How We Help

• Real Estate Development: Cudell Improvement acts as a facilitator, investor and/or developer in such projects as the $1.3 million Fruitland School Redevelopment, the Lorain Station Antiques Arcade, the Coreno Plaza Expansion and Schilling Square.

• Weatherization: The State of Ohio Home Weatherization Assistance Program and the utility-funded Housewarm Program are energy conservation retrofit resources provided to homeowners and tenants of residential units on the west side of Cleveland and Lakewood.

• Housing: Cudell Improvement provides concentrated code enforcement services, rehabilitation loans, graffiti removal rebates, emergency repair grants, code compliance education, issue organizing, Housing Court intervention, multi-family rehab and management technical assistance including model lease applications and tenant screening.

• Commercial Revitalization: Cudell Improvement implements the Facade Improvement Program that provides rebates for exterior rehabilitation to commercial properties as well as marketing strategies and supportive services for area business organizations.

• Business Development: Technical assistance is available for small and medium commercial and retail businesses in the areas of site searches, property leasing, financial packaging, microloan applications, security programs and governmental intervention and advocacy.

• Industrial Retention: Professional staff works with medium and large manufacturing and warehousing firms in the areas of employment and training, site searches, access to capital, leasing, and cooperative ventures through the partnerships of WEBCO and WIRE-Net.

• Crime Prevention: Area stakeholders are offered services and assistance in the areas of neighborhood organizing and training; other services are seminars, assemblies, vehicle etching and target hardening, curfew sweeps and youth activities.

• Youth Services: Professional staff implements peer tutoring and counselling, computer training, gang prevention initiatives, violence reduction, and Kid-Ability (personal safety training for youth in elementary schools), along with summer programs and field trips.

• CLEPP: Stakeholders may receive lead education, abatement and screening services in partnership with the Cleveland Department of Health's HUD Lead Abatement Program.

• Marketing: Cudell Improvement creates, manages, and stages special events such as the Clifton Arts & Musicfest and Legendary Mysteries, Moguls and Moments -- An Historic Tour of the Cudell / Edgewater Area, that improve the image of the area and showcase local businesses. The Cudell / Edgewater area is part of the Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau Neighborhood Campaign featuring both newspaper and brochure productions highlighting area shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation.

• Communications: Cudell Improvement produces and distributes the monthly multi-page CI News..., a newsletter sent direct mail for members and additional countertop distribution; The Shopkeeper for small business owners; special mailings; the annual Year in Review; articles for other publications; and provides personal appearances by key staff and board members to constantly stay in touch with stakeholders and funders.

• Forums: Regular opportunities for area stakeholders to hear speakers on topics of interest as well as exchange ideas are provided on a monthly basis.

• Partnerships and Collaboratives: Continuing as well as special initiatives are carried out with groups such as the Children's Aid Society, the Cleveland Restoration Society, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Department of Veterans' Affairs, the May Dugan Center, and numerous merchant, business, social service and community development organizations.

• Development Strategy and Program for Berea Road and West 117th Street: A joint effort with the City of Lakewood's Department of Planning and Development, WIRE-Net and Westown, Cudell Improvement's Executive Director, as WEBCO's staff, is managing this consultant study that encompasses redevelopment and new development of industrial, office and retail space in the plan area.