South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation

SoBRO was founded in 1972 by a group of business executives and community leaders.  Our mission was urgent: reverse the flight of businesses and jobs from the South Bronx.  It was the first and most fundamental step toward rebuilding a community whose name evoked images of burned out buildings, crime, poverty, and drugs.  But as SoBRO began to evolve, it became clearer that community revitalization required a multi-faceted effort.

Today we address all aspects of community development: assisting businesses to get started and grow, training residents according to the needs of employers, offering opportunities for youth to learn and develop, and creating affordable housing and commercial space that reverses blight in the community.

Since our founding in 1972, SoBRO has served over 20,000 students, helped to create and retain more than 40,000 jobs for area residents, and created the climate for hundreds of million dollars of capital investment into the South Bronx.  Our success is exemplified by the following awards:

• 2015 “Competition THRIVE Award”, New York City Department of Small Business Services
• 2014 “Community HERO Award”, News Corp.
• 2013 “Healthy High-Rise Award”, American Lung Association
• 2012 “Big Apple Brownfield Award in Affordable Housing”, New York City Brownfields Partnership
• 2011 “Employer Partnership Award”, New York City Employment and Training Coalition
• 2008 “Serving Youth Award”, New York City Employment and Training Coalition
• 2004 “Small Business Not-for-Profit of the Year Award”, New York State
• 2003 “PepNET Award” for the SoBRO Youth Center, United States Department Of Labor
• 2002 “Community Police Partnership Award”, Met Life Foundation
• 2001 “Lucy G. Moses Historic Preservation Award”, New York Landmarks Conservancy
• 2000 “Barbara Wolff Award for Excellence”, New York City Department of Small Business Services