Background

The Lancaster Crime Commission’s Final Report in February 2003 identified the creation of a King Street Corridor Neighborhood Improvement District as one of seventeen community initiatives needed to deal with crime and fear of crime in the City’s neighborhoods.

As recommended, a Steering Committee composed of Tabor Community Services, Lancaster Alliance, Housing Development Corporation, SACA Development Corporation, Inner City Group, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology created the East King Improvement District (EKID). All these entities came together with the hope to use each of their individual strengths and funding sources together to form a larger and more coordinated effort.

The EKID Steering Committee completed a comprehensive plan to implement needed revitalization efforts on East King and surrounding neighborhoods. It applied to foundations for funding and obtained five-year operational funding from Wachovia Regional Foundation and additional funding from the Lancaster County Community Foundation for a neighborhood staff/team, including a Community Builder, Neighborhood Coordinator, and Economic Coordinator to spearhead the East King Improvement District plan, mobilize resources, and engage neighbors in community building.