About CDC of Tampa
To address the needs of the East Tampa community, Chloe Coney—Manager of Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center with Audrey Spotford—Chair of the Lee Davis Advisory Board, and a group of concerned citizens decided to form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development corporation in 1992.
Originally known as the Lee Davis Neighborhood Development Corporation, the organization would eventually change its name to Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. and began the Nehemiah Project “Community Building Brick by Brick.”
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CDC of Tampa’s Organizational Leaders
Chloe J. Coney: Founder & Inaugural CEO (1992-2006)
Toni Watts: President & CEO (2006-2010)
Ernest M. Coney, Jr. MPH: President & CEO (2011-Present)
Our Guiding Principles
Vision
A thriving Tampa Bay region in which every community is equitable, diverse, and engaged. ​
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Mission
To create opportunities for people to build prosperous futures and vibrant communities. CDC of Tampa creates these opportunities by deploying comprehensive community development strategies--that connect workforce development, housing, and real estate with education, resident engagement, and community safety--to drive economic prosperity.
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Our Core Values
LOYALTY
Faithful to our commitments and obligations; we demonstrate this by being reliable, respectful, and trustworthy.
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EXCELLENCE
Driven to provide quality, as well as superior results; we demonstrate this by being persistent, determined, and not easily satisfied.
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ADAPTABILITY
Able to easily adjust to different conditions; we demonstrate this by being open to change to achieve results.
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DIVERSITY
Inclusive of distinctive backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives; we demonstrate this by embracing our differences.
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SERVICE
Accountable to each other and those we serve.
Our History
1992
CDC of Tampa, Inc., was incorporated for the purpose of alleviating poverty and physical deterioration in Hillsborough County’s East Tampa Community
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1999
Opening of the East Tampa Business Center for six micro businesses 2365 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Tampa, FL
2000
Grand opening of the Audrey Spotford Youth and Family Center
2005
Began receiving funding from City of Tampa for our "Youth Leadership Movement" program
2009
Fifth Third Bank & Yummy House Restaurant, were co-developed by CDC of Tampa in partnership with the Richmond Group, on a 2-acre parcel of land in East Tampa
2014
First "Suit Up & Show Up" community event
2018
Awarded funding from Children's Board for the "3-D Sting Rays" program
2021
Helped to gap-finance a Sprouts Farmers Market
2022
Armature Place Apartments: Acquired through funding from Hillsborough County. 96 units of affordable rental housing.
2022
(HOPE) Hiring & Opportunities for Procurement in East Tampa, Women Entrepreneurs (WE) Mean Business & Wisdom Wednesdays program initiatives were established
2023
Spectrum Training and Technology Center opened at TVI
2024
Awarded funding from ​The Department of Labor YouthBuild USA for program initiatives.
1992
Kick off "SteppingStones Program"
1999
Began Nehemiah Project Movement & developed Nehemiah Coin Laundry
2000
Construction of the Osborne Landing Apartments
2007
Construction of the Columbus Arms Apartments
2011
Fort King Colony Apartment Complex: One of CDC's largest multi-family developments which consists of 120 apartment homes located in Zephyrhills, FL.
2016
Partnership began with City of Tampa to facilitate "Summer Youth Employment Training"
2019
Construction of the Gardens at Diana Point apartments
2021
Began facilitating the Youth Leaders of Tomorrow program which is hosted by CareerSource
2022
Industry Sector Roundtables began
2023
Kicked off Impact Mondays & Hiring Hour community programs
2024
Granted $300,000, from the American Red Cross, to initiate the “Long Term Disaster Recovery Center” Pilot Program in Ft Myers, FL.
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1995
Workforce Development Classes Began
1999
Awarded funding from the Department of Labor for "Youth Opportunity" program initiatives
2001
Launched two youth social purpose businesses: ice cream shop & youth opportunity print center
2008
The Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center opened as the program headquarters for CDC of Tampa
2012
Ernest Coney, Jr. hired as President and CEO
2017
First girls conference was held & later transitioned to be called "Sisterhood Summit"
2020
F-I-R-E Academy began
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2021
Moved into Tampa Vocational Institute Building
2022
Tampa Vocational Institute approved for the state’s Apprenticeship Program
2023
10,000 sq. ft building (that housed two businesses and included two out parcels) was purchased to be developed as a business incubator and restaurant space
2024
Wealth Builders Program, funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, was established.