Knoxville's Community Development Corporation

Name

Knoxville's Community Development Corporation

Legal name

Knoxville's Community Development Corporation

Website

https://kcdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Public housing authority
• Section 8 vouchers
• Community redevelopment
• Low-income housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HUD Funding: Primary funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for public housing operations, Section 8 programs, and redevelopment initiatives. KCDC undergoes rigorous third-party auditing annually and has demonstrated full accountability for 30 consecutive years.
2. Rental Income: Revenue from rental operations at more than 20 properties with over 3,700 affordable housing units. Rent is income-based, charged according to resident's ability to pay.
3. Section 8 Administration: Federal rental assistance program administration managing approximately 4,000 Section 8 vouchers for low-income families in the private rental market.
4. Tax Increment Financing and Incentives: As redevelopment agency for City of Knoxville, KCDC oversees approval of tax increment financing and payment in lieu of taxes, and fosters economic development through approving tax credits and incentives for new businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KCDC is the recognized public housing authority for Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee, providing affordable housing to low-income families, seniors, and disabled residents through more than 3,700 units across 20+ properties. It administers approximately 4,000 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for use in the private rental market and operates as the redevelopment agency for the City of Knoxville, approving tax increment financing, payment in lieu of taxes, and tax credits/incentives for new businesses. The Family Investment Foundation, a 501(c)(3) component unit, delivers supportive services including healthcare access, youth programs, and food security for very-low-income households.

Product overview

KCDC operates as a portfolio of affordable housing properties and community development programs serving Knoxville and Knox County. The organization manages more than 3,800 residential units across 20+ housing properties categorized as family housing, elderly/disabled housing, and special populations housing (veterans). The portfolio includes Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs and Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversions. KCDC also serves as the City of Knoxville's redevelopment agency, managing economic development projects including the South Waterfront and McClung Warehouse redevelopment initiatives. The Family Investment Foundation provides supportive services including health initiatives, youth programs, and food access programs. Digital services include the RentCafe resident portal for property management and resident services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Creek at Austin Mixed-income affordable housing community on the 23-acre site of former Austin Homes, featuring approximately 420 residential units across three phases with comprehensive infrastructure overhaul and community commercial facilities. Phase 1 opened November 2021, Phase 2 opened August 2024, Phase 3 opened September 2025.
• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Federal rental assistance program allowing approximately 4,000 low-income families to search for housing in the private rental market. Includes Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) and Family Self-Sufficiency programs. Applications accepted on the second Wednesday of each month from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Innovative HUD program allowing KCDC to make upgrades and maintenance to housing communities by converting units, enabling much-needed capital improvements to public housing properties.
• Family Investment Foundation 501(c)(3) component unit of KCDC that collaborates with individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to improve social, educational, economic, and health conditions of the greater Knoxville community, focusing on households with area median incomes of 50% or below.
• Transforming Western Initiative Comprehensive multi-phased plan to revitalize historic Western Heights and the surrounding Beaumont neighborhood with affordable housing, improved transportation access, economic stability, and supportive services, supported by a $40 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant.
• Health Initiatives Partnership with Matter Health providing on-site primary care for residents at Cagle Terrace, Isabella Towers, Northgate Terrace, and Guy B. Love Towers, with plans to build new health centers at First Creek at Austin and Montgomery Village with Cherokee Health Systems.
• Liberty Place 32-unit permanent supportive housing development specifically designed for military veterans, located near the VA Outpatient Clinic and McNabb Center Military Services. Includes fully furnished units and community lounge with VA partnership for supportive services.
• Redevelopment Services KCDC serves as the official redevelopment agency for the City of Knoxville, overseeing tax increment financing, payment in lieu of taxes, and managing redevelopment projects including Market Square, World's Fair Park, South Waterfront, and various neighborhood improvement projects.
• Industrial Development Board Nine-member board that may acquire, develop, lease, and sell property to facilitate new businesses locating to Knoxville or assist businesses in expanding operations, with authority to issue tax-exempt revenue bonds.
• McClung Warehouse Redevelopment 3.4-acre redevelopment opportunity in the Jackson Avenue/Depot Redevelopment District, within walking distance of downtown Knoxville's stadium, Market Square, and World's Fair Park.
• RentCafe Resident Portal Online resident services portal enabling residents to pay rent, submit maintenance requests, view housing information, and access services through web or mobile application.
• Autumn Landing Family housing community in Northwest Knox County with scenic views and wooded setting, featuring units with porches; underwent renovations including security camera installation and erosion control in 2012.
• Five Points 2, 3 and 4 Total of 246 newly constructed family housing units in East Knoxville's Five Points neighborhood, part of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar revitalization effort within walking distance of downtown Knoxville.
• Lonsdale Homes Family duplex housing community in Northwest Knoxville that underwent $26 million revitalization and modernization in 2018, including interior renovations and enhanced landscaping.
• Montgomery Village 380-unit family housing community in South Knoxville surrounded by wooded areas, with extensive renovations completed in 2014 including facade improvements and infrastructure upgrades.
• North Ridge Crossing Family and senior housing community in North Knoxville featuring landscaped green spaces, on-site community center, and significant renovation completed in 2017-18.
• The Vista at Summit Hill 175-unit affordable housing community within walking distance of downtown Knoxville with modern-style buildings and many units featuring views of the skyline and Smoky Mountains.
• Western Heights KCDC's largest affordable housing property with 440 units in Northwest Knoxville, featuring extensive green space and a section renovated in 2019 with historically accurate exterior color palette; central focus of the Transforming Western initiative.
• The Residences at Five Points 90-unit senior housing building opened in 2017 as the first phase of Five Points community revitalization, featuring a communal room for social activities.
• Cagle Terrace High-rise housing for elderly residents age 62 and over and disabled individuals in West Knoxville, featuring on-site wellness center and recreation activities.
• Guy B. Love Towers Two seven-story high-rise buildings with 249 units for seniors, disabled, and near-elderly individuals in historic Old North Knoxville, featuring social activities, special events, and community amenities.
• Isabella Towers 234-unit property in East Knoxville's Morningside community with scenic views of the Tennessee River and Smoky Mountains, consisting of a seven-story 208-unit high-rise and a 26-unit low-rise building.
• Northgate Terrace 14-story senior housing community exclusively for ages 62 and older in North Knoxville, featuring 276 studio and one-bedroom apartments with social activities.
• The Manor at Northgate Terrace HUD-subsidized supportive housing program for seniors experiencing issues with aging, offering meals, daily safety checks, case management, laundry, and housekeeping services while maintaining independence.
• The Residences at Eastport KCDC's first LEED-certified housing property (LEED Platinum by USGBC), designed around the historic Eastport School with 85 units of senior housing in a gated community with courtyards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manages over 3,700 affordable housing units and 4,000 Section 8 vouchers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Trees KnoxvilleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Partnership with KUB and Trees Knoxville to plant trees in KCDC's Five Points neighborhood for environmental improvement and community beautification.
• KUB (Knoxville Utilities Board)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Partnership with Trees Knoxville to plant trees in KCDC's Five Points neighborhood.
• Matter HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide on-site primary care services for residents living at Cagle Terrace, Isabella Towers, Northgate Terrace, and Guy B. Love Towers. KCDC earned a national award for this primary care partnership.
• Cherokee Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanned partnership to build new health centers for residents living at First Creek at Austin and Montgomery Village.
• Boys & Girls ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpansion of Boys & Girls Club facilities planned for four KCDC communities: Five Points, Western Heights, North Ridge Crossing, and Montgomery Village to serve growing youth population.
• Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for case management services, Head Start facilities (including at Western Heights), CAC shuttle service for seniors, and community services at multiple properties.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Liberty Place permanent supportive housing for veterans. Located near VA Outpatient Clinic. Liberty Place earned national award from veterans' group.
• McNabb Center Military ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Liberty Place veterans' housing, located one mile from McNabb Center Military Services.
• Cedar Brook OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts special events including annual block party and holiday events at Nature's Cove property.
• United Way of Greater KnoxvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Investment Foundation board member serves on United Way's community engagement and mobilization committee and investment committee.
• Girl Scouts of the Southern AppalachiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCDC Chief Strategy Officer leads Troop 22040.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hunt Companies: Large private-sector affordable and military housing developer/manager; KCDC's Chief Housing Officer Sabrina Draplin was previously Director of Operations at Hunt, illustrating how private players operate adjacent affordable housing assets at national scale.
• Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA): State-level housing finance agency awarding tax credits and grants (including to KCDC for Five Points and Austin Homes) — a broader state-level incumbent that funds and competes for the same affordable housing pipeline.
• The Related Companies (Affordable Housing): National affordable housing developer that competes for HUD and state financing on mixed-income developments like First Creek at Austin, operating at scale in markets overlapping KCDC's redevelopment approach.

