The East Falls Development Corporation is located in Philadelphia, PA and provides community information for East Falls businesses, residents and visitors, including up-to-date information on East Falls business opportunities, real estate, recreational activities, and bars & restaurants. We have a strong local presence in the neighborhood and directly serve the people who live in the community and people seeking to open businesses or invest in properties in the business corridors. Our office is located in the Riverfront Business District at 3728A Midvale Avenue.
The EFDC places a priority on citizen involvement in the organization as volunteers, members or board members. Our Board of Directors includes residents who are committed to maintaining and living in a great community and people who represent some of the major community organizations. We have several committees dedicated to our mission and consistent with preserving the community’s rich history, beautiful parks, and strong sense of community. Our work includes events, public promotions, improvement projects, and commercial corridor improvement.
We are here to help you and work with you. We work with investors, developers and small business owners to understand market conditions, promotions, provide them with local demographic information, grant availability, and availability of properties.
The EFDC Executive Director is Gina Snyder. If you have any further questions, comments, or concerns regarding the EFDC or any of its many local community projects, please do not hesitate to contact her.
Gina Snyder, JD, MS
Executive Director
East Falls Development Corporation
215 848-8084
Fax: 215 848-8085
3728A Midvale Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
Send her an email
Mission: The East Falls Development Corporation is a non-profit entity dedicated to community-based economic development for the benefit of East Falls.
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Governing Board
The Governing Board is made up of community members, people who represent important community organizations and advocates of a wide variety of local community interests.
Matthew McClure Esq., Ballard Spahr,Chair of the Board
Sharon Jaffe, Vice Chair of the Board, East Falls Community Council Representative Seat
Gil Rowe, Board Treasurer, Retired, Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (PCDC), Micro-Loan Program
Vanessa Williams, Board Secretary Resources for Human Development (RHD) Representative Seat
Bill Ballou , Ridge Allegheny Hunting Park Representative Seat
Daniel Bernstein, Campus Apartments, Chief Investment Officer
Peicha Chang, falls flowers lld.
Greg Curci, BPG Properties Ltd.
Jeffrey Friedman, Esq., Mayor's Office, City of Philadelphia
John Grady, President, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
Heidi Grunwald, Temple University
John Hawkins, S.R. Wojdak and Associates
Nancy Karahuta, East River Bank
Lorina Marshall-Blake, Independence Blue Cross
Mike Murphy, Billy Murphy's Irish Saloonery
Sandra Radich, Nalls Architecture
Dr. Lloyd Russow, Philadelphia University Representative Seat
Carolyn Sutton, Chameleon
Jim Williamson, Slices. East Falls Business Association Representative Seat
Vacant Seat: Falls Ridge Tenant Council Representative Seat, (organization has not appointed a representative)
The beginnings of the EFDC
The EFDC was formed to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the residents, businesses, and institutions of the East Falls section of the City of Philadelphia, PA in 1995. It was an idea of the East Falls Business Association, which saw the need for an independent 501C3 and suggested its formation. Most of the EFBA Board served on the first EFDC Board.
Hal and Kitty Commons, Esq. filed the 501c3 not for profit and incorporation and Roberta Ginsburg, then President of the East Falls Business Association, was the Incorporator.
The EFDC’s first Board of Directors: Roberta Ginsburg, President; Julie Camburn, Vice President; Gregory Welsh, Secretary; Alice Reiff, Treasurer, and John Spino, Reverend Doctor Maurice Coombs, Andrea Gilbert, Melvin Johnakin, Cleirach Partin, Dr. Sidney Solofsky, Wydee Chase, John David Franklin, Reverend Tracy Gunderson-Simmons, George Magnatta, William Pride, Chris Schmandt, Scott Dalinka, Hilary Langer, Kathy Petrone, and Margaret Sadler.
Initial funds came from Philadelphia Electric Company, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through State Representative Rosita C. Youngblood, The Medical College of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia through then Councilman Michael A. Nutter. The first undertaking of the EFDC was to conduct a market and parking study for East Falls’ primary business node, the Ridge Ave. Riverfront Business District.
