CDCs in the News

NeighborWorks Umpqua
Housing woes hit affordability project
Mail Tribune
February 9, 2012

An organization that provided affordable housing in the Rogue Valley for 20 years has closed down, shuttered by troubles with an Ashland project and a real estate crash that left a glut of cheap homes on the market. . . . Although GroundWorks has folded, the Roseburg-based nonprofit NeighborWorks Umpqua has taken over GroundWorks' three completed affordable housing projects in Ashland and will continue to operate them as affordable housing, Wheeler said.  "They are a wonderful organization doing more and more work in Southern Oregon," he said. "They understand mutual self-help projects. They are a stable organization. It will be safe for the families and they will keep the affordable housing functioning as we envisioned." More.

PathStone
ER to host free energy audit workshop Feb. 22
Fairport-East Rochester Post
February 8, 2012

East Rochester, N.Y. — The Town/Village of East Rochester will be holding a free energy workshop to educate homeowners about programs to help reduce energy use and annual energy costs.  Mayor Fred Ricci will host the event as energy professionals from PathStone, a not-for-profit community development and human service organization working with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will be available to discuss the energy-efficient “whole house” approach to home heating.  More.

RUPCO
Kingston Pike Plan presented with state check
Mid-Hudson News Network
February 8, 2012

KINGSTON – With recent renovations to the Kingston Pike Plan completed the Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO) was able to present the City of Kingston with a check for $200,000 to help cover the cost of the project during Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Common Council.  The grant was secured through the New York State Main Street Program to help fund the project and now that the renovations have been completed, the city can be reimbursed.  While speaking to the Council, RUPCO Executive Director Kevin O’Connor noted that they have also recently secured a $350,000 Home Award from the state to assist first time homebuyers purchase homes in the City of Kingston.  More. 

Self-Help Enterprises
FHCN Opens Model Facility
The Foothills Sun-Gazette
February 1, 2012

Robert Martin woke up on Friday expecting to wait in the rain at the bus stop for a ride to Family Health Care Network in Visalia for treatment. Instead, he just walked down the street to the medical group’s newest location in Farmersville. . . . George Lurie, director of communications for FHCN, said the Farmersville clinic will serve as the template for at least three more FHCN clinics currently under construction in Woodlake, Visalia and Goshen. . . . The Goshen building site was purchased from Self Help Enterprises, which operates a housing complex adjacent to the new health center location. Terms of the purchase agreement call for FHCN to maintain a community park to be built between the new health center and Self Help’s housing complex.  More.


Midwest Minnesota CDC
Benefits of CT class go beyond student learning
Crookston Times
February 1, 2012

Crookston, Minn. — This isn't your father's construction trades class.  That's probably the best way to sum up the expanded impact and enhanced learning in the local high school class that has students building a home every year that is then sold, a class that's an annual tradition among high school industrial arts/technology students with roots that go back decades.  More.

Tamaqua Area Community Partnership
New weapons to fight blight
Times News
January 31, 2012

A number of municipal, county and state officials from Schuylkill, Carbon, Berks, Lehigh and Monroe counties took part in a blight seminar hosted by Sen. Dave Argall and state Rep. Doyle Heffley last night at the Morgan Campus of the Lehigh Carbon Community College in Tamaqua.

During the seminar, visitors learned about a new blight law that goes after absentee landlords and makes multiple code violations a criminal offense. They also heard from guest speakers Ed Pawlowski, Allentown's mayor, and Micah Gursky, Tamaqua Borough Council president and director of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, talk about how they've successfully dealt with blight, as well as understanding, dealing with and staying ahead of it.  More.

Tierra del Sol
Farmworkers Install Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Domestic Fuel.com
January 30, 2012

New Mexico farmworkers are receiving green job training installing solar panels, according to the Association of Farm Worker Opportunity Programs.  HELP-New Mexico, a statewide community-based organization headquartered in Albuquerque, helped prepare a group of farmworkers to obtain certifications that will provide them with the skills, knowledge, and ability to work together with journeyman electricians to design and install solar panel systems.  More.

