Love The Ave has always been more than a place-based initiative. Yes, it currently includes a MassDevelopment Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) District. Yes, it is a unifying idea representing a commercial corridor. But at its core, Love The Ave is a living partnership—one built on trust, shared purpose, and the understanding that meaningful neighborhood change doesn’t happen in silos. It happens when organizations bring what they do best to the table, learn from one another, and grow stronger together.

At the center of this partnership is a shared belief: that Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford’s North End is a distinct destination with strengths and character all its own. That belief is why the City of New Bedford, through its Department of Planning, is such a critical partner. The City’s commitment to inclusive economic development and neighborhood vitality has helped make the Love The Ave TDI District possible. Beyond municipal coordination, the City provides a long-term vision—aligning policy, planning, and people around Acushnet Avenue and the surrounding community. That public-sector backbone creates the conditions for collaboration to flourish.

From there, the work expands outward—rooted deeply in community. The Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford, Inc. brings decades of cultural leadership to the partnership, ensuring that Love The Ave reflects the lived experiences, histories, and aspirations of the residents who call the neighborhood home. Their presence grounds the district in authenticity and trust, reinforcing that revitalization must be shaped by those who live it every day.

Economic opportunity is another cornerstone. The Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) brings on-the-ground, hands-on neighborhood experience to the partnership. Indeed, Love The Ave was established as a CDEC initiative over a decade ago. It was created to reflect the needs along The Ave of the artistic and business community – many of them landmark immigrant-owned enterprises.

Meanwhile, the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Inc. (NBEDC) has helped translate neighborhood energy into real pathways for business growth, workforce development, and investment. Their expertise ensures that revitalization is not only visible, but sustainable—supporting local entrepreneurs, strengthening existing businesses, and positioning the corridor for long-term success.

Within NBEDC, New Bedford Creative plays a vital role in ensuring that arts and culture remain central to the Love The Ave identity. #NBCreative staff convene a monthly arts and culture working group, bringing partners together to plan and implement creative projects that reflect the spirit of the North End. This ongoing coordination helps keep Love The Ave focused on people-centered initiatives that celebrate creativity as a driver of connection and economic vitality.

That people-centered approach continues with People Acting in Community Endeavors, Inc. (PACE) and the Immigrants Assistance Center, both of which play essential roles in supporting families, workers, and newcomers. By addressing housing stability, financial literacy, immigration services, and workforce readiness, they help ensure that the benefits of Love The Ave are accessible to all—not just a few.

Education and youth engagement are also integral to the partnership. The Global Learning Charter Public School Foundation, Inc. connects students and families to the district, reinforcing the idea that neighborhood investment is also an investment in the next generation. When young people see their street celebrated, activated, and cared for, it shapes how they imagine their own futures—and their role in the community.

Love The Ave also honors place and history. The Waterfront Historic Area League of New Bedford, Inc. (WHALE) brings a preservation-minded lens, helping the district celebrate its architectural and cultural heritage while planning thoughtfully for the future. WHALE’s involvement in two transformative projects on The Ave—the Cape Verdean Cultural Center and the Capitol Theatre renovation—gives the corridor a lasting built legacy to savor and build upon.

Philanthropy and entrepreneurship provide additional momentum. The South Coast Community Foundation, Inc. helps connect resources to community-driven ideas, strengthening organizations and initiatives aligned with Love The Ave’s goals. At the same time, Entrepreneurship for All, Inc. (EforAll) supports local innovators and small business owners, helping new and emerging entrepreneurs shape the district’s evolving identity from the ground up.

Finally, environmental stewardship and public space activation come into focus through Groundwork Southcoast Inc. and New Bedford Resilient. Their work underscores that vibrant neighborhoods are also healthy, green, and resilient—places where people can gather, linger, and connect safely and comfortably.

Each partner brings distinct strengths. Each receives value in return—through shared visibility, deeper relationships, and collective impact that no single organization could achieve alone. Together, they form the true foundation of Love The Ave: a district powered not by one voice, but by many, moving in the same direction.

That’s what makes Love The Ave work. Not just the programs or the projects—but the partnership itself.

In 2026, that partnership will take Love The Ave to new heights. While the district’s formal MassDevelopment TDI designation will conclude, the collaboration it fostered will continue—stronger, more connected, and deeply rooted. As the year begins, exciting plans are already taking shape to sustain Love The Ave as both an idea and a vital force in New Bedford.

This next chapter promises to be the most exciting yet. We invite you to follow along in the months ahead as we introduce new people, new ideas, and new possibilities—doubling down on community, collaboration, and the future of Acushnet Avenue.