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December 17th, 2018 by

December 2018

  • LISC Boston and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) are excited to offer grants to fund 50% of the cost of comprehensive energy audits and kickoff design meetings for up to 60 multifamily affordable housing projects approaching rehab (or pursuing adaptive reuse) in Massachusetts. We are targeting projects in design development so audits can fully inform the scope of your project. Click here for more info.    Questions: ejones@lisc.org

  • The Kuehn Charitable Foundation is launching the third round of its two-year Kuehn Fellowship in 2019. Kuehn Fellows serve in positions with vetted nonprofit affordable housing organizations located in Greater Boston, acquire hands-on experience working with committed supervisors and have access to an experienced mentor. Fellows also attend monthly gatherings sponsored by the Foundation to share experiences and learn more about the field from practitioners and policymakers. Expected or recent graduates (within the last five years) from relevant Masters' degree level programs are encouraged to apply.  The Fellowship stipend starts at $68,000 for the first year with additional financial support for training and professional development courses.  Full application materials for prospective 2019 Fellows will be available via the Kuehn Charitable site on January 7, 2019 with an application deadline of February 11, 2019.  More information can be found at: www.kuehncharitable.org

November 2018

  • Check out NACEDA's 10th Anniversary Publication: Talking Values: Soulful Conversation within Community Economic Development

  • From Massachusetts Public Health Association: "Funding Available to Healthy Food Retail Projects in Low to Moderate-Income Communities through the Massachusetts Food Trust Program
    Loans, grants, and business assistance is now available through the Massachusetts Food Trust Program!  Learn more and apply today: https://massfoodtrustprogram.org/"

September 2018

  • The Trump’s administration’s proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act could mean “A Green Light for Banks to Start ‘Redlining’ Again,” according to this New York Time’s Op-Ed.

  • Boston University’s NIMBY study finds that the vast majority of residents who oppose developments are “older, whiter, and wealthier than their neighbors.” Their opposition raises prices by pushing for changes to the scale of the projects, parking, and expensive reviews which delay projects.

  • BU’s Political Science department hopes NIMBY study “provides some empirical evidence for policymakers who are thinking about how to make public participation in development more democratic.”

  • The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the Mel King Institute for Community Building, in collaboration with Henry Joseph, Development Consultant, invite your organization to participate in the next LISC Project Manager Seminar, scheduled to begin this fall.  We are pleased to offer this seminar once again to project managers and give them the opportunity to develop their knowledge of real estate development and their project planning and problem-solving skills, through a peer learning experience. For more information about this program and to apply, contact Marilyn Sanchez.

June 2018

  • CHAPA is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for new communities to join its Municipal Engagement Initiative.

    CHAPA’s Municipal Engagement Initiative seeks to build support for affordable housing production in communities across the Commonwealth. CHAPA's Municipal Engagement staff works with local municipalities and community groups to conduct public education efforts in support of housing production, with an emphasis on affordable housing. Strategies will be developed to work within the context of each community.

  • Congratulations to Peter Munkenbeck for being recognized with the Mayor of Cambridge with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service. Peter, Board Chair at Just-A-Start, is a long-time champion of Cambridge-based causes and supporter of the community development movement statewide.
     
  • The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University recently released The State of the Nation’s Housing 2018 report. The study finds that while some gains have been made since the publication of the first report in 1988, several challenges have exacerbated. Read the full report for complete details.

February 2018

  • The Boston Globe's editorial board challenges the Commonwealth to do more toward alleviating the affordable housing crisis.

  • MACDC’s work to help CDCs partner with hospitals is highlighted in a recent article in Shelterforce Magazine.  The article was written by Enid Eckstein who taught three workshops for the Mel King Institute about how CDCs can work with local hospitals to address the social determinants of health.  The article gives concrete advice to CDC leaders about how to create effective partnerships.
     
  • Congratulations to the United Way and its supporters for raising a record $2,119,550 for the Community Investment Tax Credit program in 2017, a 25% increase over the prior year, which itself had been a record year.Michael Durkin from the United Way noted how this remarkable achievement makes a difference in the lives of families across Greater Boston. 

    "The CITC program has been a catalyst in developing and preserving affordable housing throughout our region. In 2017, more affordable housing units came online in the City of Boston than any year in the past two decades. This landmark achievement would not be possible without the support the United Way and others who care deeply about improving our neighborhoods and the quality of life for all."

    "The United Way's commitment to the community development movement across Massachusetts has been steadfast for years," noted MACDC President Joseph Kriesberg. "They have been a core partner in the success of the CITC program since before its inception and their contributions to the field continue to grow every year."   

January 2018

 

December 2017

November 2017

October 2017

Since 2012, a whole host of agencies & nonprofits have been working diligently to preserve affordable expiring-use units in Boston.

September 2017

Read the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's publication "Building on What Works: Cross-Sector Community Development - Volume 12, Issue 1."

August 2017

Residents Play Active Role in Fixing a Highway-Shaped Hole in the Heart of Black Boston

Building clearouts are becoming increasingly common in Boston

July 2017

Lauren Liss named as the new CEO of MassDevelopment
Local teens discover TD Garden owners had agreed to hold fund-raisers for Boston DCR but never have.

May 2017

MACDC scored several policy victories this week as the Massachusetts Senate considered over 1,000 amendments to their FY 2018 state budget.  The Senate approved an amendment to increase funding for the Small Business Technical Assistance program from its current level of $1 million to $2.5 million.  We also saw amendments adopted to preserve $1.3 million in funding for foreclosure prevention and homeownership education programs, increase state funding for the Community Preservation Act and the Mass. Food Trust, and new language to enable cities and towns to create Community Benefit Districts to help revitalize local neighborhoods and commercial nodes.  The budget also includes a substantial increase in funding for the Mass. Rental Voucher Program.

For the first time, MACDC's GOALs report included a supplemental survey to capture how our members address community health.
 
Legislative Hearing Highlights success of the Community Investment Tax Credit.
 
Governor Baker's FY 2018 Housing Capital Budget Includes Funding for MACDC Priorities.
 