Highland Community Builders
Public meeting to discuss old First Ward School
The Inter-Mountain
January 30, 2012

Partners working to preserve and rehabilitate the old First Ward School will be holding a public meeting for all interested parties at the Jennings Randolph School on South Gate Road in south Elkins. . . . Representatives from Citizens for Historical Opportunity, Preservation and Education in Randolph County; A.U. Associates; Highland Community Builders; and the Randolph County Housing Authority will present the plans for the property and answer questions.  The adaptive reuse of the First Ward School will involve transforming the school into 16 affordable senior housing apartments for those 55 and older.    More.

Kentucky Highlands
Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of First University of Kentucky HBEER Home
KYForward
January 30, 2012

A ribbon cutting was held today for the first prototype from the University of Kentucky’s Houseboat to Energy Efficient Residences (HBEER) initiative in an established residential area near downtown Monticello, Ky.  HBEER is a partnership between the UK College of Design, the Center for Applied Energy Research at UK, the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation (KHIC) and the Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC).  More.  

Also see 1/27 Fox News article: "Houseboat industry eyes new venture for comeback"

See Kentucky Highlands' press release.

WSOS Community Action Commission
Sandusky County awards transit-facility contract
Toledo Blade
January 28, 2012

FREMONT — Sandusky County Commissioners have awarded contracts for construction of a home for the county’s public transportation service.  Telamon Construction of Sandusky was awarded the general trades contract for $1,409,000 for the 17,000-square-foot facility that will provide space for vehicle storage and offices for the Sandusky County TRIPS Transportation Service, operated by WSOS Community Action Commission.  More.

NECAC
Seniors able to get their homes weatherized for free
Connect TriStates.com
January 26, 2012

HANNIBAL, MO. -- The Northeast Community Action Corporation says although it weatherized about 700 homes in 2011, it's not going to be able to match that number in 2012.  Crews usually spend a day or two installing storm windows, storm doors, insulation and weather striping.  But because of budget cuts at the federal level, NECAC won't be able to get to as many houses as it would like.  More.

MACE
MACE Youthbuild Praised by National Official
WXVT TV
January 23, 2012

The Mississippi Action for Community Education Youthbuild program received high praise Monday.  Suzanne Fitzgerald, executive director of Youthbuild in McClain County, Ill., says the Greenville-based program is among the best she has seen in the country.  More.

Hawaiian Community Assets
Task force recommends legislature amend its sweeping foreclosure legislation of 2011
Mortgage foreclosure law revisions advised
Newser
January 19, 2012

Foreclosures in Hawaii have plummeted 53 percent since the Legislature passed sweeping mortgage legislation last year, officials said Thursday.  Hawaii had the nation's 11th highest foreclosure rate in 2010, prompting lawmakers to establish a Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force to look into all aspects of judicial and nonjudicial foreclosures in the state. . . . To put a human dimension on the issue, Sen. Brickwood Galuteria asked Gilbreath, who represents the mortgage counseling organization Hawaiian Community Assets, about the counseling process:  "Can you give a sense of what it's like for the families, the diminished quality of life that happens when you might be losing your home?" asked Galuteria, D-Downtown-Waikiki.  Gilbreath said he couldn't quantify the how many people are currently seeking counseling services, but noted, "It's definitely down."  More.

Midwest Minnesota CDC and PathStone (NY) awarded HUD funding
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

See notice in the January 19 Federal Register.

MACED
Report: Power diversity could pay off big for Kentucky
The Richmond Register
January 18, 2012

BEREA — More jobs, greater economic activity and utility-bill savings for customers are all byproducts of investing in clean energy in Kentucky over the next decade. That’s according to a new study that examines the effects of the Clean Energy Opportunity Act — House Bill 167, introduced in the Kentucky House — if it becomes law.  Those effects could be substantial, according to Kristin Tracz, who represents the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) of Berea, the group that released the report.  More.

