What Neighborhood Development Center does

Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) founded in 1993 and headquartered at 625 University Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It provides integrated support to underserved entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities metro through four service lines: entrepreneur training (Plan It!, Second Stage, Mindset Reset, Money Matters, Project WISE), small business lending (character-based loans, Clean Energy Loans at 5% over 5 years for $5,000–$250,000, Credit Up!, BLOC Program), business services via the Business Lab, and real estate/incubator operations across Midtown Global Market (co-owned with the Cultural Wellness Center; 40+ tenants; 1.5 million annual visitors), Frogtown Square, Frogtown Entrepreneur Center, Frogtown Crossroads, the 809 Building, and Collective Salon Studios at Dale.

The organization runs no proprietary technology platform; its core operating assets are human capital (11–50 employees including a CEO, CFO, CPIO, and SVP of Advancement), physical incubator real estate, and a 33-year community relationship network. Revenue is generated through a mix of individual and foundation donations, federal and state grants (notably a ~$2.6 million CDFI Fund award in April 2023 and a $3.1 million Ramsey County Housing Development Solicitation award for Magnolia Flats in 2025), loan interest, technical-assistance fees, and incubator rental income. Cumulative program outcomes reported by the organization include 6,300 entrepreneurs trained, 550 alumni-owned businesses operating, 70,000 hours of coaching delivered, and 4,000 jobs created.

NDC's go-to-market is community-led: direct outreach through workshops, partner referrals from government agencies and community organizations, and word-of-mouth among Twin Cities entrepreneur networks. It targets low-income inner-city entrepreneurs with a hybrid segmentation across BIPOC, immigrant/refugee, women, LGBTQ+, real estate developer, and sustainability-focused small business sub-segments, and claims a $1-to-$40 neighborhood economic return on donated dollars as its primary impact metric.

Name

Neighborhood Development Center

Legal name

Neighborhood Development Center

Website

https://ndc-mn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Neighborhood Development Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit CDFI in Saint Paul, Minnesota that provides entrepreneur training, small business loans, business services, and real estate incubators to underserved entrepreneurs across the Twin Cities metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Financial Services

NAICS

Land Subdivision (2372), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) (FSABAEAC)

Keywords

• Community development finance
• Small business lending
• Entrepreneur training programs
• Business incubation services
• Commercial real estate development

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: NDC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and government entities to fund operations and programs.
2. Program Services Revenue: Revenue generated from loan interest, technical assistance fees, and business services provided to entrepreneurs. Loans are offered at various rates including 5% for Clean Energy loans.
3. Grant Funding: NDC receives grant funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporate partners to support entrepreneur training, lending programs, and real estate development initiatives. Examples include $3.1 million from Ramsey County for Magnolia Flats, and $73,720 Small Business Innovation Grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides an integrated portfolio of services to underserved entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities metro area, including entrepreneur training (Plan It! program), flexible character-based small business loans (including the Clean Energy Loan Program and Credit Up! credit-building program), technical assistance through the Business Lab, and affordable commercial real estate through owned business incubators such as Midtown Global Market, Frogtown Square, and Frogtown Crossroads.

Product overview

Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is a nonprofit community development financial institution offering a portfolio of integrated services for entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities area. The core offerings include Entrepreneur Training (featuring the Plan It! program), Business Loans (including Clean Energy and character-based lending), Business Services through the Business Lab, and Real Estate Services including business incubators. Additional programs include Credit Up! for credit building, Mindset Reset and Money Matters group programming, and the Volunteer Impact Program. NDC operates several real estate incubators including Midtown Global Market, Frogtown Square, Frogtown Crossroads, and Collective Salon Studios. The organization serves as a one-stop resource helping entrepreneurs start and grow businesses through training, financing, technical assistance, and affordable commercial space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Midtown Global Market: A thriving multi-ethnic, year-round public marketplace located at 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN. Home to more than 40 small businesses and attracts 1.5 million visitors annually.
• Frogtown Crossroads
• Frogtown Square
• Frogtown Entrepreneur Center
• 809 Building
• Collective Salon Studios at Dale
• Clean Energy Loan Program
• PROMISE Act