Learn about DHCD's National Housing Trust Funding for Supportive Housing.
 
A CITC Donor Highlights Power of the Program.
 
Channel 22 News (WWLP) highlights how CITC is helping Franklin County do more in the community.

The Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program may help inform the design of a new tax credit in Washington D.C - "D.C. Eyes Tax Credit for Investment in Affordable Housing"

3/29/17 Low-income housing financing takes hit from Trump's tax-cut promise.

3/27/17 Boston's new approach to traffic calming includes using data as well as the "Slow Streets program to ask residential neighborhoods to nominate themselves for traffic-calming initiative."

2/21/17 More families are struggling with poverty in Boston’s affluent suburbs

1/31/17 Trump's pledge to reduce corporate tax rate is already impacting affordable housing development.

1/11/17 T4MA announces Chris Dempsey as new Executive Director.

11/14/16 MA residents looked beyond individual interests for the benefit of the larger community, CPA approved by 74% of Boston voters.

11/10/16 DOJ Asked to Investigate Whether Canceled Trains on the Fairmount Line Violated Civil Rights.

10/18/16 Supporting Yes on 5 means $20 mil more a year for affordable housing, green parks and historic preservation.

10/7/16 The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is holding four listening sessions in October around the Commonwealth as they seek to review the Determination of Need program.  This is an important program that is designed to help improve the overall health of our communities. Click here to learn more about the sessions, including where and when they are being held.

10/7/16 - Check out Affordable Rental Housing A.C.T.I.O.N.’s fact sheet highlighting the impact in Massachusetts of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit from 1986 to 2014.

10/4/16Housing Affordability and Gentrification are the focus of two new documentaries currently airing on HBO and EPIX

9/15/16 - As housing demands in Boston continues to climb, Boston considers going small - check out the all the 385 square-foot of living the Uhu has to offer.

9/8/16 - Although rich states have more resources their hot housing markets contribute to a larger number of homeless people compared to poorer states

8/31/16“I wish my teacher knew” helps teachers understand the struggles that might be keeping their students from achieving their full potential. 

8/19/16 - LISC Boston, The Boston Foundation and the Hyams Foundation with assistance from MassDevelopment create The Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Accelerator Fund to mitigate the negative impacts transit-oriented investments have on low-income communities.

8/17/16 - Lydia Edwards has been appointed by Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh, to lead Boston's Office of Housing Stability.

7/29/16 - Massachusetts sees steep drop in homeless families housed in hotels

7/29/16 - Check out this interactive online tool that illustrates the difficulty of financing affordable housing without subsidy.

7/29/16 - Learn how MAPC's Public Health Department has been conducting Rapid Health Impact Assessments

7/18/16 - Want communities to thrive? Create transit-accessible affordable housing.

7/18/16 - Could this be the best Annual Report idea ever?

6/22/16 - CHAPA announced the departure of Brenda Clement, CHAPA's ED for the past four years. Brenda, is taking the role of Director at HousingWorks, RI.

6/21/16 - Read this Next City article, Massachusett CDC's Applaud Tax Credit Program.

6/16/16 - From "Population growth is a big problem. Go," to software development that could save crucial architect time for speedier housing development in fast growing cities.
6/16/16 - MacArthur Foundation's new survey finds growing pessimism in prolonged housing affordability crisis.

6/10/16 - LISC's Green Retrofit Initiative reaches milestone, 10 out of 20 multifamily affordable housing partners sign on to the Better Buildings Challenge.

6/2/16 - Both buyers and renters waiting for housing market to cool.

6/2/16  -A key change in draft legislation on Beacon Hill would allow owners of all single-family homes to build small accessory dwelling units — also known as granny or in-law apartments.

5/24/16 - Massachusetts Community & Banking Council releases new report on CRA for mortgage lenders regulation.

5/19/16 - A partnership between Boston City Hall and Mass Poetry brought rain activated poetry to Boston's sidewalks.

5/18/16 - Starting December 1, 2016, 4.2 million more American workers will be guaranteed overtime pay.

5/10/16 - Somerville now has the strongest inclusionary zoning in the country. What does this mean for Somerville? "Starting now, all new developments with 6 or more units will be subject to inclusionary zoning. All developments with 18 or more units will be 20% affordable. The affordable units will be distributed among low-, moderate-, and middle-income tiers, allowing Somerville residents of various incomes to find housing in the city." 

5/5/16 - More moms are making thier way into the construction industry in Massachusetts.

4/28/16 - Video: Report from @WCVB details how NOAH CDC received $7 million to develop 71 units of affordable housing in East Boston.

4/28/16 - This new report highlights how the support for CDCs has grown overtime in Boston, thus making Boston a leader of CDC housing production in the country.

4/25/16 - How can nonprofits approach social media strategically for the best results?

4/20/16 - MassDOT announced statewide meetings to seek public feedback on 2017-2021 Capital Investment Plan (CIP). "This multi-billion dollar program makes long-term, multi-modal investments across the Commonwealth.." Here are the meeting dates:
• Monday, April 25, 6 p.m. Fitchburg  Public Library, 610 Main Street
• Tuesday, April 26, 6 p.m. Framingham Town Hall, Blumer Room, 150 Concord Street
• Wednesday, April 27, 6 p.m. Barnstable Hyannis Transportation Center, 215 Iyannough Road
• Wednesday, April 27, 6 p.m. Greenfield Olver Transit Center, Floor 1, 12 Olive Street
• Thursday, April 28, 6 p.m. New Bedford Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street
• Monday, May 2, 6 p.m. Boston (Public Hearing) Public Library, McKim Building, 230 Dartmouth Street
• Tuesday, May 3, 6 p.m. Quincy Public Library, 40 Washington Street • Wednesday, May 4, 11 a.m. Boston State House, 24 Beacon Street, Room 428 
• Wednesday, May 4, 6 p.m. Lynn  North Shore Community College, Room LE303,  300 Broad Street
• Thursday, May 5, 6 p.m. Pittsfield City Hall Council Chamber, 70 Allen Street 
• Monday, May 9, 6:30 p.m. Mansfield Qualters Middle School, Auditorium, 240 East Street
• Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 p.m. Worcester Union Station, 2 Washington Street
• Tuesday, May 10, 6 p.m. Westfield City Hall Council Chamber, 59 Court Street
• Wednesday, May 11, 6 p.m. Andover  Public Safety Center, 32 North Main Street
• Thursday, May 12, 6 p.m. Chelsea  City Hall Council Chamber, 500 Broadway Street

4/20/16 - New report shows human need rose 15% last year in the US, MA has the 4th highest need rate.

