The Danville Neighborhood Development Corporation (DNDC) is a nonprofit community development agency that is dedicated to strengthening neighborhoods by partnering with residents, property owners, and local stakeholders to improve quality of life through housing investment and community engagement. Established in 2016, DNDC’s mission centers on revitalizing and rebuilding neighborhoods by acquiring and rehabilitating vacant properties, helping homeowners with repairs, and supporting other initiatives that foster thriving communities. The organization leads programs such as Mission 180, which focuses on revitalizing targeted areas like the Kemper Road neighborhood and offers free exterior home repair assistance for elderly, veteran, disabled, and low-income homeowners. DNDC also organizes educational workshops to teach community members about property management skills. Additionally, DNDC has been designated to oversee Danville’s Land Bank program, which stabilizes neighborhoods by remediating problem properties and returning them to productive use (such as homeownership, community gardens, or future development), thereby empowering residents to shape the future of their neighborhoods.

Q: What is your organization’s mission? 

A: Our mission is to work alongside residents to reimagine, revitalize, build and support thriving and sustainable neighborhoods in the City of Danville through housing investment and community development.

Q: Tell us about one of the projects you’re working on right now. 

A: The Home Repair Blitz is a hands-on community initiative that brings together staff, volunteers, and partners to address urgent exterior home repairs and neighborhood cleanup needs in a concentrated location usually in one day’s time. Through this effort, we assist homeowners with tasks such as minor repairs, yard cleanup, and safety improvements – helping to stabilize homes, improve curb appeal, and strengthen neighborhood pride. 

Q: What do you believe to be the most rewarding or valuable part of your affordable housing work?

A: What we find most rewarding is reclaiming vacant, distressed properties and restoring them as homes that strengthen the neighborhood while creating new pathways to homeownership and wealth. We especially take great pride in helping long-time residents preserve their homes and continue living safely and comfortably in the neighborhoods they helped build.

Q: How has membership within the Virginia Housing Alliance (VHA) boosted your organization’s capacity? 

A: In August 2025, DNDC received its first VHA VISTA, Karim Cissé. Karim is helping us identify innovative ways to expand our Home Repair Blitz by researching best practices, building partnerships, and developing new strategies that allow us to serve more homeowners efficiently with limited resources.