Our History

In 1993, the Summit County Port Authority was created to save abandoned rail lines in Summit County for future transportation needs. The first Board of Directors and County officials realized the potential for the Port Authority to spur economic development in the region, and refocused the organization’s efforts on job creation, development finance, and building a strong tax base.

In 2000, the Authority’s powers were officially expanded to better position Summit County and Northeast Ohio for the economic well-being of the people who call it home. Since its reconfiguration in 2000 as the economic development finance agency for the County of Summit, it has followed its mission of providing economic benefit to the businesses and communities in the region.

To better describe the actual function of the organization, in 2012 the name was changed from the Summit County Port Authority to the Development Finance Authority of Summit County (DFA). Since then, DFA has expanded the financial services it offers; in addition to providing energy efficiency financing through management of the Akron-Summit County Energy Special Improvement District (ESID), it created the Development Fund of the Western Reserve (DFWR) and the Western Reserve Community Fund (WRCF) to offer New Markets Tax Credit financing and small business & community-based lending.

Impact

The financing services offered by DFA, DFWR, WRCF, and the ESID have made a significant impact on the region.

Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement

The Development Finance Authority of Summit County (DFA), Development Fund of the Western Reserve (DFWR), and Western Reserve Community Fund (WRCF) are committed to developing a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion; these values are necessary to our mission of building vibrant communities and business success. Our work is conducted with the stated intent to use our tools and resources to provide equity-promoting investments that create opportunity within all businesses, with a particular emphasis on those that are owned by minority and disadvantaged persons.