Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 10-28-22

The CDC Of Tampa Continues To Be A Game Changer 30 Years Later
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Thursday, October 27, 2022, the Corporation to De- velop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC) will celebrate 30 years of innovation and progress for the Tampa Bay Area.
The CDC was incorporated on May 5, 1992, for the pur- pose of alleviating poverty and physical deterioration in Hills- borough County’s East Tampa community.
At the time, the East Tampa community was plagued with dilapidated, overcrowded housing, high rates of poverty, unemploy- ment, teen pregnancy, school dropout rates, and drug abuse.
Founder and former CEO, Chloe Coney, then Manager of Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center, along with Au- drey Spotford, Chairperson of Lee Davis Advisory Board, and a group of concerned citi- zens formed the CDC, a non-
ERNEST CONEY ... CDC President
profit 501(c)3 community de- velopment corporation.
“When I was growing up, we lived in areas like East Tampa, our parents sent us off to college. Few returned to the old neighborhoods. They be- came devastated by drugs, un- employment, and social problems, especially in public housing. I had to do some- thing. I had to help my old neighborhood in meaningful ways,” says Mrs. Coney.
CHLOE CONEY
... Founder and former CEO
Now the CDC of Tampa has become a leader in com- prehensive community devel- opment strategies that connect workforce development, hous- ing and real estate with educa- tion, community safety and resident leadership.
Mrs. Coney considers one of her greatest accom- plishments was the transfor- mation of the abandoned Rabbit’s Foot “Buckets of Blood” Bar into a 5,000-
square-foot youth educational center for $1.2 million over two decades ago.
Under her leadership, the CDC renovated several East Tampa commercial entities and built several multi-family residences.
In 2008, the Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Cen- ter opened as the corporate headquarters for CDC of Tampa.
In 2012, Ernest Coney, Jr., Mrs. Coney’s son, took over as President of the CDC.
Mr. Coney has continued his mother’s vision while ex- panding the community out- reach to all of Tampa and beyond. Through training pro- grams in multiple disciplines, rigorous mentoring, summer jobs, Leadership Academy, NeighborWorks, and exten- sive corporate partnerships, the CDC of today has grown into a powerhouse organiza- tion.
Mr. Coney’s real estate development for affordable
housing keeps growing rap- idly. New single-family homes are planned for Tampa, St. Pe- tersburg, and Largo. Mr. Coney also plans to expand the Gardens at Diana Point. Phase II will produce addi- tional housing for middle in- come residents.
“CDC of Tampa has always been a part of my life - doing drug marches as a high schooler, going to national trainings as a young adult and working with community youth (as a Florida Aquarium employee).
Mr. Coney said, “It has been a tremendous honor to lead the organization for the past ten years. Witnessing youths graduate and go to col- lege, families buying their first home or someone starting a career, is the motivation that wakes me up and inspires our tremendous staff and board to give of their time, talent, and treasure.”
Earlier this year, ONYX Magazine honored Mr. Coney. The contributions of Black men across Florida were noted. Mr. Coney was the only honoree from Hillsbor- ough County.
Further, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Mr. Coney as a Community Hero. The CDC of Tampa also re- ceived a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Founda- tion and the Lightning Com- munity Heroes program.
Feature
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