Fayette County Community Action Agency
Food drive, concert planned around MLK day
Herald Standard
January 13, 2012

Megan Sheesley, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. (BARC), wanted to do something to benefit the community on Jan. 16, the AmeriCorps National Day of Service and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Her thoughts turned to the entire Fayette County community and those who need help through Fayette County Community Action Agency’s Food Bank.  “I just thought it would be really nice if we could do something to benefit Fayette County as a whole,” Sheesley said. “The food bank supplies the Brownsville community, and I thought it would work out well.”  More.

Laconia Area Community Land Trust
Homebuyer Seminar Offered at Northway's Belmont Bank
The Laconia Daily Sun
January 12, 2012

BELMONT — Laconia Area Community Land Trust’s HomeBuyer Resource Center and Northway Bank are teaming up to present a free seminar for first -time homebuyers and for anyone interested in learning about the home-buying process.  More.

Champlain Housing Trust
KeyBank donations top $300,000 in 2011
VermontBiz.com
January 11, 2012

From youth mentoring to job skills programs, transitional housing and homeless prevention programs to adult literacy, KeyBank provided grants and sponsorships totaling $305,000 to more than 125 Vermont organizations in 2011.  Funds from the KeyBank Foundation supported programs helping Vermonters achieve economic self-sufficiency, including financial counseling through the Champlain Housing Trust, a grant to the Intervale Foundation to help farmers grow their businesses and support of Linking Learning to Life's College Connections program.  More.

CHIP
Biz Bits: Conference speakers willing to share secrets, tips
Chico Enterprise-Record
January 8, 2012

If you didn't get a chance to hear DAN BEVERIDGE's presentation on foreclosure a month ago in Oroville, he's going to be giving it in Chico this time. . . .  sharing incredibly valuable information for those teetering or have fallen into house foreclosure.  I reported on his presentation in Oroville and was amazed at the information. He's a certified housing consultant for Community Housing Improvement Program and has dealt with foreclosure issues for a long time.  The program is free and extremely worthwhile.  Full article.

CAP Services receives volunteer help to clean up Waupaca site
Steven's Point Journal
January 8, 2012

. . . CAP has been the beneficiary of the donated time and talent in many in our communities [over] time. Recently, groups of volunteers literally dug dirt, sowed seeds, planted shrubs, replaced old fixtures and cleaned up CAP's Transitional Living Facilities in Waupaca . . .  to make them as comfortable and attractive as possible.  More.

Fayette County Community Action Agency
Food bank receives $10,000 boost
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review / Daily Courier
January 6, 2012

The Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank is slowly rebuilding its supply thanks to donations from area organizations and individuals.  The John R. and Margaret S. McCartan Charitable Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation has donated $10,000 to the food bank to help replace food and equipment destroyed in a recent flood.  More.

Fayette County Community Action Agency
Fayette County Food Bank's 'Souper Bowl' to target hunger
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
January 6, 2012

The Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank is sponsoring its 14th annual 'Souper Bowl of Caring' as a way to tackle hunger.  The food bank is a program in which products are distributed through local volunteer food pantries and provides an emergency supply of food for families.  "Our goal is to have a special collection on Super Bowl Sunday," said Jamie Brink, project manager at the food bank and coordinator of the event.  More.

Northern Initiatives
Small business loan organization receives million dollar grant
Upper Michigan's Source
January 3, 2012

MARQUETTE -- A small business lending organization in Marquette is getting some help from the Kellogg Foundation to keep their efforts moving.  Kellogg is providing the Northern Initiatives with a one million dollar grant to support the launch and growth of family-owned businesses. Northern Initiatives will use the three-year grant toward capital along with training and technical assistance for both new business owners and growing businesses.  More.

Tamaqua Area Community Partnership
Community Health Department Study Looks at Tamaqua Area
St. Luke's Hospital Network Pulse
January, 2012

A study conducted by the Network’s Department of Community Health will help civic leaders in the Tamaqua area to make plans to address health issues in eastern Schuylkill County.  Hollie Gibbons, MPH, RD, manager of disease prevention programs, said that the project was funded by a grant from the Rural
Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership. More.

