Riverworks Development Corporation

RIVERWORKS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (RDC) DRIVES SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY ALIGNING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITH SPECIALIZED RESOURCES THAT STRENGTHEN HARAMBEE, RIVERWEST AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

FINANCIAL CLINIC: PROVIDES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY INCREASING CREDIT SCORES, BUILDING WEALTH, AND LEARNING NEW WAYS TO ACHIEVE SHORT AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS. THE CLINIC ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING, GROUP-BASED EDUCATION, FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES, DEBT MANAGEMENT, PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, BUILDING BANKING RELATIONSHIPS, AND OTHER REFERRAL RESOURCES. IN 2021, THE FINANCIAL CLINIC UNVEILED THEIR NEWLY EXPANDED SPACE AT 518 E CONCORDIA AVENUE (FORMERLY THE VIBE); IN ADDITION, THE CLINIC TEAM GREW TO INCLUDE 5 FULL TIME STAFF AND AN AMERICORPS MEMBER. WITH THIS GROWTH, THE FINANCIAL CLINIC WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH MORE RESIDENTS ON THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS. 88 CLIENTS RECEIVED ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICES; 1,375 INDIVIDUALS WERE REFERRED TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS THROUGH THE FINANCIAL NAVIGATOR PROGRAM; AND APPROXIMATELY 1,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED IN PREPARING AND SUBMITTING THEIR TAX RETURNS THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT & CREATIVE PLACEMAKING: COLLABORATES WITH RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT REFLECTS THE CULTURE AND VALUES OF THE HARAMBEE AND RIVERWEST NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS INCLUDES ACTIVATING AND REVITALIZING PUBLIC SPACES, SUCH AS THE BEERLINE TRAIL, WITH ART AND CULTURE, FACILITATING COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND SAFETY PROJECTS, AND CONNECTING RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS TO RESOURCES - INCLUDING THOSE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HARAMBEE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (NID) #7. IN 2021, RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN THE BEERLINE SHUFFLE, MUSIC ON THE BEERLINE, THE 53212 MARKETPLACE SERIES, NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UPS, AND OTHER EVENTS THAT UNITE THE HARAMBEE AND RIVERWEST COMMUNITIES. RIVERWORKS COMPLETED OVER 1,300 HOUSING SURVEYS IN THE HARAMBEE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS BLIGHTED PROPERTIES AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR HOME REPAIR. THE HARAMBEE QUALITY OF LIFE PLAN BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS TO BEGIN PLANNING PHASES FOR A PLAN TO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE. THE BEERLINE TRAIL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONTINUED TO ENSURE THE NEXT PHASES OF TRAIL DEVELOPMENT SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT OTHER DEVELOPMENT INSPIRED BY AND CENTERED AROUND THE TRAIL BENEFITS RESIDENTS EQUITABLY. PRIOR TO THE BEERLINE TRAIL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT EFFORTS, THIS CORRIDOR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY BLIGHT, DISINVESTMENT, AND A LACK OF PERCEIVED SAFETY.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HUB: PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES. OUR BUSINESS SPECIALIST PROVIDES BUSINESS COACHING AND STRATEGIC BUDGETING SESSIONS TO HELP FIND FUNDING AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT FIT THEIR NEEDS. SERVICES AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES INCLUDE PROPERTY/BUSINESS BEAUTIFICATION STRATEGIES, SECURITY INITIATIVES, MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND BUSINESS PLANNING. WE CONNECT PROPERTY OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS/SMALL BUSINESSES TO PHYSICAL SPACE AND PROVIDE EACH ENTREPRENEUR WITH OUR NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2021, THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HUB RECEIVED A MAJOR, MULTI-YEAR DONATION FROM WELLS FARGO TO INCREASE SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS; THIS FUNDING ALLOWED THE HUB TO GROW ITS TEAM. WITH ADDITIONAL STAFFING, THE HUB ASSISTED 96 BUSINESSES IN STARTING, GROWING, MARKETING, AND FUNDING THEIR VENTURES. THROUGH THE BOUNCEBACK GRANT, THE HUB ASSISTED 28 BUSINESSES IN RECEIVING A TOTAL $280,000 TO FUND LEASING OF COMMERCIAL SPACES. THROUGH THE RIVERWEST BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) #25, THE HUB ASSISTED 4 BUSINESSES/ORGANIZATIONS IN RECEIVING A TOTAL OF $27,650 IN PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND SAFETY & SECURITY GRANTS.