A Model of Community Rebuilding through Collaboration

The William Penn Foundation, in 1990, recognizing the need to demonstrate the effectiveness of private and public partnerships in improving inner-city neighborhoods established the Beech Corporation as a part of its North Philadelphia Initiative.

The Beech Corporation's charge ( now known as Beech Interplex, Inc. ) was to spearhead the revitalization of the Cecil B. Moore neighborhood, a 26 square block area in North Central Philadelphia.

This was done through the coordination of the efforts and services of organizations, financial participation in projects, leveraging of funds and through monitoring and facilitating appropriate adjustments in the improvement process.

The programs of Beech revolve around a holistic approach to community development. This includes empowerment of residents by promoting homeownership and rental opportunities through rehabilitation and new construction, education, job placement, economic development, human services, and the beautification of open space areas.