New Communities Program

The goal of the New Communities Program (NCP) is to strengthen 16 different Chicago communities from within through planning, organizing, and human development.

NCP aims to increase opportunities for local residents through broader job choices, better education, safer streets, stronger personal finances, and new economic opportunities. Depending on their specific needs, communities work with a local intermediary to create local and citywide partnerships to address issues such as employment, parks and recreation, health care, housing affordability, commercial and retail development, child care, education quality, neighborhood aesthetics and personal security.

The goal of the New Communities Program is to strengthen communities from within through planning, organizing, and human development.

During the early years of planning and implementation, from 2003-2005, quality-of-life trends were consistently improving in NCP neighborhoods, showing greater local investments and falling crime rates. In addition, local intermediaries developed quality-of-life plans and implemented about 750 projects in multiple areas including education, workforce development, housing, and social services.