About us

Salem Harbor Community Development Corporation

Founded in 1979 to create affordable housing for the Point neighborhood of Salem, Massachusetts, the Salem Harbor CDC activities and key achievements include:

Affordable Rental Housing

Salem Harbor CDC has developed 148 units of affordable housing since 1979, including 61 rental units, 77 in a limited-equity cooperative, and 10 of enhanced single-room-occupancy housing. The units are managed and maintained by Salem Property Managers, Inc. which is Salem Harbor CDC’s property management subsidiary.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

The CDC’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes serve about 100 students each year through an active volunteer instructor program. Classes are taught with a life skills and job readiness focus. The curriculum focuses on: 1) basic reading, writing, math and oral communication as they relate to the world of work; 2) the life skills language necessary to access services such as public transportation, childcare, and medical care; and 3) the achievement of personal goals such as becoming a US citizen, or obtaining a driver’s license. Instruction levels include beginners, advanced beginners, low intermediate levels and a conversation class to build fluency. We also offer an intermediate-level "English for Employment" class.

Small Business Assistance

Through the years, Salem Harbor CDC has offered assistance to existing and start up Businesses. During this time SHCDC has:

Loaned $112,828 to twelve Salem businesses
Provided business assistance to approximately 280 clients
Helped businesses secure bank financing for a total of $850,000
Offered a fifteen-week intensive “Child Care Entrepreneurs” class Spanish to 13 entrepreneurs opening home-based day care businesses in 2003.
Graduated six classes of the “Entrepreneurial Training Program,” a 20-week program aimed at dislocated workers. Participants develop a business plan through ten weeks of classroom training, and implement their plans with CDC support the second ten weeks of the program.

Due to transitions in staff and a change in State Funding priorities, the delivery of Small Business Assistance services are on hold until a new strategy to continue these vital activities is created.