Quint Development Corporation was formed in 1995 by residents of the five neighbourhoods that comprise the inner city of Saskatoon. This not-for-profit community organization was created to help local people work together to improve the social and economic well-being of their neighbourhoods.

Quint is guided by the belief that local residents are the primary agents for rejuvenating their community. It adopted a community economic development perspective in which the community would direct its own multifaceted, long-term renewal process. This paper describes how Quint has put this approach into practice.

Beginning with an innovative affordable housing program that is rebuilding the community physically, socially and economically, it gradually has begun to expand its range of activities to address other important issues – e.g., housing and education for young single mothers, self-employment training and a community-based industrial development strategy. It is an exemplary model of how communities can take action to address their own social and economic needs.