What is Community Development and Why Does it Matter?

Community development is an outgrowth of urban renewal, the Civil Rights Movement, and the war on poverty. Historically, and currently in most communities, community development work is focused on revitalizing low-income, underserved neighborhoods and seeks to empower individuals with the skills, tools, and resources needed to effect change within those neighborhoods. Quality and affordable housing, poverty, health, education, employment, mobility and transportation are all part of the community development landscape.

Once a community-led and driven movement, today much of the work is done through public/private partnerships involving real estate developers, government (local, state and federal), banks, philanthropy, other investors (equity and venture capital firms), and mission-driven nonprofit stakeholders and service providers.

This shift has resulted in a greater focus on investments in housing and the “built environment” – the places where people live, work and play – with local governments playing a larger role in supporting new housing construction and the preservation of existing homes.

Despite the shift, housing affordability and availability have become a crisis across the nation. For more than 30 years, housing construction has not kept pace with demand. As the supply of homes – for purchase and rent – has dropped, prices have increased making it difficult for many families to compete for and afford what homes are available.

The Apex Town Council has recognized this growing problem in our own community and created the Community Development & Neighborhood Connections department to find solutions, along with strengthening our ties to, and support of, the broader Apex community.

We hope you find our webpages helpful. If you would like more information, to invite staff to a neighborhood or homeowners association, or to host a Chat & Chew, please contact us via email.