CAMDEN, NJ SHEPHERD ALLIANCE INTERNSHIP 2009 Rob George, Kate Donnelly, and Charlie Gentles

Outline Introduction to Camden Rob’s work at GCP Kate’s Work at CFDA Extra- curricular activities

Just across the Delaware…

Why Economic Revitalization  Prime Location  Industrial Roots  Disinvestment and Decline  Highway Construction  Racial Tensions  Population Decline

Camden Today  “Most Dangerous City in America”  35.5% Poverty (2000)  11.6% Home Vacancy  Diverse:  53% African American  39% Latin American

Problems  Small Tax-Base  Negative Perception  Reliant on State/National government  Lack of basic retail needs  Failing Education System

Camden’s Comeback

Organizations

THE GREATER CAMDEN PARTNERSHIP

About GCP  Brings together leaders of the private, public and non-profit sectors  Promotes the revitalization of Camden through joint public/private ventures  Anchor-Based Revitalization  Projects:  Camden Special Services District: Clean and Safe  Kroc Center  Broadway Main Street

My Role at GCP  Policy Recommendation: Stabilize and improve neighborhoods surrounding Camden’s anchor institutions  Problem = Disinvestment  Diminishes the quality of the environment surrounding the anchors Quality of life Outward appearance  Hinders the abilities of the anchors to recruit and retain employees

Collaborative Anchor-Based Employer Assisted Housing Program  Research National Best Practices  Designed Housing Survey  Policy Proposal:  appropriate anchor-base incentive  municipal participation  lender discounts  additional funding sources  housing counseling  appropriate geographic restrictions  data collection and measurement

Community Impact  Increase Tax-base  Entice stable homeowners/neighbors  Fix 11.6% Vacancy

Kate Donnelly

Cooper’s Ferry Development Association  Private, non-profit corporation  1984  MISSION: to coherently plan and implement high- quality urban redevelopment projects in order to help replenish Camden's depleted tax base and to create a significant number of jobs for city residents.  CFDA also works to improve Camden's environment as a place in which to live, to work, to visit and to invest.

Main Project Involvement  Cooper Plaza Parking Report and Neighborhood Analysis  Grant applications  Camden GreenWay and Rails to Trails  Cramer Hill Park Plan  Camden Home Improvement Project (CHIP)

Extra-curricular  Judge Davis – COO of Camden  Msgr. Doyle – the Poet of Poverty  Habitat for Humanity and St. Josephs Carpenter Society  Anthony Mazzarelli’s Radio Show