Products and services

• Entrepreneur Training Program Training program that helps aspiring and current entrepreneurs develop business plans and operational skills, delivered through workshops, coaching sessions, and Second Stage training for existing businesses. Target audience: aspiring and current small business owners in the Twin Cities.
• Business Loans Flexible small business lending program providing capital to entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional bank financing, including specialized products for BLOC Program (Black and Latina women), GroundBreak Coalition loans, and Reposition Your Business loans. Target audience: small business owners unable to obtain traditional financing.
• Credit Up! Program Credit-building program that helps entrepreneurs improve their personal and business credit scores in order to access mainstream financing. Target audience: entrepreneurs with limited or damaged credit histories.
• Clean Energy Loan Program Specialized loan product for existing small businesses seeking financing for energy-efficient upgrades such as solar panels, HVAC systems, and building improvements, delivered in partnership with Energy Smart, Lake Street Council, and SBEEDI. Loans range $5,000 to $250,000 at 5% interest over 5 years. Target audience: existing small businesses pursuing sustainability upgrades.
• Business Services / Business Lab Technical assistance and consulting service (Business Lab) supporting entrepreneurs with operations, financial management, accounting, marketing, licensing, and compliance needs. Target audience: small business owners needing operational support.
• Business Incubators and Real Estate Services Owned and operated commercial real estate providing affordable incubator space for small businesses, including the multi-ethnic Midtown Global Market (40+ small businesses, 1.5 million annual visitors), Frogtown Square, Frogtown Entrepreneur Center, 809 Building, Collective Salon Studios at Dale, and the developing Frogtown Crossroads mixed-use project. Target audience: entrepreneurs needing affordable retail and commercial space.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,300 entrepreneurs trained since 1993
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Build from Within Alliance (BFW Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDC is a member of the Build from Within Alliance, a network of community development organizations sharing best practices and resources for neighborhood economic development.
• Cultural Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-owner of Midtown Global Market with Cultural Wellness Center. The Cultural Wellness Center is a key community partner in operating the internationally themed public marketplace.
• Energy SmartmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Clean Energy Loan Program providing energy-focused technical assistance to clients, including assessments for clean energy upgrades and help with filing for grants and rebates.
• Lake Street CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Clean Energy Loan Program deployment, supporting businesses along Lake Street corridor with energy efficiency resources.
• Small Business Equitable Energy Decarbonization Initiative (SBEEDI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Clean Energy Loan Program providing funding and expertise for clean energy transitions for small businesses.
• Wellington ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Frogtown Crossroads project at University & Dale in St. Paul.
• Model Cities, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Frogtown Square development, transforming the adult-themed intersection into art deco commercial and residential center.
• Greater Frogtown CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Frogtown Square project for neighborhood stabilization and economic development.
• Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Frogtown Square development project.
• Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for 809 Building project, transforming abandoned building into commercial destination for contractor businesses.
• Andriana Abariotes (New Senior VP)majorOthersNew Senior VP of Advancement and Capital Strategy bringing 25+ years of nonprofit and philanthropic experience, previously at Project for Pride in Living and LISC.
• Citizen League Capitol Pathways ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting emerging leaders like Wisdom Kowhegba with opportunities for legislative advocacy work at NDC.
• Outlaw Development (Dalton Outlaw)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate development partner for Magnolia Flats affordable housing project; exemplifies NDC's mission of supporting entrepreneurs in real estate development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI providing integrated lending, training, and real estate development to underserved communities. Highly comparable because NDC's recent SVP of Capital Strategy (Abariotes) led Twin Cities strategy at LISC and LISC's integrated model mirrors NDC's training-lending-real estate bundle.
• Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Twin Cities-based nonprofit providing housing, employment, and small business support to low-income residents. Direct peer given shared Minneapolis-St. Paul geography, similar mission, overlapping leadership pipeline (Abariotes was SVP at PPL before joining NDC), and parallel program mix.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI): Maine-based CDFI delivering small business lending, consulting, and rural business incubation. Closely comparable as a community development lender that pairs capital with non-financial advisory services for underserved entrepreneurs, similar to NDC's Business Lab-plus-loan model.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: National CDFI providing small business loans and support to underserved entrepreneurs, with a strong focus on BIPOC and women-owned businesses. Direct peer given overlapping BLOC Program-style mission targeting the same borrower segments NDC serves.
• Justine PETERSEN Housing & Reinvestment Corporation: St. Louis-based CDFI offering small business lending, housing counseling, and credit-building to low-wealth entrepreneurs. Comparable mission and product mix (lending plus Credit Up-style credit building), though operating in a different regional market.

Others

• Build from Within Alliance: Network of community development organizations (of which NDC is a member) sharing best practices for neighborhood economic development. Relevant as a peer ecosystem and shared learnings network, though not a direct competitor for entrepreneur relationships.

Broad incumbents

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free mentoring, workshops, and training to small business owners via SBA partnership. Overlaps with NDC's training and coaching offering at much greater scale, though SCORE does not lend or operate incubators.
• America's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBA-funded network providing no-cost advising and training to small businesses nationwide, including a Minnesota SBDC. Comparable on training and advising services, though SBDCs do not provide loans or operate physical incubators.

Emerging players

• Grameen America: National nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans to women entrepreneurs in low-income communities. Adjacent peer given shared focus on character-based lending to underserved borrowers, though Grameen concentrates on microloans rather than real estate incubation.
• Kiva: Nonprofit crowdfunding platform facilitating zero-interest loans to small entrepreneurs globally. Comparable in lending-to-the-unbanked thesis and nonprofit structure, though Kiva operates as a marketplace rather than a direct lender and does not provide training or real estate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NDC_MN
• Facebookfacebook.com/NeighborhoodDevelopmentCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Neighborhood Development Center