Nurturing and Supporting both Main-Street and Home-based Businesses.
The Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association, CDC (LA21) was founded in Philadelphia in 2008 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves over 20 blocks along Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia, as well as being a city-wide business resource.
We are a CDC (Community Development Corporation) business association representing businesses and organizations along the Lancaster Avenue corridor, a rich cultural, historic, and business hub. We are also a Registered Community Organization (RCO) representing Lancaster Avenue. Serving as an RCO allows us to engage our community with all zoning, land use and community development on and around Lancaster Avenue.
Our mission is to provide the training, resources, and environment to help new and established small businesses address the difficulties of starting, maintaining, and navigating the necessary changes needed to foster successful business growth and economic betterment of the Lancaster Avenue corridor and the city of Philadelphia.
LA21-CDC By the Numbers
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LA21 Funders & Partners
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LA21 News
Cleaning up the Avenue!
We are proud to announce that LA21-CDC has received a renewed cleaning grant from the Commerce department through the PHL TCB Clean Corridors program to extend our cleaning contract boundaries. We are now responsible for cleaning 34th street and Lancaster to Lansdowne and Lancaster. We are currently responsible for about 20 city blocks and within two city council districts (3rd & 4th districts)
Launching the PHL Small Business Startup Accelerator
LA21-CDC is partnering with Community College of Philadelphia’s Power Up Your Business Program to launch a small business startup accelerator!
Upcoming CHANGE Pilot Program Overview
Despite the existing resources in Philadelphia for aspiring entrepreneurs, the number of diverse business owners within the city is strikingly low. There is a gap in services for many people who seek help in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Philadelphia, because they are viewed as “not ready.” We have designed this program specifically to reach and serve this group; it is client-centric, trauma-informed and based on a deep understanding of change methodology.