4/12/16 - Cambridge might require more affordable units from developers.

4/6/16 - New wave of Urban Renewal in Lawrence will focus on “what to grow as opposed to what to demolish.”

4/5/16 - Is Boston next?  Subsidized housing for the middle-class.

4/5/16 -  Check out this article by Bob Van Meter from Boston LISC, tells the story of a partnership between the owner of a supermarket and the CEO of a nonprofit health care provider on a mission to create jobs, reduce blight and help people lead healthier lives.

3/31/16 - Could new neighborhood research reshape national housing policy?

3/25/16 - Boston population growth slows down a bit. Could this help cool down housing market?

3/8/16 - Boston to test 4 pilot programs to boost middle-income housing

2/22/16 - What happens when Community Development and Museums come together to revitalize neighborhoods?

2/16/16 - Boston's artist-in-residency program aims to look at problems from a new perspective.

2/11/2016Somerville addressing high rents in order to keep families & sustain historic diversity.

1/28/2016 - The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) is now accepting nominations for its fifth annual Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year Awards to be held on April 28, 2016, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. The Awards honor immigrants who founded businesses in Massachusetts in four categories: Business Growth, Neighborhood Business, High-Tech Business and Life Science Business. This event is an opportunity for Massachusetts’ business leaders and innovators to publicly recognize the significant contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs in the commonwealth.

Nominations are being accepted now through March 4, 2016, and self-nominations are encouraged. All nominees will be recognized on The ILC website, in press releases and at the Awards Dinner. A panel of experts will judge the nominations and select winners for each category. Both the winner and nominator in each category will be offered a free ticket to the Awards Dinner on April 28. For more information and to nominate to go: Awards web page: http://www.ilctr.org/events/immigrant-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2016/

1/28/2016 - A need for affordable housing surges, rent parties increase.

1/20/15 - This Roofline blog article says "multifamily" is a misnomer. How is MA doing on building family friendly units?

1/20/15 - The MBTA ranks #1 for most breakdowns in nation.  The Boston Business Journal Reports.

1/15/15 - Boston ranks #1 for income inequality in the country, according to recent study.

1/13/15 - Check out this article in Commonwealth Magazine highlighting the how an affordable housing development was approved in Newtonville.

1/15/15 - Congratulations to Mel King for being recognized as one of the top 100 Best Bostonians of All Time at number 64.

1/7/15 - Boston.com is reporting that the City of Boston permitted 1,022 new units of affordable housing in 2015.

1/5/15 - What Paul Krugman didn't get concerning gentrification; Allan Mallach explains in Rooflines, Shelterforce's Blog.

1/5/15 - Advocates for the Massachusetts Food Trust, including MACDC, are pushing for the release of funding to capitalize the program, The Boston Globe reports.

1/5/15 - WBUR highlights support of The Boston Foundation to achieve the build out along the Fairmont Line.

1/4/15 - While this piece in the New Yorker is long, it's a good read on the Ford Foundation and its president.

12/17/15: Underneath I-93 in Boston a freight crate that is growing 2 acres worth of veggies even in winter.  Is this the next development in urban farming?

12/16/15: Does a yellow border help pedestrians get across the street? CityLab covers this new innovation.

12/15/15:  Boston's Fenway community was highlighted by the New York Times for its dramatic changes for the past decade, including the challenges of building affordable housing, as highlighted by Leah Camhi, Fenway CDC's Executive Director.

12/11/15:  MassBudget releases study, "Race to Equity: The State of Black Massachusetts."

12/3/2015:  ACS 2010 - 2014 5-year estimates data was released today for the  by the U.S. Census Bureau.

10/11/2015: Great piece by Mike Durkin at the United Way in the Mass Society of CPAs Fall 2015 sumnews magazine on CITC!


Will Waltham creates it's own housing voucher program similar to Section 8 to address the housing crisis?  Banker and Tradesman look into the issue.


Want to know about all the dev. projects in the area? Cambridge start up is putting all that info in one place for your convenience. 


Is your mission something millennials can support with their time and money?


For the first time since 1974 MA state officials released a plan they hope will lead to “a vibrant and resilient food economy, protect our environment and make healthy food accessible for all citizens”. Is your organization poised to benefit from these new policies?


Powerful editorial by the Eagle Tribune calling for more affordable housing and the need to overcome the excuses so often presented when a new project is proposed in many communities.


It seems that as more schools buy food from local farmers, not only are the student eating healthier meals, but they're also throwing less food away.


This past Monday marked the 38th Anniversary of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) which has helped CDC's revitalize the communities in which they work.


Boston's Mayor seeking to increase linkage fees to help raise funds for new affordable housing and job training.


Meet Boston's new Director of Fair Housing


Great to read about Mel King in the Christian Science Monitor.


Check out this MIT student’s LED MBTA map


Watch this asphault “drink” thousands of gallons of water.  Could this be the future of our parking lots?


Boston Housing Authority trying a new approach to public housing in Charlestown.


Can art create cohesion in changing neighborhoods?


Home Matters announces the winners of it's affordable housing in the future design contest.


The South End of Boston is noted for microsegregation on the How Housing Matters website referencing a new report by Laura Tach for HUD's Cityscape.


LISC receives $4 Million in Federal Grant to expand access to fresh food and revitalize neighborhoods through arts and cultural related ventures.


Is the future crystal clear for solar energy with solar window panels?


Learn more about Vision Zero, an initiative to make our streets safer for cyclists and the many thousands of people who are on and using Boston's streets each day. The City of Boston is incorporating the Vision Zero initiative into their Boston 2030 planning, as reported by WBUR.


