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OUR HISTORY
Established in 1988, Prospering Places formally known as Congress Heights Community Training & Development Corporation’s (CHCTDC) mission is to increase equity and economic opportunity in underserved communities in the Washington, DC areas East of the Anacostia River (Wards 7 & 8) by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. Our mission is driven by three strategic pillars: inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth building, and equitable economic development, and is fulfilled by providing access to capital products and services, and capacity-building technical assistance to low- and moderate-income Black entrepreneurs.
Empower vibrant and self-sustaining communities where residents thrive, businesses grow, and career-seekers prosper.
MISSION
Increase economic opportunity in ambitious, underinvested communities by co-creating programs and pathways that build long-term capacity and access to capital.
WHO WE SERVE
Underinvested communities looking for proven models of community-led revitalization that can unlock the potential of low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs, local career-seekers, and real estate assets.
What we do:
Core Pillars & Service Areas
We deliver successful, replicable models for:
• Workforce development: Tailored skills and job-ready, know-how for career-seekers
• Business corridor development: Tools/resources to empower entrepreneurs
• Real estate development: Collaborative, community-led wealth building partnerships that generate new access to capital
• Advocacy: Capacity-building to empower local champions
OUR BRAND STORY
Building on nearly four decades of advancing prosperity for underserved neighborhoods, Prospering Places is stepping up to significantly grow its proven model of community-led revitalization.
In launching its next-generation leadership team, an expanded suite of services, and a new identity, – Prospering Places – the organization is primed to deliver even more transformative initiatives, locally and beyond.
The mission of Prospering Places is to increase economic opportunity in ambitious, underinvested communities by building long-term capacity and access to capital. From its successes in Washington DC’s Ward 8, Prospering Places brings deep experience, know-how, and programs to locations looking for proven ways to unlock the potential of their low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs, career-seekers, and real estate assets.
There are no cookie-cutter solutions to growth. By co-creating location-specific strategies, Prospering Places empowers places ac to develop home-grown, community-led, sustainable paths to prosperity.
COMMUNITY QUOTE
“Fostering growth in community training, Together we thrive, a future unfolding.”
Prospering Places operated under this premise until 1994, when the board of directors reevaluated the organization’s mission by looking critically at ways to improve the overall quality of life of residents by incorporating goals and objectives that would more readily address the chronic problems that persist in economically depressed areas. Articles of Incorporation were amended to include economic development services consisting of business development, entrepreneurial training, and financial management. Prospering Places has become actively involved in the implementation of economic development projects in collaboration with private and public entities that will stimulate job creation and provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents in depressed areas, specifically enterprise, economic, and development zones.
Prospering Places offers a full range of services to private businesses, federal and local government agencies. The organization specializes in stimulating economic development and management of educational programs and services for youth and adults that include: