Supporting healthy, vibrant downtowns and village centers is closely aligned with CDFA’s community and economic development focus. How can you tell when a downtown is “healthy”? A vital downtown or village center is a place where everyone wants to be—for shopping, working, dining, services, and entertainment. Research shows that a successful traditional commercial core boosts the economic health and quality of life in a community. Specifically, it incubates small businesses, creates jobs, protects property values, reduces sprawl, and increases the community’s options for goods and services.

Downtown and village center revitalization issues are of concern to many communities across the state. Through CDFA’s Tax Credit Program, CDBG Programs, and Discretionary Funds CDFA has supported many community and economic development projects in downtowns throughout New Hampshire. These projects include renovations of historic mills into new affordable housing and commercial space, restoration of historic theatres, development of central transportation, feasibility studies for economic impact studies, and more.

CDFA also hosts workshops and training events focused on downtown revitalization issues, such as strengthening the economic vitality of your downtown or how to initiate and manage a successful building redevelopment project, throughout the year.