The Warren Group is reporting that foreclosure starts and deeds have risen dramatically.


Does the Commonwealth have the resources to fix the old T infrastructure while also expanding to new neighborhoods?


Do you live in the greater Boston area? Are you 12 years old or older? If so, take this survey by the City of Boston. "It’s designed to find out what is important to people,  identify barriers and obstacles that prevent people from taking advantage of cultural programs and activities, and inform decision about what arts and cultural programs should be supported in the future."


Just because summer is coming to a close soon and these designs are fun.


Would you consider investing in Lego's for your organization to reduce stress?


Police advancing skills in conflict resolution and helping address domestic disturbances may be more impactful to transforming communities than the broken windows model.


"Fatbergs" are clogging major city sewar systems around the world.  Is Boston at risk?


Is Boston ready for elevated "pod" transportation?


WBUR highlights the increased loss of affordability in housing across Massachusetts in their piece, "Mass. Advocates Warn Of Loss Of Thousands Of Affordable Housing Units."  This coverage concisely explains the challenges and the state-law (Chapter 40 T) that helps to preserve a homes affordability.


What if you were creating a photo journal of the homeless and came across your father?


Do you think "unstealable" would be a hit in Boston? 


NACEDA, the National Association of Community Econcomic Development Associations, recieved their 1st federal grant, as one of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town program's awards, for $100,000.  "The community development and arts fields already work together to improve low-income neighborhoods, but they approach the work differently and, too often, separately," stated NACEDA Executive Director Frank Woodruff. "By bringing together community developers and artists as creative placemaking partners with shared goals, we will forge strong relationships that promote physical, social and civic transformation in low-income communities."


‘Hurricane-proof’ housing complex proposed for West Roxbury read the rest of the proposal here.


Mayor Marty Walsh Mulls Affordable Housing Policy Change, read the article here.


"The Federal government should never plan for communities, it should plan with them," HUD Secretary Julian Castro. Read the rest of the story here.


Working with the community yields positive results for developers and neighbors. Read about this successful partnership here


Solar power for more people. Read about the plan to bring solar power to low income people.


Boston has the 4th hightest apartment rents in the nation.


Check out how community land trusts can help address displacement. 


Can we make Bus Rapid Transit a reality in Boston? Learn about BRT here


Wouldn’t it be awesome having a few of these underground gardens in Boston?


Doing away with "Poor Doors"


Read about the plans for the World's largest passive building.


Can Boston follow Dublin’s lead and eliminate cars in sections of the city? 


Boston's Megan Sandel concisely lays out why health starts at home and why nonprofit hospitals may be stepping up to help build affordable housing.


What do you do with an empty Walmart?  If you're in McAllen, Texas, you turn it into the largest single-floor library in America.


Research shows poverty comes with a steep price. 


Read this interesting article that advocates for building more mass transit as a means of creating affordable housing.


HUD launches new website where housing counseling professionals can get free training. Read more about it here.


New store in Dorchester is stocked with produce donated by food wholesalers and markets. It’s a win-win for the community and for the environment.


Community Development Corporations have huge collective impact across across the nation. Check out the numbers for housing, jobs, business and more.


Elyse Cherry, CEO of Boston Community Capital, writes a powerful Op/Ed for the New York Times addressing foreclosure and the crisis that doesn't seem to have an end.


Just in: Boston ranks 9th in study of US’ Healthiest Cities!


The future of farming may be in the sky: How can the Commonwealth embrace vertical farming techniques?


Could Boston Ban Cars for a Month? Maybe it's time to bring this ecomobility project to the Commonwealth.


George Lucas of Star Wars fame, among many other incredible achievements, is paying out-of-pocket to build 224 units of Affordable Housing on his Marin County property.


Today (4/15/2015), the Commonwealth's House Ways and Means Committee released their FY 2016 state budget proposal.  It was very favorable to the work of MACDC's members, housing and homeless activists across Massachusetts.

Highlights of the their bill include:

1) $2 million for Small Business Technical Assistance;

2) $2 million for Urban Agenda Economic Grants;

3) Record Increase for MRVP Funding ($90.9 million);

4) Additional $20 million for cost-effective programs, such as HomeBASE and RAFT;

5) $11.5 million for Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.

  • A special thanks to Speaker DeLeo, Chairman Dempsey, Vice-Chairman Kulik, Assistant Vice-Chair Swan, Members of House Ways and Means, and State Representatives Peake, Haddad and other members of the leadership team.
  • CLICK HERE for the Ways and Means budget proposal and more information.

Recent partnerships with nonprofits will lead to 75 financial opportunity centers being opened in 33 cities, a huge push for national impact to community development by LISC.


In 2014, LISC provided roughly 7,000 ex-offenders with financial coaching and job training! Read the full story on the Wall Street Journal.


Massachusetts communities may be receiving less than 1/2 of what they need for transportation funding.


Is Boston ready for large-scale urban farming? Vertical farming sites already popping up across the country.


Did you know? Boston ranks in the top five cities for income inequality.


Give your ideas for a new Boston City Hall Plaza and they'll probably be implemented! This article proves it.


One Oakland neighborhood sees the benefits in public health through new housing development. Let's create similar impact in Massachusetts!


It's reported that Dr. Seuss modeled Whoville after Easthampton, MA. These tidbits and more in an article on the creative architecture of Dr. Seuss.


Vertical farm offers fresh produce and jobs to Jackson, Wyoming: What community impact could vertical farms bring to Massachusetts?


The Urban Land Institute Terwilliger Center for Housing, with the assistance of the MacArthur Foundation, recently released the How Housing Matters resource that provides research and key information on the impact of housing on our communities.


Check out the world's first pre-fabricated carbon positive house! An article describes how this one bedroom house produces more energy than it uses.


Will the road to revitalized transportation be longer than expected? A recent Bloomberg article deconstructs the rebuilding debate.


Check out this beautifully designed TOD project of low-income housing!


The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network has just opened the nomination pool for the 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Awards. Submit a nomination for your CDC by March 10th and celebrate your award at the State House in June!


Good piece on the nation's public infrastructure needing to be fixed.  One reason highlighted:  Repairing something isn't as awesome as building something new....