Comite de Bien Estar is featured by U.S. HUD in an informative slide show, profiling Comite's work in the areas of affordable housing, nutrition, child care, and economic development.

Cabrillo Economic Development Corp.
Leader of affordable-housing movement in Ventura County retires
Ventura County Star Mobile (m.vcstar.com)
December 30, 2011

[Rodney] Fernandez . . . cultivated the idea of affordable housing from a seed 30 years ago to a blossoming plant with flowers all over Ventura County today.  Fernandez, 66, the executive director who helped start Cabrillo, is retiring effective Sunday.  "Rodney helped to change attitudes of affordable housing by building quality places that you can put in any community," said Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, who saw many Cabrillo developments in her district over the years. "He was a visionary and at the leading edge in knowing that you could provide a quality product and make it fit into the financial portfolio."  More.

Garrett County Community Action Committee
Heating assistance program sends out checks
Congress' vote could slash local funding
Cumberland Times-News
December 28, 2011

OAKLAND — Funds have been released and checks recently went out to Garrett County senior citizens and others expecting benefits from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, said Duane Yoder, president of Garrett County Community Action Committee Inc.  The energy assistance program provides benefits to low- to moderate-income residents who need help with home heating costs. About 150 senior residents in Garrett County are in dire need of heat, said Linda Green, director of services coordination for the community action committee.  More.

Chicanos Por La Causa
Chicanos group leader attends conference: Participants discuss age-friendly community
AZCentral.com
December 25, 2011

This fall, Chicanos Por La Causa’s president and CEO, Edmundo Hidalgo, discussed housing and other community economic-development issues with representatives from other countries at a conference in Ireland.  Chicanos Por La Causa is a Hispanic community-development organization in Phoenix. Hidalgo said it was one of several organizations that had a presence at the conference, which involved representatives of nearly 30 countries.  More.

USDA grants $700,000+ to Tierra del Sol Housing
New Mexico Business Weekly
December 12, 2011

Tierra del Sol Housing Corp. Inc. of Anthony will receive nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to supervise the construction of new homes and the repair of others in the city of Lordsburg and Doña Ana County. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program.  More. 

See also "Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation Receives Federal Financing to Expand Housing and Business Opportunities in Southern NM" in The Grant County Beat.

Cabrillo dedicates Rodney Fernandez Gardens affordable housing project in Santa Paula
Ventura County Star (vcstar.com)
December 10, 2011

Six years after it was first proposed, a controversial affordable housing project was dedicated Friday in Santa Paula.  The 90-unit Rodney Fernandez Gardens, developed by the nonprofit Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. for low-income and farmworker individuals and families, is already half-occupied, and officials expect the balance of the one- to three-bedroom rental apartments to be filled by the end of the year. . . . The complex of two-story Craftsman-style buildings was called Plaza Amistad when first proposed. It was changed to Paseo Santa Barbara before Cabrillo renamed it to honor Rodney Fernandez, the corporation's founding executive director, who is retiring after more than 30 years.  "I think this is the best project we've ever done," Fernandez said.  More.

Champlain Housing Trust
NeighborWorks America makes $200,000 grant in support of Irene recovery efforts
VTDigger.org
December 8, 2011

Burlington, VT – NeighborWorks America has made a $200,000 grant to five regional housing organizations to support their Tropical Storm Irene recovery efforts. [Including Champlain Housing Trust.] . . . “We are so thankful for this support as we continue to collaborate with our peers across the State to respond to challenges we’re facing after Irene,” said Brenda Torpy, the Housing Trust’s CEO. “We look forward to doing all we can to support the recovery efforts underway, as well as ones to come.”  More.

Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana
Kalispell accepts $1.5 million for land trust houses
Daily Inter Lake
December 6, 2011

The Kalispell City Council voted on Monday to accept $1.5 million in federal funding to buy and renovate more foreclosed houses to add to the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust.  Funding comes from a third round of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, this time through the Wall Street Reform Act of 2010. A total of $5 million was allocated for Montana.  More.

