What St. Clair Superior Development does

St. Clair Superior Development Corporation (SCSDC) is a private, nonprofit community development corporation headquartered at 6413 St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, formed in 1999 through the merger of the St. Clair Business Association and the St. Clair Superior Coalition. The organization serves approximately 10,000 residents across four City Council Wards and four micro-neighborhoods (AsiaTown, Goodrich-Kirtland Park, Hodge, and St. Vitus) on Cleveland's east-side lakefront, providing community development services including a Business Directory, Job Board, Community Resources Directory, Events Calendar, a Home Repair Pilot Program, and the Community Building Project focused on infrastructure, housing, and economic development across three nodes on St. Clair Avenue.

SCSDC operates a community-led engagement model with monthly community meetings, quarterly business stakeholder mixers, ward meetings, block clubs, and community clean-up initiatives, supported by a five-member staff (Executive Director, Assistant Director, Manager of Community Engagement, Economic Development Fellow, and Administrative Manager) and a 21-member board. The organization is governed independently with no parent company and is funded primarily through foundation grants (notably the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation), corporate sponsorships, membership fees, and donations. Core strategic partners include the Mandel Foundation, Boston-based planner DumontJanks, and the seven-organization Lakefront Working Group formed in 2023 alongside Cleveland Metroparks, Enterprise Community Partners, LAND studio, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and Strategy Design Partners to coordinate lakefront revitalization.

The business model is grant-funded nonprofit operations rather than product sales. Documented outcomes include a 20% reduction in neighborhood crime rates between 2014 and 2018 attributable to vacant property renovation, demolition, and infrastructure investment, ongoing service to a neighborhood where over 20 languages are spoken, and stewardship of cultural events including Cleveland Kurentovanje and co-founding of the Cleveland Asian Festival. The product surface is delivered through standard web-based directories rather than a unified technology platform.

Name

St. Clair Superior Development

Legal name

St. Clair Superior Development Corporation

Website

https://stclairsuperior.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

St. Clair Superior Development Corporation is a Cleveland-based nonprofit community development corporation serving approximately 10,000 residents and local businesses in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood through revitalization programs, community resources, business directories, and strategic place-making partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donations: The organization operates as a nonprofit community development corporation funded primarily through foundation grants (such as from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation), corporate sponsorships, membership fees, and donations. Revenue supports community building programs, economic development initiatives, and neighborhood revitalization projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SCSDC is a nonprofit community development corporation that connects St. Clair Superior neighborhood residents, small businesses, and visitors to resources through web-based directories (business directory, job board, community resources guide, events calendar) and runs place-based programs such as a Home Repair Pilot and the Community Building Project for infrastructure, housing, and economic development. Services are delivered at no cost to community members, supported by foundation grants, donations, and membership fees.

