The Latin American Economic Development Association, Inc. (LAEDA) was incorporated in New Jersey in 1987 as a nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporation. The organization was established through the efforts of the National Puerto Rican Coalition along with local community and business leaders with purpose of supporting the growth of Latino small business owners and assisting members of the Latino community in the creation of small businesses.

Since its founding, LAEDA’s mission has evolved to support all individuals and their families who reside in under-served low asset communities across the seven southern counties of New Jersey; Camden, Burlington, Atlantic, Gloucester, Cumberland, Cape May and Salem.

With this transformation, the board recognized that a name change was essential to better reflect the organization’s evolving mission and the diverse community it now serves. As the organization expanded beyond its original focus on the Latino community, adopting the name ‘LAEDA’ allowed it to more inclusively represent its clients and its vision for the 21st century.

LAEDA has evolved into a community economic development organization with a holistic approach to its mission. By leveraging entrepreneurship as a catalyst, LAEDA drives broader community economic development initiatives, including commercial district revitalization and commercial real estate redevelopment. This comprehensive framework, known as the LAEDA Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, reflects LAEDA’s commitment to fostering sustainable growth and prosperity within the communities it serves.

Since its founding in 1987, LAEDA has built a solid reputation for developing, implementing, and expanding economic development programs that have played a crucial role in revitalizing the City of Camden and empowering its residents. The following milestones highlight key moments in LAEDA’s history that have shaped its transformation and deepened its impact on the community.