Campaign for our Neighborhoods

The Massachusetts legislature recently completed its 19-month session for 2009-2010 on July 31st.  MACDC is proud to announce that is Campaign for Our Neighborhoods was a resounding success. 

The Campaign was successful by:

1. Protecting tenants in foreclosed homes and promoting long term, sustainable homeownership - An Act Relative to Stabilizing Communities (Chapter 248 of the Acts of 2010) was signed into law at a bill signing hosted by MACDC member NHS of South Shore. 

 2. Preserving and building quality rental housing -  MACDC successfully worked in coalition to pass the so-called “Expiring Use bill” that provides the public with a Right of First Refusal to purchase and preserve affordable rental homes that are at risk: An Act Preserving Publicly Assisted Affordable Housing (Chapter 159 of the Acts of 2009) was signed into law November, 2009.  

3. Strengthening locally owned businesses - MACDC was able to receive a commitment from the administration to provide $1.2 million in funding for the Small Business Technical Assistance Grant Program for FY10 and FY11.

4. Strengthening community based development in our neighborhoods - An Act Relative to Economic Development Reorganization (Chapter 240 of the Act of 2010)incorporates an updated definition of what is a CDC.   

 

Launched at the MACDC Convention in November, 2008, the Campaign for our Neighborhoods was the cornerstone of MACDC’s advocacy efforts for 2009-2010 and was developed with and by MACDC’s members. MACDC held over 20 meetings with local CDCs and their board members to gather input and ideas for how to address today’s crisis, we surveyed our entire membership for additional input, met with allied organizations and legislators, and empowered a 19-member MACDC Ad Hoc Policy Committee to develop the campaign theme and priorities. The result is an ambitious Campaign that seeks to establish public policies that will mitigate the impact of the current crisis, ensure that all communities and families have a fair opportunity to participate in the economic recovery, and prevent more boom-bust cycles like those that have so devastated our communities in the past. The fact sheets to the right explain in detail each aspect of the Campaign.

 For more information on MACDC’s Campaign for Our Neighborhoods or our legislative work in general, contact Allison Staton at 617-426-0303 ext 24 or .