ABSTRACT
The defining characteristics of community-based enterprises are, first, business enterprises with a clear commercial intent and, second, support of members of a community of interest. The community might be defined geographically or geo-politically, for example, the Humboldt Park area of Chicago. The community of interest may be a social community or a community of individuals sharing a common interest or goal, such as the Delancey Street Foundation’s members, who face challenges associated with having served time in prison or being homeless or addicted to drugs. Other communities share common ties of religious beliefs or membership in a church, such as Houston’s Northwest Community Church.
