The Door's Economic Development programs, Opportunity Enterprise Network (OPEN) and Project Lazarus, were created to revitalize the local community through renovation of vacant homes and expansion of small inner city businesses. The Door and its partners hope to create jobs and to strengthen the local economy in an urban area devastated by poverty and crime.
To revitalize the local community by renovating vacant homes for special purposes (day care, elderly care, foster care, etc.) and residential ownership.
Identification of vacant housing; acquisition of vacant housing; renovation of vacant housing; identification of families for residential housing; identificationof special services needed in community that require housing.
Currently own three vacant houses in partnership with funding agent,Yahweh Yirah Foundation; plans for use being determined now.
OPEN is designed to grow small businesses in the inner city through acombination of technical assistance and loans in the $5,000 - $15,000 range.The uniqueness of the model lies in the coalition that supports it: ten Clergy United for Renewal in East Baltimore (CURE) churches, four local banks, two technical assistance agencies, and The Door itself have all contributedtime and/or funding to help OPEN progress to this point.
In addition to the technical assistance offered by the Enterprise Fund and the Council for Economic and Business Opportunity (CEBO), a volunteer teamof experienced business people will be recruited through The Door's extensive urban/suburban church network to be there for the small business participantsfor a full year as they grow with the program. These volunteers providethe final link in a support chain that simply has not existed for struggling inner city entrepreneurs until now. The final product will be jobs creation and a stronger local economy in an urban area devastated by poverty and crime.
Technical assistance to small businesses, loan preparation assistance (for monies set aside by banking partners).
Seven businesses have been served to date; currently moving into the next phase of OPEN.
Church Partners:
Banking Partners:
Technical Support Partners:
Many of The Door's Church Partners can be found on the Houses of Worship Homepage. Houses of Worship is a free service which provides customized and automated web pages for churches across North America.