STRATEGIC INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

Neighborhood Progress, Inc.'s Strategic Investment Initiative (SII) aims to restore private markets, including real estate, in a select number of Cleveland neighborhoods which have undergone previous decline but show potential to "recover". The Strategic Investment Initiative intends to produce measurable change over the next 10 years in property values, homeownership and occupancy rates, and additional private investment. NPI competitively selected the six community development corporations for this program based on their development expertise and on whether their service areas offered opportunities for new large-scale development and "market recovery".

There are 10 key characteristics of the SII: 

1. A focus on broad market outcomes, rather than on producing housing units
2. Precise, narrow targeting
   
3. Comprehensive plans
   
4. High-impact anchor projects
   
5. "Model Blocks" to complement the anchor projects
   
6. Land acquisition and vacant/abandoned properties
   
7. Comprehensive amenities and services through strategic partnerships
   
8. A pervasive attention to marketing and market competitiveness
   
9. Dedicated staffing for the initiative at the CDC
   
10. A new partnership relationship between NPI and the CDC's

Neighborhood Progress, Inc. (NPI) is supporting this broader, holistic approach by providing new concentrated resources from foundations in smaller target areas and staff support from NPI and Enterprise Community Partners. To assist CDCs in this work, NPI has provided training to the CDC staffs and boards on developing healthy neighborhoods, Model Blocks, and neighborhood marketing.