About Us
OUR MISSION & OUR STRATEGY:
The Greater Newark & Jersey City LISC's mission is to assist Community Development Corporations (CDCs) in revitalizing their communities.
We accomplish this by:
- providing direct technical assistance to CDCs through the advice and support of LISC staff;
- third party technical assistance from consultants;
- shepherding CDC projects through city and state governments’ administrative and political structures;
- providing a template for the CDC development process;
- hearing the concerns of CDCs;
- helping CDCs articulate needs to public and private decision makers;
- creating opportunities for public and private sector lenders to support the work of CDCs.
PROGRAM HISTORY
The Newark LISC Program began in 1987 when 19 corporations and banks provided a total of $450,000 to a local fund that National LISC supplemented with a $350,000 contribution. Since its inception, Newark LISC and our affiliate, the National Equity Fund (NEF), have brought more than $37 million into the Newark community which in turn has leveraged an additional $58.5 million from public and private funding sources. With this backing, our local program has worked to assist CDCs in the completion of over 1,000 affordable housing units, with more on the way.
Given the local LISC’s success in Newark, 2001 marked the first full year of our expansion efforts in the areas of Jersey City, Irvington, East Orange and Orange. The expansion led to a name change that reflects our work beyond the Newark border line, Greater Newark & Jersey City LISC.
We have helped CDCs to increase their capacity to undertake new construction, rehab and other community development activities. With our support CDCs have become key suppliers of services needed by many low-income families. CDCs are making dramatic inroads in targeted communities by taking advantage of various opportunities that the Greater Newark & Jersey City LISC has to offer in the following areas:
- Housing Production
- Capacity Building and Organizational Support
- Commercial & Economic Development
- Public Policy
- Neighborhood and Community Planning
- Started in 2003, our local signature program, LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards is an annual statewide event that provides an opportunity to celebrate excellent leadership in community development. The Awards event also affords LISC and our honorees an opportunity to bring community development to the forefront.
For more information, use the links above or please visit the Programs section of the site or click here.