Check out this piece by CityLab on a new website: PlaceILive.com.  Can software/websites determine a community's livability?


Can plans for the London Underline transfer to unused MBTA tunnels? One article suggests underground spaces are perfect for commuting cyclists.


"Every City Needs Vancouver's Ban on Food Scraps" - The Atlantic's CityLab


Clearing sidewalks of snow in one Ann Arbor neighborhood is the job of Snowbuddy.


Should we begin mining Boston's sewers for gold and silver? News outlet Quartz covers the issue.


Housing RAP, MassDocs and OneSource, and The Fairmount Collaborative are U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Innovation of the Day Initiative Finalists.  Vote for your favorite initiative here!


Press builds for the new Neighborhood Homes Initiative, where close to 350 homes will be built through the Department of Neighborhood Development for middle-income homebuyers in Boston. Read more on this Boston.com article!


Want to know how Massachusetts measures up in asset development? Read the 2015 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard by the Corporation for Enterprise Development, or the follow-up article in the Boston Globe.


How do we think about the "Neighborhood Effect" in terms of community development?  This article talks about the impact of where you live on how much you make.


Did you know that Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s Housing RAP program and the Fairmount CDC Collaborative are finalists for the HUD Innovation of the Day competition?  Vote now to help them win!


Want to know what's being built when in Boston?  Check out this new tool that allows you to track new housing developments in Boston as they're being built!


Famous architect, Francine Houben, in partnership with Watertown-based architecture firm Sasaki, to help revitalize Dudley Square’s buildings!


On the verge of the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Oxfam announced that by 2016 the wealthiest one percent of the world will have more assets than the remaining 99 percent of the world’s population.


New York’s MoMA has a new exhibit on how 6 cities (Hong Kong, Instanbul, Lagos, Mumbai, New York, and Rio de Janeiro) can face inequalities in Urban Design.  How do these designs compare to the future of Boston?


Chief and Director of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, Sheila Dillon, outlines the housing plan for 250 city-owned parcels in a recent Boston Business Journal article. These parcels, mostly in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan, will be developed specifically for middle-income homeowners who have recently been shut out of the housing market.


According to a study by Bloomberg, Cambridge, MA ranks #5 best bike-to-work city in the country!


5 business trends encourage social good in 2015, including more recycling and reduced food waste. How many can be seen in Massachusetts?


Could WindTrees soon take the place of wind turbines in Massachusetts?: these life-like structures may be the future of 'attractive' renewable energy sources in major cities.


Boston LISC launches The Equitable Transit Oriented Development Accelerator Fund (ETODAF).  The Fund was created by LISC, The Boston Foundation, and the Hyams Foundation to provide developers with streamlined access to acquisition and predevelopment capital that can be used to acquire and advance strategic properties along transit corridors. For information, contact Madeline Nash at Boston LISC at mnash@lisc.org.


Would Massachusetts look any different if it were designed with Legos? An article proves the products of the world's largest toy-maker are useful in urban planning and more interactive than most planning tools to date.


Could we move cars out of downtown Boston and Massachusetts Gateway Cities?  One city already plans on it.


"Rising inequality 'significantly' curbs growth" - CNBC reports on how the divide between rich and poor is hurting economies around the world


How can retailers in the Commonwealth provide better parking for cyclists?  A short article points out the good, the bad, and the ugly of retail bike parking.


Call for Presenters: People & Places 2015 Community Conference

The People & Places 2015 Community Conference committee is currently accepting proposals for speakers, panels and workshops that showcase what's working in our country's emerging neighborhoods. Submissions from individuals and organizations with and without connections to the host organizations are welcome. Submit a proposal by January 9, 2015 to be considered. Let’s show what’s working in Massachusetts! Learn more at http://bit.ly/1tHGMO5.


“Ensure Access to Public Transportation” is just one of twelve ideas for being more inclusive in the Boston community.  How well can we carry out these development suggestions?


Boston one of 16 cities honored for climate change efforts in the US: let's use development to continue this achievement!


Will road-side algae gardens be the future of green electricity?  This experiment uses the CO2 from car pollution to harvest algae plants.


Let’s beam the heat from Boston’s buildings into space!


Can robots help inform energy efficient housing policies in the Commonwealth?  Robots used in a 6-year study to prove the need of energy efficient housing policies in a Tennessee community.


A bike path inspired by a former resident, the artist Vincent Van Gogh, was installed in the Dutch town of Eindhoven just last week.  How can we incorporate the works of resident artists into Commonwealth bike paths?


Check out some of the best bike paths and roads in the world.  Great ideas for Massachusetts' cities.


Larry Andrews named MGCC President: Larry Andrews, Banking Executive, has most recently been named the new CEO and President of Mass Growth Capital Corporation.  When speaking of the new CEO, Joe Kriesberg mentioned to the press: "Larry sees the whole picture, and will continue important collaborations between community-based organizations and small businesses aiming for growth."


Solar-paneled bike paths may be the next big thing to hit our major cities.  Will this be the future of our Monday morning commute?


What can "big data" provide for community development corporations and other non-profits? A new Boston-based start up ventures to figure it out.


Do the Commonwealth's numerous higher education hubs place us at the forefront of trendy regional planning?  An article on the latest master planning trends proves it's possible.


Great profile of David and Jill Adler, a couple who set up a Donor Advised Fund with The Boston Foundation AND made a wonderful donation through the Community Investment Tax Credit Program


Community Building through in-house networking: A new company brings together community members living in the same building.


Are tall buildings good for the livelihood of cities? Are more skyscrapers really the solution to the Commonwealth's coming housing needs?  One article argues yes.


Massachusetts currently ranks 13 in a study done on Energy Efficient States.  While we're not the worst, what could we do to improve our rankings?


Is a floating bike path along the Charles on the horizon? A new floating bike path might provide a car-free and likely safer commute.


12 Trends Popping up in Affordable Housing: How many have you seen in the Boston Skyline? Green roofs and bright colors may be just a few.


Can a man made tidal lagoon power the coast of Maine? This man made tidal lagoon would power 155,000 homes.


