Our IMPACT and Future
West Park Kamm's Neighborhood Development
Origin Story
In 1977, a small group of residents and business owners were concerned about the deteriorating condition of the Kamm’s Corners central business district. They realized there was a direct relationship between a community’s businesses and the fortunes of its nearby residential neighborhoods.
That original organization was called Kamm’s Area Development Corporation (KAMCO), later named Kamm's Corners Development Corporation (KCDC). Many development corporations were being formed throughout Cleveland around that time. It was, and remains today, an efficient way to administer government programs, foster targeted development, and advocate for the neighborhood. What was originally primarily a Chamber of Commerce-style merchants’ group has grown into the diversified non-profit corporation known today as West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development (WPKND).
WPKND BY THE NUMBERS
2024 GENERAL IMPACT
West Park Kamm's participates in the Advancement and Resilience Initiative, which produces an annual report highlighting each CDC’s neighborhood impact. Our latest report showcases our value to the community and the difference we're making.
• Delivered the Kamm's Corners Farmers Market that resulted in nearly $1 million in economic impact to small businesses and farmers
• Administered over $200,000 in after school care programming resulting in higher literacy and STEMM rates
• Raised $90,000 for community art installations and a build out of a community room available to residents
• Secured the original $500,000 for the Old Lorain Connector Trail project which galvanized future funding to complete the Rocky River Preservation park access
• Assumed fiscal management of Friends of Impett Park, enabling their grassroots advocacy that secured $1.4 million in new greenspace investment
Beyond the financial impact, our team worked tirelessly on community programming, producing large and small events alike, organized community clean-ups and more.
2024 FARMERS MARKET IMPACT
The Kamm's Corners Farmers Market (KCFM) is WPKND's flagship event series and has been operating for 18 seasons. In 2024, KCFM partnered with 20 nonprofits and hosted 52 small businesses. Nearly half (48%) of all TANF Food & Vegetable Coupons issued in Cuyahoga County are distributed at our neighborhood market. Last season, over $84k worth of fresh produce was distributed to those in need.
In 2024, KCFM attracted nearly 20,000 visits over its summer season (June 16–October 13, 2024). This surge reflects growing popularity and a widening draw beyond the immediate neighborhood. Attendees came from over 130 different ZIP codes across the region, though the local West Park community still provided a strong base (the 44111 ZIP alone accounted for about 18% of visits). Mid-morning was the busiest time, with foot traffic peaking around 10–11 a.m. each market day.
Total Visits: 19,838
Unique Visitors: 12,070
Average Visit Duration: 49 minutes per visit (with almost 50% of visits lasting 15–45 minutes, and 20% of visitors staying over 60 minutes)
Ethnic Makeup: 70% White, 30% non-white. (Notably 11% Black, 10% Hispanic or Latino, 3% Asian, and 5% multiracial, reflecting a diverse audience.)
Household Income: Broadly distributed. 41% of visitors come from households earning under $50k; 33% from $50k–$100k; 26% from over $100k. The largest single income bracket is $75k–$100k at 14%. The median household income of attendees is around $58k, a bit lower than the Ohio state median of $70K, indicating a mix of income levels.
the future of our work: City Ordinance 113-2025
Funding Risks
For much of the first half of 2025, the WPKND team was building out contingency plans because the current federal administration recommended eliminating the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is distributed to the City of Cleveland. The City decides how those funds are used and has opted to use them to fund CDCs for many years. Luckily, the City of Cleveland was informed in mid-May that they would continue to receive CDBG funds for at least another year. This helps secure WPKND funding but still greatly limits our work.
Current Work
Right now, our organization receives funding from the City of Cleveland to do very specific, federally restricted work:
- We can provide technical assistance to primarily big businesses who are registered with Washington D.C. in advance.
- We can offer limited home repairs to only certain residents who meet strict federal guidelines. The repairs themselves must be funded privately.
- We can provide financial literacy assistance to only those looking to purchase a home who fall within low-to-moderate income brackets.
These are important services, but they represent just a fraction of what our community actually needs or wants from our organization.
The Fix
Cleveland City Council is considering Ordinance 113-2025, a measure that would shift CDC funding from unreliable federal grants to more stable local support. This is a critical opportunity to protect the services residents rely on and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
The push for Ordinance 113-2025 began nearly two years ago. City leaders, Council members, and CDCs came together to build a new model for how the city could fund neighborhood services and development. The ordinance was introduced in January. Ordinance 113-2025 would allow WPKND to expand our impact to 5 categories of work with 90 different service options.
Myth vs. Fact
Click below to read more about 113-2025 as well as common misconceptions about WPKND's funding and services.
Sign On today
to endorse ordinance 113-2025
ORDINANCE 113-2025
click to read the full ordinance