Product overview

St. Clair Superior Development Corporation (SCSDC) operates as a community development organization offering a portfolio of neighborhood-focused services rather than a technology product. The core offerings include a Business Directory connecting users to local restaurants, businesses, and manufacturers; a Job Board listing employment opportunities; a Community Resources Directory for housing, health, and social services; an Events Calendar featuring local festivals and community gatherings; and a Community Building Project focused on infrastructure, housing, and economic development. These services are delivered through web-based directories and partnerships rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Directory
• Job Board
• Community Resources Directory
• Events Calendar
• Community Building Project
• Home Repair Pilot Program
• Neighborhood Amenities Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• Crime rates reduced by 20% from 2014 to 2018
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• DumontJankscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRenowned planning and design firm from Boston engaged as the primary consultant for the Community Building Project. DumontJanks conducted extensive community engagement, data analysis, and developed recommendations for infrastructure, housing, and economic development.
• Lakefront Working GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collective of local organizations joined together in 2023 to influence community building efforts in St. Clair Superior, including projects centered around the lakefront. Members include Cleveland Metroparks, Enterprise Community Partners, Jack Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, LAND studio, SCSDC, Strategy Design Partners, and Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
• Cleveland MetroparkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Lakefront Working Group supporting lakefront development projects including East 55th Street Marina, Lakefront Reservation, East 72nd Fishing Area, and Gordon Park improvements.
• Enterprise Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affordable housing organization partnering on the Lakefront Working Group to support housing revitalization and community development initiatives in St. Clair Superior.
• LAND studiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal design and planning studio contributing to the Lakefront Working Group community building efforts for St. Clair Superior neighborhood revitalization.
• Western Reserve Land ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional land conservation organization participating in the Lakefront Working Group, supporting urban revitalization and land preservation efforts in St. Clair Superior.
• Strategy Design PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic planning partner in the Lakefront Working Group contributing to community building and development strategy for St. Clair Superior.
• Li Wah RestaurantminorOthersRestaurant business listed as a supporting member of SCSDC. Member of the organization's ecosystem of supporters.
• Asia PlazaminorOthersCommercial plaza business in the AsiaTown neighborhood listed as a supporting member of SCSDC's organizational ecosystem.
• OCA Greater ClevelandminorOthersAsian Pacific American advocacy organization and member supporter of SCSDC, connected through the Cleveland Asian Festival co-founding relationship.
• 4wallsminorOthersOrganization listed as a supporting member of SCSDC's organizational ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and CDC support organization that provides funding, capacity-building, and technical assistance to community development organizations including Cleveland-area CDCs. Operates one tier above individual CDCs like SCSDC but is a major funder of the model.
• NeighborWorks America: National network supporting more than 250 affordable housing and community development nonprofits. Provides capital, training, and policy advocacy that frames the operating environment for place-based CDCs like SCSDC.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National affordable housing and community development organization. Already a SCSDC partner through the Lakefront Working Group, making it both an upstream funder/incumbent in the same space and a direct collaborator on St. Clair Superior housing strategy.

Direct peers

• Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization: Cleveland-based CDC serving the Detroit Shoreway and Cudell neighborhoods with comparable community development, housing, and economic development programming. SCSDC's Placemaking Committee Chair Adam Stalder was formerly Executive Director here, demonstrating direct operational comparability.
• Ohio City Incorporated: Cleveland CDC operating in Ohio City with a comparable Lake Erie-adjacent, mixed-use neighborhood focus. Strong record on commercial corridor development and housing that mirrors SCSDC's strategic priorities.
• Midtown Cleveland: Cleveland CDC concentrating on commercial district revitalization, placemaking, and stakeholder engagement in the Midtown corridor. SCSDC board member Daniel Fashimpaur previously chaired Midtown Cleveland, evidencing close institutional overlap.
• Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation: Cleveland-based CDC focused on neighborhood revitalization, small-business support, and community programs in Old Brooklyn. SCSDC's Manager of Community Engagement Britiny Hubbard previously worked here managing the Old Brooklyn Farmers Market — close operational and programmatic parity.
• Tremont West Development Corporation: Cleveland CDC serving Tremont with housing, community engagement, and economic development services. Same operating model (lean staff, neighborhood-scale, foundation-funded) and overlapping board composition make it one of the closest comparable Cleveland CDCs.
• University Circle Incorporated: Cleveland CDC focused on neighborhood stabilization around the University Circle cultural and institutional hub. SCSDC's Executive Director previously held an executive role at UCI, signaling shared leadership talent pools and programming philosophies.

Regional players

• Greater Cleveland Foodbank: Regional Cleveland nonprofit addressing food insecurity and adjacent social services. SCSDC's board chair Michael Niro previously served as CFO here, signaling close nonprofit-sector overlap in the Cleveland market even though missions are adjacent rather than directly overlapping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/stclairsuperior
• Facebookfacebook.com/StClairSuperior
• Instagraminstagram.com/stclairsuperior
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-clair-superior-development-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

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 St. Clair Superior Development