The Front Porch communities were designated through the State’s Front Porch Initiative, which originated in 1999. The Initiative was designed to revitalize designated Florida communities through local residents’ grass-roots approach. The designation included 20 communities throughout Florida, selected through an application process that involved community input, and a comprehensive community needs assessment. A major benefit of the designation was that special funding considerations and tax credits were provided to organizations, agencies, and programs which directly served specific populations within Front Porch designated communities. The designated communities are well known for high levels of poverty, unemployment, crime, and illiteracy.

Recognized as the Front Porch Revitalization Council from 1999 to 2004, the organization whose mission is to assist individuals, with emphasis on youth and young adults, businesses, and communities with self-sustainability efforts through educational opportunities, training, and collaborative partnerships, renamed and reestablished itself as Front Porch Community Development Association, Inc., and in 2004, received its nonprofit 501(c)3 designation.