Advocacy for CDCs

MACDC advocates on behalf of CDCs and the communities they serve to create the public and private sector policies that will promote community development throughout the state. MACDC focuses particular attention on state policy, which is critical to the success of CDCs and other community based non-profit organizations. MACDC's top priorities generally focus on affordable housing, small business development, community development, and asset development policies.

We maintain an active presence in the Massachusetts State House and sponsor an annual "Legislative Action Day" that typically attracts 350 or more CDC leaders and allies to the State House. We also engage local CDC staff, board members and volunteer leaders to participate in the policy making process. While we spend most of our time working on state policy, we also advocate for similar policy supports at the federal level and with the City of Boston where nearly one-third of our members operate.

MACDC's policy efforts do not stop at the State House. Once legislation is passed, we work diligently to ensure its speedy and effective implementation by state housing agencies. We advocate for regulations and guidelines that will most effectively support CDCs and other community based non-profit organizations serving lower income communities and families.

In 2006, we won several key victories for our members, including:

• $30 million in new funding for the clean up of Brownfields sites;
• $2 million in new funding to support local small business development programs;
• A new $200 million Housing Bond Bill; and
• $11 million for workforce development and $3 million for adult basic education.

Public policy is a driving force in our field. However, effective community development requires active participation from the private sector as well. Therefore, MACDC works to strengthen CDC connections to key private sector allies including banks, insurance companies, and financial intermediaries. In recent years, we have negotiated major commitments from banks like Fleet, Citizens and Sovereign that have resulted in billions of dollars being invested in the communities served by CDCs.

In 1998, we helped to create the first and only Insurance Community Investment Initiative in the United States, an effort that has pumped more than $150 million of new capital into community development projects across the state. We have also worked with other institutions, like Harvard University, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and local foundations to design and implement effective community development initiatives.

The LIFT Campaign - Local Investments for Tomorrow

In October 2006, MACDC launched the Local Investments for Tomorrow (LIFT) Campaign, which is a two-year effort to win passage of innovative state initiatives that will lift up local communities and families by building new homes, protecting existing ones, strengthening small businesses, and promoting public/private partnerships that enhance the quality of life in local communities across the state. 

The LIFT Campaign Calls for:

Investment in the production and preservation of affordable housing by:

• Increasing funding for affordable housing programs;
• Passing a bill to preserve low cost apartments before market pressures make them unaffordable.
• Passing a bill that provides stable homeownership opportunities by preventing foreclosures, stopping risky lending practices, and promoting sound mortgage products.
• Investment in the economic vitality of local communities by creating a stable funding stream for small business technical assistance programs.
• Investment in community building and stability by instituting a community development partnership program.  Businesses and individuals would get a tax credit for investments made in community based nonprofits to support innovative initiatives that enhance the stability, well being and sustainability of communities across the Commonwealth. These initiatives would address local issues, such as affordable housing, economic development, youth services, community planning, programs for immigrants, job training, and asset building.

For more information on the LIFT Campaign, click here