Background History/Governance COSCDA was formally incorporated in 1974 in Illinois as a 501 (c)(3) not for profit (i.e., educational, scientific, charitable) organization. COSCDA can accept foundation and other grants and gifts, but its political advocacy role is limited. Nearly all the original members of COSCDA were state agencies created after the civil disorders of the 60's and "community affairs" was the most common name of these agencies. Initially, COSCDA members focused on local governments and secondarily on lower income persons and communities. Beginning in the mid-1970's, the role of COSCDA members began changing as they increasingly managed state and federal grant and loan programs, initially in housing and then in community development and economic development. Consequently, "community affairs" was often eliminated from agency names and replaced by "community development," "economic development," and/or "housing". The most frequent change from the mid 1970's to the early 1980's among members was the merger of community affairs and economic development responsibilities. Reflecting these changes, COSCDA in 1990 altered its name from the Council of Community Affairs Agencies. All Contents ©2008 Council of State Community Development Agencies. All rights reserved.