For generations, the Bronx has been a place where working people, small businesses, and communities have fought for investment, opportunity, and a fair share of New York City\u2019s economic future.<\/p>\n
Today, the Bronx is in a moment of heightened change. Major public investments are moving through planning and implementation. Private development interest is increasing and changing the borough\u2019s landscape. New projects are advancing in commercial corridors, industrial areas, and along parts of the waterfront.<\/p>\n
Some of these investments bring real promise, while others raise real concerns. And for many Bronx families and small business owners, the cost of living is rising faster than paychecks, making it harder to stay rooted, plan for the future, and build stability.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the most important question in front of us is whether the Bronx\u2019s growth will benefit the people who already call this borough home.\n<\/p>\n
At Our Bronx<\/a> and the Bronx Economic Development Corporation <\/a>(BXEDC), we believe economic growth should be measured by whether it improves household stability, strengthens locally owned businesses, expands access to family-sustaining jobs and career pathways, and builds resilience in the face of climate and economic shocks.\u00a0<\/p>\n With support from a planning grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, we are co-leading the Bronx\u2019s first-ever Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS. A CEDS is a federally recognized economic development roadmap that helps a region set priorities, develop an actionable strategy, and align partners around implementation. It also strengthens the Bronx\u2019s ability to compete for resources to advance the projects and strategies we choose.\u00a0<\/p>\n The CEDS process has been rooted in borough-wide engagement. Since 2019, Our Bronx and partners have convened assemblies and conversations across neighborhoods to identify shared challenges and priorities. In the past year, we\u2019ve expanded that work through public assemblies, surveys, and sector-based focus groups bringing in the perspectives of residents, workers, small business owners, community partners, educators, labor and industry stakeholders.\u00a0<\/p>\n Across these conversations, the themes have been consistent. They want affordable housing, better transportation access, stronger career pathways for young people, and quality jobs for Bronx workers. They want support for small businesses and entrepreneurs, both in established industries and emerging sectors.<\/p>\n Later this summer, we\u2019ll release the completed Bronx CEDS. But participation is not limited to a document release.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n