Imagine a city where the rooftops are covered in trees! An ingenious design sets the example.


Into design and architecture?  Check out these films this fall from the 2014 Architecture and Design Film Festival in New York.


Could a building like this find a home in Boston? An apartment building and food market all in one.  While the design might be radical, the idea of creating vibrant spaces for communities to come together is quite interesting.


How are homes by the highway hurting us?


How are rising sea levels going to effect Boston?  Is Boston ready for canals instead of roads?


A farm not just for the city, but for our future?  Check out the results from this project at MIT.


Can altruism change the way our brain works?  


An interesting addition to Boston's trucks that help protect cyclists.


Good marketing and fundraising advice for all of us to use! This post about Mr. Roger's testimony in front of a Congressional committee is worth reading.


Another note on why home mortgages are so hard to acquire.


Dana LeWinter is the new Executive Director of Massachusetts Community Banking Council: MACDC congratulates Dana LeWinter on being named the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts Community Banking Council. MCBC is a membership organization comprised of banks, mortgage lenders and community-based organizations that works to promote community reinvestment and responsible banking. MACDC has served on the board and committees of MCBC since its founding in 1990. Ms. LeWinter brings extensive experience and skills to the organization, having recently served as Director of Housing for the City of Somerville and prior to that working at CHAPA. Ms. LeWinter has a Master Degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.


Best library ever for supporting community and literacy?


"Cloud Citizen" Design Wins Award: Will this be the future city for our children?


Elevated Parks vs. Overpasses?  Determine if this new design works for your community.


Should Massachusetts bring Happy Street Signs to the Commonwealth? Check out this new initiative.


Two 2014 MacArthur Fellows recognized for their creative community redevelopment.


Will dancing stop lights help end jay walking?


Add a bike AND increase the flow of traffice in a city!  It's an idea working NYC.  Can it work in Boston?


These photos are comically charged and provide some context to the need for us, as residents of Massachusetts, to say, "No on Ballot Question #1" this November.


"Another Reason To Live In A Diverse Neighborhood: It Could Make Your Kids Smarter" - Fast Company


"Despite $900M in CPA outlays, many Mass. towns fail housing mandates." - Boston Business Journal


Waiting for that stalled MBTA train is better than dealing with traffic on the Pike. Read more


Great new resource to find a mortgage that you can afford! http://mymassmortgage.org/.


When merging old and new architectural designs goes wrong! Check out this article from The Guardian.


Families often age out of affordable urban living, due in part to parking laws that require parking spaces with new housing developments. Cities serious about affordable urban housing will rethink parking laws that raise the cost of urban life.


A new study from Harvard, published in the American Sociological Review, finds that racial composition did, in fact, have a significant effect on a neighborhood's chance of improvement and ultimate gentrification. Neighborhoods that are more than 40% black are far less likely to gentrify.


A new interactive map from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies reveals that in many metro areas across the U.S., more than 50% of renters could afford to own a home. Many do not, however, due to a tight credit market and corporations paying cash for houses.


The Stanford Social Innovation Review has a great Urban Development resource on its website, with access to relevant news articles, blog posts, podcasts and more.


Despite seeing the number of residential building permits issued in Massachusetts nearly double since 2011, affordable and moderately-priced homes and apartments are still elusive.


According to a new study, free office parking can actually neutralize the effects of other commuter benefits. Commuters would drive less if they weren't offered free parking.


In the summer months, the population of Martha's Vineyard swells - and the availability of affordable housing plummets.


Last week, the White House Rural Council announced the creation of the new U.S. Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund through which private entities can invest in job-creating rural infrastructure projects across the country. An initial $10 billion has been committed to the fund with greater investment expected to follow. Target investments will include hospitals, schools and other educational facilities, rural water and wastewater systems, energy projects, broadband expansion, local and regional food systems, and other rural infrastructure.


It appears Congress is not likely to enact a FY15 Transportation-HUD (THUD) appropriations bill or other appropriations bills before the start of the new Fiscal Year on October 1. Instead, Congress is expected to enact a continuing resolution, providing funding for programs equal to FY14 amounts.


The Federal Reserve of Minneapolis is seeking input community development and community health experts, to provide information for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation about the types of data and metrics that organizations use to demonstrate impact. They are interested in how organizations are measuring their results and how attention to social determinants of health, i.e., access to healthy foods, affordable housing, quality education and child care, etc., has influenced their work. Survey results will appear in a report delivered to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in October. Results will also be made available to practitioners who have an interest in measuring the impact of their initiatives. Click here to take the survey.


By the year 2100, summers in Boston may be much hotter - more comparable to North Miami Beach than New England. An interactive map from Climate Central looks at the potential rise in summer temperatures if nothing is done to prevent or reverse emission trends.


The Urban Observatory compiles publicly available data for major cities (such as population density, traffic patterns or available green spaces) and provides quick and easy visual analysis, saving businesses and cities valuable time and money.


Does housing count as health care? New York is currently debating that question, as some question whether Medicaid should contribute to housing costs for the chronically homeless.

 


A new study shows that housing values rise considerably near brownfield cleanup sites.


An apartment building with a separate entrance for low-income renters? A real estate developer in NYC is coming under fire for proposing that exact plan for a new building with both market-rate and low-income apartments.


According to the 25th annual Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count report, Massachusetts is first in the nation for children's well-being. Last year, the Commonwealth was third place. The report ranks each state according to 16 indicators in four areas: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. The report also pointed towards areas that still need improving.


Should housing policies support renters more? The New York Times asks that exact question, as some metropolitan areas see home prices rise past the point of making homeownership a bargain.


When we talk about "cost of living," we're really talking about housing.

 


Enterprise Community Partners recently released a report that a lack of affordable housing may be affecting progress in other areas, including education, health care, and transportation.


Replace boring dummy text with "social entrepreneurship storytelling." That's the idea behind Social Good Ipsum, a text generator for designers and editors that replaces the standard placeholder text with words and phrases relating to nonprofits and NGOs.


Why renting (instead of buying) a home may be the better option, using Boston as an example.


