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SINCE 1979
In 1979, a group of neighbors in the Whiteaker area of Eugene got together in an effort to make positive changes for their neighborhood. To achieve their goals, they formed the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, the first Community Development Corporation in Oregon.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
NEDCO’s early work focused on the revitalization and historic preservation of the Whiteaker neighborhood with projects such as the 22-unit scattered site East Blair Housing Cooperative and the Red Barn Marketplace, which includes the Red Barn Natural Grocery and the New Day Bakery. Later, the organization turned to business development programs including the Buy Oregon campaign, and the New Business Generator.

NEDCO has continued to revitalize the Whiteaker neighborhood with projects such as the Red Apple Grocery and the historic renovations of the Baldwin Market and the building housing the O.U.R. Federal Credit Union. NEDCO was also instrumental in placing the Red Barn Natural Grocery, the New Day Bakery, and the Blair Boulevard Historic Commercial Area on the National Register of Historic Sites & Places.

HOMEOWNERSHIP
In the 1990’s NEDCO developed extensive homeownership programs, expanding its service area beyond the Whiteaker neighborhood to all of Eugene, Springfield, and beyond. Since 1990 NEDCO has developed—through new construction, house moves, and renovation—over 130 quality affordable homes for low-income first time homebuyers. With its intensive Threshold Homeownership Education and Counseling Program and its ABC’s of Homebuying curriculum, NEDCO continues to work with over 1200 future first time homebuyers each year.

NEDCO currently operates two Homeownership Centers, located in Eugene and Salem. NEDCO is recognized statewide and beyond for its contributions in promoting and achieving homeownership for low-income first time homebuyers. In particular, its successful lease-purchase program and comprehensive homeownership education and counseling program are recognized innovations by both the non-profit and for-profit communities.

DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
NEDCO’s homeownership and business development initiatives have also enabled the organization to reach out to diverse populations, including the growing Latino immigrant community. NEDCO’s Mercado Latino, an open-air Latin American marketplace, was established to stimulate entrepreneurship and foster cultural exchange. It was the impetus for the organization to return to its roots of neighborhood revitalization and business development in planning for a Latino Commercial Center in downtown Springfield.

Since 1979, NEDCO has stayed true to its mission of “collaboratively building human and capital assets to strengthen neighborhoods and broaden participation in community ownership and governance” by listening to the community and by working on many varied projects. At its heart, it believes that its work is in helping people and neighborhoods to build assets through homeownership, neighborhood revitalization and historic preservation, and business development. As in the past, NEDCO will continue to diversify its services and develop new projects in an effort to meet the changing needs of the communities it serves now and in the future.

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