Who We Are

Essex Community Development Corporation (Essex CDC) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization working to build a strong, vibrant, and economically viable Essex.

The organization includes Essex business and property owners, Essex school and community leaders, and representatives from area institutions and Baltimore County Government staff.

Members of this group have been working for years to improve the Eastern Boulevard business corridor in Essex. From 2016 through August 2023, we have been operating as a committee of the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce. As of September 2023, we have formed a nonprofit, Essex CDC, to help organize targeted initiatives and projects to improve the Essex commercial district, and to engage the local business community in our collective work. Our Board of Directors, Committees and Advisors guide and carry out our work.

Essex CDC Committees

There are five (5) non-Executive Committees currently operating under Essex CDC were formed based on findings from the April 2022 Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) conducted by the Urban Land Institute. This study identified several fundamental areas that need to be addressed to promote and encourage economic revitalization in Essex. These areas include:

  • Economic Development and Tourism (Joint Committee with the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce)

  • Events and Engagement

  • Marketing and Communications

  • Parking, Traffic, and Safety

  • Streetscaping