Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development

Our mission is to sustain the economic revitalization of all communities in Upper Manhattan through job creation, corporate alliances, strategic investments, and small business assistance. UMEZ facilitates economic development by strengthening the neighborhoods of Central, West, and East Harlem; Washington Heights; and Inwood – through real estate and small business lending, cultural investments, and designing and supporting demand-driven workforce development initiatives. ABOUT UMEZ is an independent not-for-profit corporation with over 25 years of experience in community development. UMEZ is a recognized Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund, and part of a national network promoting economic growth by financing businesses, creating jobs, and rebuilding neighborhoods. UMEZ investments have leveraged over $1.1 billion of private capital in Upper Manhattan and created or retained nearly 10,000 direct jobs thus far.