Community Development is a process where members of a community; sharing their skills, talents, knowledge and experiences; are brought together to further strengthen and develop themselves and their community. Acting as a conduit and collaborating partner, the Community Development Program of Clermont 20/20, Inc. organizes, plans and builds upon these findings to strengthen and move the community forward.

Building upon the values, objectives and strategies set forth by the community, we work to develop the capacity and capital resources to implement and carry out the identified scope of ideas and goals. This work is accomplished through partnerships created with federal, state, county and local government entities, corporate investors and the citizens of the community.

Program History

Clermont 20/20, Inc. began an expansion of its mission in building more leader-full communities through a project of the LEAD Clermont Class of 1998. The first county-wide community convention took place in June of 1998, inviting representation from communities throughout Clermont County to participate in a visioning and action process designed to encourage community citizenry to mobilize as a first-step in assessing and prioritizing the needs of their community, identifying their assets, creating a vision and formalizing a plan of action to take them to the realization of that vision.

At the same time, our partner, United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Eastern Area, began looking closely at their commitment to community development. In tandem, Clermont 20/20, Inc., with the support of United Way, began work that has evolved from the conference in 1998 to creating a community resource notebook, hosting breakfast forums and workshops focusing on building citizen capacity and building healthy and economically strong communities, to responding to the requests of residents in the Felicity/Franklin Township community.

Through a process of community organizing, community residents identified three critical areas of focus:

1. Eliminate blighted property and provide more affordable quality housing
2. Economic revitalization
3. Positive activities for community youth

By clicking on the links identified above, you will begin to see the projects and outcomes of this initiative.

As we continue to do our part to improve the quality of life within various communities in Clermont County, we invite you to share your ideas by writing us at: cdc@clermont2020.org.

Felicity Community Residents Gather to Address Concerns About Blighted Property