Housing Development Corporation buildings to get facelift
Up to $25 million sought in complex financing deal
Lancaster Online
December 5, 2011

Five affordable-housing apartment complexes in Lancaster County are getting makeovers.  They are among seven regional complexes managed by the Lancaster-based Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic that are slated for improvements under a $20 million financing plan spearheaded by Redevelopment Authority of Lancaster County.  More.

Four Rural LISC Partner CDCs receive $100K awards (Champlain Housing Trust, Coastal Enterprises, Laconia Area CLT and RUPCO)

TD Charitable Foundation Awards $2.5 Million in Grants to Non-Profits Focused on Affordable Housing Initiatives:  "Building for the Future" themed competition awards 25 grants supporting New Unit Creation, Energy Efficiency, and Capacity Building projects
The Sacramento Bee
November 29, 2011

The TD Charitable Foundation . . . . today announced the winners of $2.5 million in grants to support affordable housing initiatives through its sixth annual company-wide "Housing for Everyone" grant competition. . . .Twenty-five organizations throughout TD Bank's footprint from Maine to Florida were awarded a $100,000 grant for a total grant donation of $2.5 million in 2011.  More.

Champlain Housing Trust Wins $100,000 Housing for Everyone Award from TD Charitable Foundation
vermontbiz.com
November 29, 2011

The Champlain Housing Trust announced today that the organization has been selected as a winner of the TD Charitable Foundation’s 2011 Housing for Everyone competition, one of 25 selected nationally out of a pool of about 500 submissions.  The Housing for Everyone award comes with a $100,000 grant to advance CHT’s efforts to provide and sustain affordable housing in northwestern Vermont.  More.    

BGACDC holds annual board banquet Nov. 9
The Daily World/Helena-Arkansas.com
November 23, 2011

MARVELL — The Boys, Girls, Adults Community Development Center recently held its annual board banquet. Approximately 100 people attended including some distinguished Marvell citizens . . .   The keynote speaker was Dr. Tracy Dunbar, interim chair of the Department of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.  More.

From BGACDC's email article, "The Seeds of Success":   Dr. Dunbar, a nationally respected agricultural economist, returned to Marvell this fall to thank BGACDC for its life-shaping contributions not only to her but to hundreds of other youngsters who acquired confidence, character and learning through the many activities of the organization.  More.

To see more success stories, go to BGACDC's email campaign archive here.

RUPCO
Backers of subsidized housing facing uphill battle
Times Herald-Record
November 19, 2011

SAUGERTIES — Getting communities to sign off on subsidized housing can be difficult, but for the Rural Ulster Preservation Co., it's worth the effort.  "When it comes to affordable housing, there seems to be a mass hysteria," RUPCO board President Thomas Collins said Friday at the organization's 30th anniversary luncheon. "It's a paranoia fueled by xenophobia, neophobia and attempts at political gain."  Examples abound of local affordable housing battles.  More.

CHIP
Free Foreclosure Prevention Workshop
KHSL Chico, CA
Nov. 15, 2011

Dan Beveridge from Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) and Jennifer McCarthy from the Butte County Administration Office are interviewed by KHSL Chico.  They discuss current housing issues and a free foreclosure prevention workshop for Butte County residents.   See the interview here.

Coastal Enterprises Inc. Receives $170K from Starbucks’ Create Jobs Program
Maine Ahead
November 10, 2011

Wiscasset, ME.  A local community lender today received a $173,500 capital grant from the Create Jobs for USA Fund, a collaboration between Starbucks and Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). The money will help Coastal Enterprises, Inc. to create and sustain jobs in Maine as part of a national campaign to support small, community businesses.  More.

Chicanos Por La Causa
HUD leader touts home stabilization efforts
Daily Republic (dailyrepublic.com)
November 10, 2011

PHOENIX — The Obama administration’s top housing official touted the government’s efforts to stabilize neighborhoods hard hit by foreclosures during a visit to Phoenix neighborhood on Thursday.  U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan visited two homes bought out of foreclosure, rehabilitated and put back on the market for sale to families by a nonprofit group awarded federal funds.  Efforts of groups such as Chicanos Por La Causa in cities across the U.S. are helping stop blight and home price declines triggered by vacant and foreclosed homes like those that had been prevalent in the South Mountain neighborhood where Thursday’s event was held, he said.  More.

