New Haven, Conn. — Erik Clemons, the founding chief executive of both ConnCAT and ConnCORP, said he will leave his role at ConnCORP in early October. Clemons, who has spent more than a decade guiding the two nonprofit economic‑development entities, issued a statement on Friday expressing gratitude for the work done alongside residents of the city’s historically Black neighborhoods.
Leadership transition and interim guidance
In the release, Clemons noted, “For eight years, I’ve had the honor of building alongside people who believe in this community as much as I do. Now it’s time for fresh eyes and new perspectives to lead what comes next.” ConnCORP’s board has already identified Malcolm Ellis, a current board member, as the interim director while a national search for a permanent leader begins. ConnCAT has not yet named an interim director.
Major projects remain on schedule
Both organizations are in a growth phase. In June, ConnCAT opened a new 65,000‑square‑foot headquarters in the heart of Dixwell, a $65 million facility that houses job‑training classrooms, a recording studio, a computer lab, and dedicated spaces for culinary, phlebotomy and bioscience programs. The center is designed to expand youth development and workforce‑training opportunities for local residents.
ConnCORP continues to drive the First HAVEN redevelopment, a roughly eight‑acre, $200 million mixed‑use project slated to include retail and grocery space, apartments, a performing‑arts center, and a newly completed workforce‑development hub. The organization affirmed that the project will stay on track throughout the leadership change.
Founders also preparing for transitions
Founder and board chair Carlton Highsmith, who co‑founded both nonprofits, announced he will step down from his chairmanship at the end of the year, signaling a broader leadership renewal within the organizations.
Impact on the community
Clemons reflected on his tenure, saying the ultimate measure of his work will be the ability of ConnCAT and ConnCORP to thrive without his day‑to‑day involvement. “It’s been 15 years, a quarter of my lifetime, doing this work,” he said. “I feel very satisfied, and actually quite proud of what God has allowed me to do and to achieve.”
During his time at the helm, Clemons helped launch initiatives such as the Wealth Accelerator, which pilots Connecticut’s baby‑bond program to address the racial wealth gap, and served as co‑principal investigator on a federal NSF quantum‑engine proposal. Both efforts underscore the organizations’ focus on entrepreneurship support, financial‑literacy education, and technology‑driven economic opportunity for Black residents.
Looking ahead
As ConnCORP and ConnCAT prepare for new leadership, community members and local officials expressed confidence that the momentum of the redevelopment and training programs will continue. The organizations remain central to New Haven’s strategy for revitalizing Dixwell and Newhallville, fostering minority‑owned businesses, and creating an “ecosystem of service to the people,” as Clemons described.
Stakeholders anticipate that the upcoming search will bring fresh expertise to guide the next phase of growth, ensuring that the mission to reinforce dignity and opportunity in New Haven’s Black neighborhoods stays firmly on the city’s agenda.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
