Dear Community Partners & Friends:
Keeping Dreams Alive serves not only as our 2024 theme, but also as the guiding principle for EANDC’s efforts throughout the year. Together with our partners, neighbors, and supporters, we have continued to ensure that dreams of safe, stable housing and thriving communities remain within reach.
This year, we celebrate the impact of our collective efforts:
Maintaining Housing Opportunities: In 2024, EANDC was able to refinance four EANDC properties, two senior communities and two single-family home developments. As the original 15-year financing agreements reached their end, it was critical for us to act to preserve affordability. This refinancing ensures that families and seniors in Massillon, Canton, and Akron can continue to access safe, quality housing at reasonable rental rates. By making this financial decision, EANDC protected long-term housing stability for residents and reinforced our commitment to keeping neighborhoods strong and inclusive.
Preventing a Food Desert: EANDC also worked with Dave’s Market to renew their lease in our EANDC-owned retail plaza, preventing a food desert that would have impacted five neighborhoods. By securing a full-service grocery store, we ensured that residents continue to have access to healthy, affordable food close to home. In addition to improving food access, Dave’s Market provides meaningful employment opportunities for neighborhood residents.
In 2024, EANDC also continued work on other important projects like the pre-development phase of the Porches on Portage, ensuring new opportunities for affordable housing in the years ahead.
Building Strong, Sustainable Leadership: With a dedicated leadership team and board, EANDC remains financially stable, forward focused, and well-positioned to deliver extraordinary impact. Our continuity in leadership ensures partners that their investment in EANDC is safe, effective, and cost-efficient.
The success of these initiatives reflects the strength of true partnership. We extend heartfelt gratitude to our staff, board, volunteers, and community partners who continue to believe in our mission. Together, we are keeping dreams alive for Northeast Ohio families today and for generations to come