Finland's capital, Helsinki, has an ambitious plan to make car ownership pointless in 10 years.


In Boston, savvy MBTA commuters can now ride with style, thanks to the Sesame Ring, 3D-printed wearable technology that acts as an MBTA pass.


A new report, from a coalition of artists, activists, creative manufacturers, and policy makers in New York City, explores the value in the intersection between arts, culture and community. The researchers found that communities which provide outlets for aesthetic expression are more resilient in the face of adversity.


Three examples of abandoned properties redeveloped into beautiful spaces.


Coffee addicts throw out about 500 disposable coffee cups a year. The new, collapsible Smash Cup could change that.


The majority of of small business owners (61%) with employees support increasing the minimum wage.


The U.S. Senate confirmed Julian Castro as the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.


An op-ed from the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance and the Mayor of Somerville explains why Boston's zoning laws are outdated and need to be changed.


The Boston Public Library and Bike Boston are teaming up to bring the Bibliocycle to local neighborhood events. The bike and book trailer is a library on wheels, designed to encourage Boston residents to use bikes for fun, exercise and transportation.


A new modular housing unit could help with housing displacement during natural disasters.


The rising popularity of bike share programs could mean changes for transit-oriented development.


Best Community Economic Video Ever?
 


"Awesome Tool Lets You Watch Boston Grow Over the Years" - Boston Globe


'Valuing the Intersection Between Arts, Culture, and Community: An Exchange of Research and Practice' - NOCDNY.org


"Rebound in Bay State construction jobs overshadows decline in Greater Boston" - Boston Business Journal


NeighborWorks is helping nonprofits and community development organizations use oral storytelling to keep the stories of neighborhoods and cities alive. 


Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will serve as vice chairman of a national task force focused on addressing income inequality. According to the United States Conference of Mayors, the taskforce will focus on how municipal government can craft policies that allow for greater equality and opportunity. 


Communities across Massachusetts are turning unusable land, such as old landfills, into solar energy farms


Parklets are returning the Boston. The small, pop-up public places cover an area roughly equal to one or two cars and offer additional outdoor space for everyone to enjoy. 


Boston ranks number three on the list of the top 10 walkable cities in the U.S. The rankings come from a recently released report from Smart Growth America, in conjunction with The George Washington University’s Center for Real Estate & Urban Analysis. 


Vermont recently became the first state to pubish a state-level 100-year climate assessment report


Across the country and in Washington, politicians debate raising both federal and state-level minimum wages. According to Oxfam, one in five workers - or 25 million people, nearly 14 million of whom are women - would benefit from the wage increase. Massachusetts is leading the way, with the state legislature recently passing a bill to raise the minimum wage to $11/hour by 2017. 


Rooftop and urban gardens are becoming more and more abundant. Love & Carrots, an urban agriculture firm, offers tips and tricks for making the most of a garden in a small space. 


A new report finds that Boston's art community is a $1.4 billion sector. Boston boasts more arts and cultural organizations per capita than any other U.S. metro area. 


Top 10 questions you should think about asking before buying a home. 


Women of color are a driving force behind entrepreneurship and represent one-third of all women-owned businesses in the nation. From 1997 to 2013, businesses owned by women of color grew an average of 183%. 


With income inequality and housing linked, more and more people are finding that the idea of "middle class" is rapidly changing - and even disappearing in some places. 


A new study from Johns Hopkins University suggests there might be a link between the percentage of income a family spends on housing could affect a child's cognitive ability. Spending too much or too little on housing can have a negative impact on children's reading and math abilities. 


Nine creative solutions to unique city problems won funding in Boston's first ever Public Space Invitational, a crowd-sourced design competition aimed at reimagining public spaces on a small budget.


Within the community development field, the practice of "creative placemaking" - partners from public, private, nonprofit and community sectors strategically shaping the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, tribe, city or region around arts and cultural activities - is taking hold. 


In Roxbury, MA, artists are providing a unique perspective to Boston LISC's Resilient Communities, Resilient Families community development initiative. LISC's Melissa Jones details how these artists are helping community developers move beyond the numbers. 


The MacArthur Foundation recently released its second annual How Housing Matters survey, which polled the American public about their view of the housing crisis. The survey found that 70% of respondents believe we are still in the middle of a crisis, and more than half (59%) believe it is challenging to find affordable, quality housing in their communities. 


According to a new study from the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, charities will see a boost in bequests through 2061, due to expected transfers of wealth among American estates. The report estimates $6.3 trillion in charitable bequests from 2007 to 2061. 


Rising student loan debt, tight lending standards and tough competition have left many Millennials squeezed out of the housing market. 


A new crowd-funded campaign in Boston is hoping to reward people who give back and reinvest in their communities. 


According to the Sustainable Cities Collective, Boston ranks number 5 on the list of Top 10 Bikable Cities in America. The cities were ranked by factoring in the miles of bike lanes, hills, numbers of commuters, destinations, and road connectivity. 


To buy or to rent - that is the question. A calculator from the New York Times helps you take all the variables into consideration. 


Even nonprofits need a great logo and strong brand recognition. Here are six questions to ask when designing a brand. 


David Brown, Executive Director of TUGG, talks about why the next generation of leaders need to care about, and give back to, inner cities. 


At Boston Medical Center, some doctors are prescribing memberships to Hubway, the city's bike-sharing program, in an effort to fight disease and illness that's linked to poverty. 


In the Boston Business Journal's Data Center, new findings from the U.S. Census Bureau highlight the cities and towns with the fastest growth in Massachusetts. Overall, the state's population grew about 2% from 2010 to 2013. 


In Harvard, MA, the town has started a new kind of community garden; instead of sharing produce, the community members get a share of solar energy. 


When local farms aren't local enough, savvy entrepreneurs are looking at alternatives to bring fresh produce into urban areas, including farms and greenhouses on rooftops or grocery stores where you can pick your own produce right in the store. 


Real estate website Trulia recently released its inaugural middle-class affordability report, outlining where in the U.S. the middle class can afford to buy a home. (Hint: you might want to stay away from California.) 


Richard Guarasci, President of Wagner College, believes universities should increase their civic engagement programs to help spur economic and community development. 


