Charting a New Course for a Neighborhood CDC: The MFCDC 2026-2029 Strategic Plan

For more than three decades, Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) has invested in housing and neighborhood revitalization on Indianapolis' Mid-North side. As the neighborhoods around it changed quickly, with rising values, new investors, and growing pressure on longtime residents, MFCDC needed a clear answer to a central question: what is its most distinctive role in the community, and how does it build a sustainable model to fulfill it?

In partnership with Interurban, Valo Strategies led the production of MFCDC's 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, working closely with the organization's leadership team and board.

Listening First

The plan was grounded in more than 100 voices gathered over four months. The process included roughly 20 one-on-one interviews with funders, partner organizations, faith institutions, government stakeholders, and residents; three partner focus groups; a community survey with about 95 responses; and a series of three facilitated board workshops that moved from current-state assessment to mission direction and strategic commitments.

Building the Evidence Base

Alongside engagement, we developed a neighborhood data analysis across MFCDC's six-neighborhood service area, a financial position analysis, a SWOT assessment, and a parcel-by-parcel review of the organization's real estate portfolio. This gave the board a shared, fact-based picture of where the neighborhoods are headed and where MFCDC's assets and capacity can make the greatest difference.

The Plan

The final plan organizes MFCDC's work around four strategic priorities: Affordable Housing, Neighborhood Growth and Investment, Anti-Displacement and Resident Stability, and Organizational Sustainability and Capacity. It is delivered as a public-facing Executive Summary paired with a detailed internal Implementation Plan, supported by a KPI dashboard, a property opportunity scorecard, and a clear accountability framework so the board and staff can track progress year over year.

The Impact

MFCDC now has a focused, realistic roadmap that reflects what the community asked for and what a lean organization can actually deliver. The plan positions MFCDC to make smarter decisions about its property portfolio, strengthen partnerships, and keep the Mid-North side a place where longtime residents can stay and thrive.