Boston Connects, Inc. (BCI) is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization charged with the responsibility of administration of the HUD designed Empowerment Zone (EZ) for distressed communities.

Boston Connects, Inc., in partnership with the City of Boston, local, regional and national entities works to implement an array of community and economic development initiatives designed to improve communities in Boston that have experience chronic divestment over the years.

In 1994 a 5.8 square mile district of the City of Boston was designated an Enhanced Enterprise Community by HUD. In 1999, Boston was designated an Empowerment Zone. Since the 1999 designation, Boston has requested and HUD has approved the addition of two developable sites: Morton Plaza in Mattapan which is a 9 acre site in Mattapan and the TurnPike Air Rights over the Massachusetts TurnPike which starts at the Allston-Brighton line and ends in Chinatown.

The Community’s vision of the Empowerment Zone is “Economic Self-Sufficiency for Individuals, Families and Communities”. This vision is achieved through three key elements: Economic Opportunity and Job Creation, Community Capacity Building and Human Development.

Boston Connects, Inc. through its 24 members board of directors and staff and community stakeholders is leading the implementation of the Boston’s Strategic Plan through analyzing, planning and implementing community development projects that impact and improve communities in the Empowerment Zone.

BCI works with the City of Boston and community stakeholders to analyze plan and implement community development projects that impact and improve communities that have experienced chronic disinvestment over the years.