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Mission & Vision
Our Mission
As a Community Action Agency we believe in the strength, dignity, and potential of all people. We offer access to opportunities, resources, and services to strengthen individuals, families and communities. We are committed to improving the community's response to rural poverty and giving a voice to the unheard.
Our Vision
Educate | Encourage | Empower
At the heart of ACCORD is a simple promise—when our neighbors succeed, our whole community thrives.
Who We Are & What We Do
Who We Are
ACCORD Corporation, a long-standing 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency (CAA) established in 1972, is dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing economic challenges.
Operating under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964—a cornerstone of the national fight against poverty—ACCORD plays a crucial role in strengthening Allegany County by fostering economic stability and self-sufficiency. With approximately $7 million in annual grant funding, we deliver programs that create meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of our neighbors.
Our work is built on a simple truth: poverty is local—and so are the solutions.
What We Do
We meet people where they are, with services that provide both immediate relief and pathways to long-term opportunity:
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Basic Needs & Emergency Support – supplemental food, household and personal care items, utility arrears aid, transportation assistance (gas or bus cards)
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Housing & Safety – emergency housing aid, rental support, homelessness prevention, homebuyer and homeowner support, and assistance for those experiencing domestic violence
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Early Learning & Child Care – Head Start and Early Head Start programs, plus child care resource center supporting both families and providers
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Community & Economic Development – small business development, workforce initiatives, and family-strengthening services
We are ACCORD. We are Community Action—neighbors helping neighbors, building resilience, and creating opportunity.
Community Action: Part of Something Bigger
ACCORD is part of the Community Action Network, the largest anti-poverty movement in the nation.
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Nationally: More than 1,000 Community Action Agencies serve every county in America.
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In New York: We are one of 47 agencies represented by the New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA).
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Locally: ACCORD is Allegany County’s agency, uniquely rooted in the strengths and challenges of our rural community.
We are ACCORD. We are Community Action—one local voice in a powerful national movement.
The Promise of Community Action
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Why It Matters
Poverty is not abstract—it is lived daily here in Allegany County.
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Nearly 17% of all residents live below the poverty line.
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1 in 5 children in Allegany County grows up in poverty.
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Among families with children under 5, poverty affects nearly 1 in 4 households.
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Single mothers with young children face some of the highest poverty rates in the county.
Behind these numbers are real choices families are forced to make:
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Choosing between food and rent
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Deciding between gas money and a doctor’s visit
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Wondering if their children will ever have the same opportunities as others
That’s why ACCORD is here—to meet families where they are, respond to real needs, and create pathways to opportunity right here at home.
We are ACCORD. We are Community Action—standing with our neighbors to build a stronger Allegany County.
