Western Massachusetts Community Development Collaborative
In Western MA, both rural and urban CDCs have improved the quality of life for thousands of regional residents. Between 2006 and 2008 CDCs in Western MA provided training, technical assistance, and loans, to over 950 local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs; preserved and developed 170 units of affordable housing through substantial rehabilitation, remediation of health and safety code violations, and new construction; provided pre-and post-purchase counseling and down payment assistance to over 1,000 first time homebuyers; collaboratively provided critical social services to hundreds of elders and youth; and secured over $30 million in investment for their communities.
Notwithstanding these impressive results, the Western MA CDCs tend to lag behind those in the rest of the state in terms of size, financial stability, and impact. In 2005, MACDC launched a capacity building initiative to enhance the ability of CDCs to serve their local communities while also participating in the broader development of the region in ways that will benefit lower income families and individuals. These efforts have resulted in 2 major collective efforts. First, MACDC hired a Strategic Communications Consultant to assist the western MA CDCs with assistance in updating their websites, electronic newsletters and database management. Second, 7 CDCs banded together to apply successfully for two years funding under the Massachusetts Service Alliance, to enable these CDCs to collectively enlist the assistance of over 20 stipended volunteers to broaden each CDCs’ outreach and volunteer recruitment efforts.
Eleven CDCs representing 105 communities in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and eastern Worcester County are working together to build partnerships among and between community based organizations; expand funding to support community based development from both existing and new sources; and build capacity of CDCs through peer-to-peer support, technical assistance, and training.