Direct peers

• Memphis Housing Authority: Larger Tennessee public housing authority managing thousands of public housing units, Section 8 vouchers, and mixed-income developments — comparable function within the same state HUD framework.
• Indianapolis Housing Agency: Mid-market public housing authority administering a similar mix of public housing units and Housing Choice Vouchers under the same federal HUD regulatory framework.
• Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA): Nashville's public housing authority, comparable in scale and dual housing/redevelopment mandate; particularly relevant because KCDC CEO Ben Bentley was previously COO there, and it administers thousands of public housing units and Section 8 vouchers across a single Tennessee metro.
• Chattanooga Housing Authority: Another Tennessee public housing authority operating affordable rental housing and Section 8 voucher administration in a single mid-sized metro, directly comparable in scope and regulatory framework to KCDC.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Authority: Mid-sized Southeastern public housing authority operating thousands of public housing units and Section 8 vouchers under HUD's high-performer framework, comparable scale and mixed-family/elderly portfolio.
• Louisville Metro Housing Authority: Public housing authority serving Louisville Metro with comparable scope: traditional public housing, Section 8 administration, and mixed-income redevelopment initiatives funded by HUD competitive grants.

Emerging players

• Knoxville's Community Action Committee (CAC): Local Knoxville nonprofit delivering Head Start, case management, and senior shuttle services that complement KCDC's housing — overlap is partial, focused on supportive services rather than housing operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KnoxvilleCDC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Knoxville's Community Development Corporation