LISC’s Local Advisory Committees (LACs) serve as guides and champions for the organization’s many local offices and rural program. Women leaders from the finance, philanthropy, government and community development worlds bring a special—and especially important—set of skills and insights to this critical, behind-the-scenes part of our work to strengthen communities.

Cissy and Michael White took a major leap forward in scaling their car detailing business, Mr. Refurbisher, when they won a five-year contract with the City of Charlotte to maintain its mobile fleet. Their journey to government contractor started with an online course they took on how to get certified to work for the government. They found the course on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, which offers an array of free trainings and resources for growth-minded entrepreneurs. Check out their story!

The second iteration of the Charlotte Housing Opportunity Investment Fund (CHOIF II) will boost new construction and restore existing developments to help narrow city’s wide affordable housing gap. With a $5 million investment from First Citizens Bank, in addition to investments from existing partners, this new phase will build on the more than 1,500 units created through the $53 million investment in Charlotte communities during CHOIF I, which launched in 2019.

An article in QCity Metro describes the life-changing impact of LISC and Uber's partnership, the Health Access Fund, offering free rides to medical and other appointments that contribute to health and wellbeing. In Charlotte, NC, as in other cities where the Fund operates, rides are coordinated through locally rooted groups like Care Ring, a 70-year-old community organization that since March has been able to offer 2,600 rides to primary and specialist care appointments, food access points, case management meetings and much more.

LISC Charlotte ED on How to Get Affordable Housing Built

In a TV interview syndicated by Yahoo!, LISC Charlotte ED Ralphine Caldwell explains how LISC brings communities together with public and private partners and dollars to create affordable housing where it’s most critically needed. That has included 1,500 new and rehabbed units in just two-plus years the Queen City, and thousands more across the country.

Three years ago LISC launched a program with Ally Financial to integrate financial coaching into existing services for aspiring homeowners and entrepreneurs in four cities. The program, which wrapped up the fall of 2022, achieved strong results despite the health and economic challenges brought on by the pandemic. In this piece, we look back at what our collaboration with Ally has accomplished and share stories about its impact on people and communities.