Self-Help Enterprises
Goshen housing development built with sweat equity
KFSN-TV Fresno, CA
November 10, 2011

GOSHEN, Calif. (KFSN) -- South Valley families will soon be able to move into new homes they helped build. . . . "Ten families here have built their first home and are going to be in for Thanksgiving. They're going to be home for the holidays, a home they built themselves with their neighbors in our self-help sweat equity program," said Tom Collishaw, vice president of Self-Help Enterprises.  More.

Tierra del Sol receives over $700,000 in SHOP grant
Federal Register
November 2, 2011

Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation in Anthony, New Mexico, was among just four groups receiving FY 2011 SHOP grants totaling $26,676,540.   Tierra del Sol received $700,050.  The SHOP program provides grants to national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia that have experience in providing self-help housing.  Read the Federal Register announcement here.

Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic
Lancaster nonprofit completes $5.6M renovated building
CPBJNow.com
October 31, 2011

Lancaster-based Housing Development Corp. recently completed $5.6 million in renovations at Lancaster House South, according to a news release.  The organization also renamed the building Ruoff Towers, after Edmund Ruoff, longtime president of the nonprofit.  More.

Also see article, "Ruoff Tower: Senior Housing With Swagger", in RE3 LIVING SPACES. 

Tamaqua Area Community Partnership
LISC announces $100,000 grant to fuel development of Tamaqua community-driven safety program
CNBC
October 28, 2011

TAMAQUA, Penn. (Oct. 28, 2011)—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has awarded an $100,000 grant to Tamaqua Area Community Partnership (TACP) for the continued development and implementation of a community-driven safety initiative that organizes residents and businesses around issues of blight and crime. . . . “Safety is fundamental to every healthy community,” noted Tina Brooks, LISC executive vice president for programs, who made the announcement.  “Our goal is to help Tamaqua residents ensure that they can live, work, do business and raise their families in a community without the blight of vandalism or the threat of violence hanging over their heads.”  More.

Coastal Enterprises
$8.25 Million Awarded to Two Innovative CDFIs to Invigorate Low-Income Communities
Opportunity Finance Network NEXT Awards
October 25, 2011

Philadelphia, October 25, 2011— The country’s largest and most coveted awards program for community development financial institutions (CDFIs) announced today that it will award $8.25 million to two top-performing CDFIs: Coastal Enterprises, Inc. in Wiscasset, ME; and The Progress Fund in Greensburg, PA. The two CDFIs will use the Wachovia Wells Fargo NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance to bolster local economies and stimulate and retain job growth in disadvantaged communities.   More.

RHDC
Utah rural housing programs win award
Salt Lake Tribune
October 10, 2011

Seven Utah housing programs affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been recognized for their efforts to assist people with limited income build their own homes in rural areas.  The annual Project of the Year award went to Utah grantees that administer the USDA Rural Development Mutual Self-Help Housing program.  More.

Kentucky Highlands
From luxury boats to livable homes
Air, Land & Water
Fall 2011

It’s a project that has received positive attention from the state’s second largest newspaper and from the federal Department of Energy. Most importantly, it’s a project that has the power to boost the economy by putting people back to work, increase affordable, energy-efficient housing and reduce environmental impacts to the region. The Houseboat to Energy-Efficient Residences project is underway to build energy-efficient modular homes on the production lines of houseboat factories in southeast Kentucky.  More.

Central Missouri Community Action
Taking a risk: Five mid-Missouri residents with ideas strive for microloans
Missourian
October 5, 2011

COLUMBIA— They’ve all had setbacks.  Losing a job. Falling behind on a mortgage. Being buried in medical bills.  Many of their struggles are not so unique. They are felt by the millions afflicted by a flagging economy and the uncertain outcomes of life’s chances and choices. They are felt by the millions who wonder, “Can anything be done to make my life better?”

