SoBRO was founded in 1972 by a group of business executives and community
leaders. The purpose was urgent: reverse the flight of businesses and jobs
from the South Bronx. It was the first and most fundamental step toward rebuilding
a community whose name evoked images of burned-out buildings, crime, and poverty.

As SoBRO began to evolve, it became clearer that community revitalization
required a multi-faceted effort. Today, SoBro addresses all aspects of community
development: assisting businesses to get started and grow, training residents according to the needs of employers, offering opportunities for youth to learn and
develop, and creating affordable housing and commercial space that reverses blight
in the community.