTIONAL SERVICES. IN FY25 WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTER. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN IS A SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR WITH 31 MEMBERS. WE ARE PROVIDING START-UP CATERERS, BAKERS AND RESTAURATEURS WITH A MODERN PRODUCTION KITCHEN AS WELL AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH LICENSING, BUSINESS PLANNING, FINANCING, AND MARKETING. CHLDC MOBILIZES RESIDENTS THROUGH THE EAST NEW YORK COALITION FOR COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT TO DEMAND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRANSIT AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR, THIS COALITION RALLIED AGAINST HOUSE FLIPPERS AND SPECULATORS AND ADVOCATED FOR THE USE OF INDUSTRIAL LAND TO CREATE GOOD, GREEN JOBS. OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TEAM AT CHLDC ALSO SUPPORTS YOUTH ACTIVISTS IN A GRASSROOTS GROUP "FUTURE OF TOMORROW" THAT IS SEEKING REFORMS IN THE STATE'S AND CITY'S SUSPENSION AND POLICING POLICIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CHLDC IS SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF THE EAST NEW YORK COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WHICH IS ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING COUNSELING & ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY CENTER OUR BEAUTIFUL AND SPACIOUS NEW COMMUNITY CENTER ENABLES US TO GROW OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE SUCCESS, SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES AND PUBLIC BENEFITS ENROLLMENT WORK IN EAST NEW YORK. WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER SPORTS AND RECREATION CLASSES FOR 871 YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AND SUSTAIN A SILVER SATURDAYS PROGRAM FOR 50 OLDER ADULTS PROVIDING COMPUTER CLASSES, RECREATION AND A NUTRITIOUS MEAL. CHLDC MADE PROGRESS ON A ROBUST PIPELINE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE IN THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT PHASE AND GETTING CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION LOAN CLOSINGS. WE PARTNERED WITH THE ENY COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO ORGANIZE RESIDENTS OF A LONG FORGOTTEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY KNOWN AS THE HOLE WHICH LACKS BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOODS FREQUENTLY AND ATTRACTS DUMPING. THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ENGAGED RESIDENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO PLAN FOR MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AND THE FUTURE OF THE AREA. OUR ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH THE PRATT CENTER AND IMPACCT BROOKLYN ALSO LAUNCHED AN ENERGYFIT INITIATIVE TO RETROFIT AND ELECTRIFY SMALL HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. CHLDC EXPANDED ITS WORK IN SECURING PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR NEEDY EAST NEW YORKERS AND HELPED 1,282 EAST NEW YORKERS SECURE PUBLIC BENEFITS SUCH AS CASH ASSISTANCE, SNAP, ONE SHOT DEALS, REDUCED PRICED TRANSPORTATION AND SPECIAL BENEFITS FOR OLDER ADULTS. WE HOSTED OUR CYPRESS HILLS FARMERS MARKET WITH GROWNYC AND HELPED 2,808 COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. IN FY25, OUR HOUSING COUNSELORS ASSISTED 813 RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS IN APPLYING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SECURING HOUSING SUBSIDIES/BENEFITS AND REPAIRS, AVOIDING FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION AND PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT. CHLDC OFFERED IN-PERSON TENANT COUNSELING AND ORGANIZING, FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HOMEOWNERSHIP STABILIZATION SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ALSO INCREASED OUR TENANT ORGANIZING EFFORTS IN RENT STABILIZED BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT EAST NEW YORK.