It started with a question, “What can we do to advocate for our community?” That question led to a series of discussions and the beginning stages of the Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative (JARC).
JARC formed in response to the 2018 rezoning of the Jerome Avenue Corridor with the goal of bringing about inclusive economic growth for local residents, employers, and workers impacted by the rezoning. It is comprised of community residents, advocates, small business groups, and service providers in the West Bronx.
JARC is a cross-sector place-based economic and workforce development partnership seeking to support businesses and residents impacted by the rezoning of the Jerome Avenue corridor. Our collective-impact model for partnership means that we are community-sanctioned, organized, and led. Together, we work to address systemic barriers to economic and workforce development exacerbated by rezoning through the power of community and collaboration.
The Jerome Avenue Revitalization Collaborative has been generously supported through facilitation and seed funding from JobsFirstNYC and the incredible, in-kind resources and support of the local individuals and organizations co-leading the Collaborative. The JARC’s structure is comprised of a core founding steering committee, workgroups, and local stakeholder allies and partners.
Founding steering committee members are:
Community residents: Lorita Watson & Pierina Sanchez
BJT Merchants Association
The Bronx Economic Development Corporation (BXEDC)
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
Bronx Community College CUNY
Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI)
Davidson Community Center, Inc (DCC)
The HOPE Program
MetaBronx
NYC Bronx Community Board 4
NYC Bronx Community Board 5
SoBro
United Auto Merchants Association (UAMA)
Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco)
