Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation

Dorchester Bay (DBEDC) is striving toward an equitable Dorchester. We’re fighting for a Dorchester that will see more affordable housing, allowing families to remain in their neighborhoods.

We’re pushing for affordable commercial space that gives small businesses – many of them owned by immigrants and people who speak a primary language other than English – a chance to remain and grow.

We’re aiming to achieve a vision of equity that centers current residents from historically marginalized groups, helps them to build economic and social power, and creates vehicles for them to remain and thrive in their neighborhoods.

We’re ensuring that DBEDC is a strong, nimble, and sustainable organization with the infrastructure and capacities to achieve our vision and fortifying our viability for the next generation.

Through a holistic, equitable approach to community development, Dorchester Bay (DBEDC) will achieve this vision by:

– Increasing the supply of housing affordable to a range of individuals and families that contributes to neighborhood stability, and that the DBEDC portfolio of properties continues to meet the highest standards of excellence, serving the needs of existing residents for quality, safe, affordable, and stable housing.

– Fostering economic development in Dorchester by developing and managing commercial real estate properties that are assets to the community, and by increasing the number of vibrant and growing small businesses that align with community needs.

– Increasing engagement with art and culture as catalysts for community building and economic growth.

– Building the leadership and level of political power among lower and moderate-income residents in DBEDC housing and in the broader community.

– Increasing public policy advocacy and engagement in civic affairs among residents in Dorchester Bay housing and the broader community that results in positive, localized neighborhood impact.

– Increasing economic self-sufficiency through livable wage jobs and sustainable employment.

– Developing and retaining a diverse staff with the necessary professional capacities, create an inclusive culture, and foster cross-departmental initiatives.

– Continuing to develop an engaged, informed, and active Board of Directors that offers strategic leadership and strives for excellence in governance.

– Strengthening DBEDC financially, with diverse revenue streams sufficient to meet the goals of the organization, a risk management system, and high-quality asset management systems.
– Raising the visibility and profile of DBEDC in the community and with stakeholders through effective outreach and communication.

– Strengthening systems for effective outcome measurement including technology, staff skills, and the capacity for data collection, analysis, and reflection to support program and organizational improvements.

Dorchester Bay has identified strategies for achieving its vision of an equitable Dorchester:

– Continue to serve Dorchester’s low-income residents while expanding rental housing opportunities to middle and moderate-income residents.

– Contribute to the stability of the local Dorchester economy by providing homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families.

– Identify new pipeline projects to continue Dorchester Bay’s housing production and preservation pace of one project per year.

– Provide high-quality services to residents that support their needs and promote stable tenancies.

– Develop commercial real estate as a vehicle for economic development and permanent job creation.

– Identify a framework for developing effective job training programming and skills credentialing opportunities for low-income and moderate-income residents.

– Bolster our neighborhood loan fund to provide more money to lend to area businesses, to invest in DBEDC projects, and to launch new initiatives.

– Increase access to active recreation and public transportation through partnerships.

– Establish a leadership training program paired with civic action. Develop the framework and the resources for a comprehensive and well-integrated civic engagement initiative.

– Partner with local and statewide coalitions, networks, and advocacy organizations to advance issues that will have a positive impact on the neighborhood.

– Support leadership growth and increasing meaningful leadership roles within DBEDC and in the broader community. Support leadership growth and increasing meaningful leadership roles for youth.

– Use DBEDC’s housing developments as a health care tool.

– Launch a financial skill and asset-building program for adults and for youth.

– Expand Board representation to reflect the diversity of the Dorchester community, including business owners and neighborhood residents. Develop Board’s capacity to rigorously review policies programs, finances and executive performance in the context of the strategic plan.

Dorchester Bay (DBEDC) approaches its goals and strategies from a healthy financial and organizational position. DBEDC has a positive reputation among residents, community organizations, local area businesses, city and state government, federal government partners, building trades professionals, and in the broader community development field.

DBEDC is a respected leader in community real estate development. We are known for leading projects that are inclusive of local residents and exceed city local and minority hiring requirements.

In addition, DBEDC has an engaged and committed staff of professionals from diverse backgrounds. Many of our staff are residents of the neighborhoods we serve. Our staff is diverse across race, ethnicity, gender, place of birth, primary language, educational and economic background.

Our strong financial position, expertise in real estate development, reputation as an innovative and creative developer, and our staff which reflects that diversity of the communities we serve ensure that we have the capability and will to make good on our vision of equitable community development.

We are making significant progress toward achieving our goals. Specifically, we have:

– Pursued funding for the redevelopment of a project that will retain affordable housing in Uphams Corner.

– Initiated the process for developing affordable housing for seniors and aging residents.

– Implemented project selection criteria in evaluating all new real estate projects to ensure alignment with our vision for holistic, equitable development

– Completed a 5-year capitalization plan to bolster our small business loan fund; the plan is in its second year of implementation and we have already secured investments from a variety of sources.

– Developed a marketing plan and culturally resonant marketing materials to raise awareness of our lending products and to reach small business owners and potential entrepreneurs in low-to-moderate income communities.

– Through the advocacy of teens from our youth leadership development program, DBEDC helped to pass a criminal justice reform bill which raised the age of criminal responsibility from age 7 to 12 and established a process for juveniles and young adults to expunge crimes from their records that are no longer prosecuted as crimes in Massachusetts.

– Established the I.D.E.A. Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy), a body comprised of DBEDC staff who make recommendations and implement policies to establish equity in DBEDC’s hiring practices, expand access to professional development opportunities, and foster an inclusive and accepting organizational culture.

– Conducted a thorough risk assessment analysis and implemented systems and procedures for improving the transparency of the organization’s finances and administrative procedures.

Building on our initial success in achieving our strategic priorities and goals, we are continuing our work to ensure a vision of equity in Dorchester. Specifically:

– We are in the final stages of building out an Economic Mobility Agenda that will create access to living wage jobs, financial literacy for adults and youth, additional technical assistance for existing and prospective small business owners, and pathways to self-sufficiency for low-income families living in affordable housing.

– We expect to begin development of the Indigo Block project which will bring 80 units of mixed-income housing including 4 two-family homes and 20,000 square feet of light industrial space to the area.

– We are entering the next phase of our 5-year capitalization plan which will grow our loan fund.

– We are transforming the Classical Revival Pierce Building from underutilized to a community anchor for the neighborhood. Retail space on the ground floor for local businesses will draw people to the center of the district. A creative businesses incubator will help to start and grow local creative businesses and increase business ownership among people of color and women.