In the summer of 1989, existing community groups including West Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, West Side Neighbors and the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, coalesced to provide technical and human resources to form a separate non profit organization, Westside Neighborhood Development Corporation (WENDCO).

For many years now West Akron neighborhoods have experienced housing disinvestment.  In a number of west side communities, housing stock has deteriorated and homeownership has declined in the process. Until recently, the only recourse for established community groups was to petition the City of Akron to bring new programs into the areas of greatest need.  However, with the decrease in Federal Community Development dollars, these programs are few and far between.  It is clear that West Akron must develop community-based programs, if these neighborhoods are to be self-sufficient and thrive in this first decade of the new millennium and beyond.

WENDCO is still making sure that Akron Neighborhoods don’t become blighted. ‘Our goal is to provide community development projects for the betterment of West Akron and the City of Akron as a whole,’ said WENDCO Executive Director Debra Turner. ‘Our primary focus is on first-time homebuyers and programs for low-income families, either through acquisition-rehabilitation or new construction. We utilize grants from the city of Akron and other foundations to make homes more affordable.’” (From a Nov. 6, 2004 Akron Beacon Journal article by April S. Gordon.)