Five mid-Missouri residents are trying to answer that question.  During an intensive six weeks, they’ve been meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Central Missouri Community Action Center in Columbia to take part in a small-business startup program. They have a range of ideas — a coffeehouse, a nonprofit youth sports league and a website that caters to the unemployed . . .  More.

Tamaqua Area Community Partnership
Tamaqua group visits Ulster County, N.Y. to study revitalization efforts
Times News, Inc.
October 1, 2011

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS - A group of members from the Tamaqua Community Partnership, Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce, local government and other local business-oriented organizations visited Ulster County, New York, to learn more about what their community is doing to revitalize their downtown, preserve historic resources, promote healthy living and to see how they collaborate towards community growth.  More.

CAP Services
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Recognizes Outstanding Partnerships Between Members and Non-Profits in Illinois and Wisconsin
DailyFinance.com
September 30, 2011

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBC) has awarded two Community First Partnership Awards, which recognize exceptional achievement in affordable housing or community economic development by a member financial institution and a non-profit community organization working together to revitalize their community. The partnerships receive $10,000. . . . The Wisconsin award was presented to Paul N. Fehrenbach, representing M&I Bank, and Mary Patoka, President and CEO of CAPS Services.  More.

Impact Seven
Beaver Dam Lake Historic Lofts Nominated for Timmy Award for Most Innovative Adaptive Reuse.  I-7 Financing Strengthens Position of Flambeau River Papers.  And more.
Positive Impacts
July-Sept 2011

Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE)
Berea small business lending to get a federal boost
Lexington Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com
September 29, 2011

The U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday that Berea's Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises will receive $2.1 million in federal funds to help it bolster lending to small businesses.  More.

Coastal Enterprises, Impact Seven, Midwest Minnesota CDC and NESDCAP affiliate NESDEC, plus Rural LISC Strategic Partners FAHE and RCAC among recipients of U.S. Treasury awards
CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury
September 28, 2011

Washington, DC - U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the seventh and final wave of funding provided through the Small Business Lending Fund. This includes 51 certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that received an aggregated total of $104,279,000. Treasury released the term sheet and other application materials needed by Community Development Loan Funds to access this lower-cost capital on May 26, 2011.  More.

Franklin County CDC  From FCCDC's October ENews:  On September 27th the Western MA Food Processing Center hosted a large crowd of regional food and agriculture professionals to learn about the Farm to Institution Program. The guest of honor was USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan who was very impressed and said she is happy to see that USDA money is being put to good use.  Read more about her visit here:
‘Heart of local food movement’
Deputy Ag. Sec. Kathleen Merrigan visits her hometown and talks about new initiatives for small farms
Greenfield Recorder
September 27, 2011

GREENFIELD — U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan brought her “Know your farmer, know your food” campaign to town Tuesday . . . her message . . . was upbeat, calling this “the heart of a lot of the local food movement” that has been helped by USDA programs to strengthen the connection between farmers and consumers.  More.

CHI celebrates Sugar Creek grand opening
Spencer Daily Reporter
September 24, 2011

"Homeownership Incubator" is first-of-its-kind in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - Community Housing Initiatives Inc. (CHI) - based in Spencer - and the Affordable Housing Network Inc., were joined Sept. 13 by representatives from Midwest Housing Equity Group, Skogman Homes and others to celebrate the grand opening of Sugar Creek Bend, a single-family housing program near Ellis Golf Course in Cedar Rapids. The 20 affordable homes are the first-of-its-kind within the city limits and are designed to be a "homeownership incubator," thus preparing renters to become homeowners.  More.

Tamaqua Area Community Partnership and RUPCO
PA group tours Kingston for development ideas
Mid-Hudson News Network
September 23, 2011

KINGSTON – They have similar goals like their keeping communities vital and helping to ensure there’s enough affordable housing and health care for their residents, and Friday the Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO) hosted a group from Pennsylvania hoping to enhance their community.  Members of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, from a community in Pennsylvania’s coal region, visited Kingston and wanted to see what RUPCO is doing to help Ulster County.  More.