| Tidewater Community College (TCC) of Norfolk, Virginia, is establishing a Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) in the Huntersville neighborhood, which is located in the Empowerment Zone (EZ) shared by the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. The nearly 50,000 residents of the EZ have an average annual household income of approximately $15,000, about half of the average household income of Norfolk/Portsmouth. The community is made up of two primary African-American neighborhoods, West Huntersville and Olde Huntersville, which share a common identity and are considered one community for the purposes of this project. In the early 1900s, this area was home to middle class African-American families. In recent decades it has suffered from disinvestment and decline. The neighborhoods are working together through the Olde Huntersville Development Corporation and a joint civic league to improve housing, attract jobs, and provide self-sufficiency services. The TCC/Huntersville COPC's job training program prepares residents for employment opportunities created in the EZ. The education component, including GED preparation, will also assist residents on the road to self-sufficiency. The COPC is working with community groups and residents to develop their capacity in revitalizing their neighborhood.
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