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
