About the Anchor District Council

A legacy of civic philanthropy from industrial wealth and progressive city planning, education, medical and arts institutions (“eds, meds, and arts”) were clustered in 19th and 20th century U.S. cities outside traditional central business districts. The title “anchor” describes the education, medical, and arts institutions that stayed when many people and businesses left. These anchor institutions that remained during the 20th century are now the largest employers of the 21st century.

The modern day urban core is stabilizing and thriving in some areas because of these anchor institutions, which collectively form anchor districts. The anchor districts are reversing the negative trends of sprawl and attracting new firms and people who want to live or work in or around them.

In these anchor districts, a new type of Non-Profit organization has developed – Community Service Corporations (CSCs). Moving past the traditional role of the neighborhood Community Development Corporation (CDC), the CSC has adopted a large, more diverse service portfolio. The CSC is a hybrid of the community development corporation, business improvement district (“clean/safe provider”), and chamber of commerce.

The CSC’s work is directed largely in areas of development, service, and advocacy on behalf of both the anchor institutions and the broader residential neighborhood or neighborhoods encompassing the Anchor District.

Founded by University Circle Inc., the Anchor District Council is a coalition of nonprofit community service corporations working in partnership with education, medical, and arts/cultural anchor institutions to transform city anchor districts and their adjacent neighborhoods. The consortium formed in 2012 when the group first convened in Cleveland to share ideas and best practices for collaborative community development. 

The Anchor District Council meets annually at the Anchor District Forum, located in a different city each year. Contact us to get more information about membership and our Anchor District Forum event.

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