The Affordable Care Act has the potential to improve the overall health of communities, by having nonprofit hospitals focus on and invest in more community building activities. 


Underneath the Manhattan Bridge overpass, on South Street, a new outdoor community gym finds a unique way to make use of an otherwise neglected space. 


In New York City, a converted firehouse from 1895 now serves as an incubator for small tech startups. 


A new tool is coming that will help make infographics easy to create.


Check out these great infrographics and the firms that designed them.


Reusing and sharing that to-go coffee cup.  It's worth consideration financially, and environmentally.


The SPARKING NEW IDEAS, Parking Strategies for Stronger Communities conference held on April 8th at The Colonnade is now online.


Boston's Mayor, Martin Walsh, releases the complete transition team working group documents (Be Aware: 181 page PDF)  


Check out a new report by Smart Growth America on measuring sprawl.  Check out Andre Leroux's comments on this report and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.


Participate in the One Day on Earth: Your Day. Your City. Your Future, a multi-city participatory media-creation event. On April 26th, 2014, hundreds of filmmakers, non-profit organizations, and inspired citizens in 11 U.S. city-regions will document stories that they believe most affect the future of their city.

The idea is to have people, organizations, and groups across the Boston region film on the same day within a 24-hour duration (on Saturday, April 26, 2014) to tell their stories.  Video stories submitted to One Day in Boston will result in a 90 minute film — a localized version of One Day on Earth.   Video submissions not included in the 90 minute piece will feature in a geo-tagged film archive featuring the people, stories, and events of Greater Boston.  Participation is voluntary.  You can make your own film, partner with a videographer/film-maker, or reach out to Cecily Taylor, producer of the Boston project at Cecily.Tyler@onedayonearth.org.

It is a great way to document stories about our lives, our families, our organizations, our communities, and our city.  We encourage you to get involved and participate to showcase our city.  You can learn more about this project by clicking on the following links:


Boston joins 5 other cities to improve bike lanes.


3,267 organizations tell Congress to grow the pie. Letter to House and Senate Appropriators on FY15 THUD 302(b)


Roxbury forum examines 1960s anti-highway fight - The Bay State Banner


Check out resources available through the Mass Broadband Institute to help eliminate the digital divide.


Over 1,400 Massachusetts households are without Section 8 vouchers due to Sequestration


"CDFI Network Pledges to Support 'My Brother’s Keeper' Initiative" - Philanthropy News Digest


The Equality of Opportunity Project:

Researchers from Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley developed the Equality of Opportunity Project to share their findings on intergenerational income mobility across U.S. metropolitan areas. Their website offers an interactive map, presentations, and papers to describe how measures of social capital, inequality, segregation, family structure, and quality of schools correlate with mobility.


"Cities Mobilize to Help Those Threatened by Gentrification" - The New York Times, 3/3/2014


Check out the fastest growing private companies in Massachusetts. - Boston Business Journal


"Creative Placemaking: A Tour" - LISC Institute for Comprehensive Community Development


"How arts and culture can transform a neighborhood." - Erik Takeshita


"Why Government Should Support The Arts" - Nick Paleologos for Cognoscenti


"Boston needs cooler buses" - Opinion, Boston Globe


"10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement" - planetizen


Which Eastern Massachusetts communities have the most and least homes under water? - Boston Business Journal


Check out the new Google Maps Gallery.  A great and growing resource for the data-driven and map-loving.


Community Investment Tax Credit Award Announcement!

MACDC is proud to join the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development at an event to announce the first awards for the Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC).

The Main South CDC will be hosting the event and we will be joined by Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein and other local and state officials.

The announcement will take place on Tuesday, March 4, 10:30 A.M. at The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, 65 Tainter Street, Worcester.


Why is a health insurance company is investing $150,000,000 in affordable housing?  Learn more.


Apply for the Achieving Excellence leadership program by March 26

The NeighborWorks® Achieving Excellence Program (AE), carried out in collaboration with Harvard University, is now accepting applications for its next round, set to begin in October 2014.  The proven results of Achieving Excellence demonstrate that it is one of the most high-impact programs in the nation for organizations seeking to transform the way they work for even greater results.  This 18-month organizational investment program assists 50 experienced leaders (generally Presidents/CEOs) from the fields of nonprofit housing, community and economic development, financing, health and wellness, and other organizations working to benefit their communities as each organization tackles a performance challenge that is most critical to their future success and the communities they serve.  With the participant’s organizational performance challenge as the focal point, the interdependent components of the program include:

  • three week-long cutting-edge academic sessions developed and delivered by faculty at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government;
  • intensive one-on-one executive coaching by a team of top-notch leadership consultants;
  • structured peer group learning and best-practice sharing.

Achieving Excellence provides the forum, the challenge, the tools, the space and the opportunity for leaders to transform their organizations to achieve a higher level of effectiveness and sustainability.  For more information or for an application, please go to www.nw.org/ae.

 


"People stress us out, but they are also the key to happiness in cities" - The Guardian

"The Future of Urban Freeways Is Playing Out Right Now in Syracuse" - The Atlantic Cities

“Community development is an investment, not an expenditure,” said National Development Council (NDC) President Bob Davenport. And, he’s got the numbers to prove it. "How Federal Community Development Investments Affect the Nation's Bottom Line" - NACEDA interview with National Development Council (NDC) President Bob Davenport.

Income inequality in Boston, new study by Brookings Institute reports. (Link to Christian Science Monitor article)  

Check out the CFED Assets and Opportunities scorecard for Massachusetts.

Do you know an incredible immigrant entrepreneur?  If so, nominate them for an award. The 2014 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner will honor outstanding Massachusetts immigrant entrepreneurs in four categories: outstanding business growth, neighborhood business, life science and high-tech business. The evening will commence with a reception, followed by dinner and an awards ceremony with master of ceremonies Richard A. Davey, Jr., secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and ILC board trustee.

A strong paper worth reading: "Comparative Advantages: Creating Synergy in Community Development" by Robert O. Zdenek

Learn about a powerful lending program to establish credit set up by LISC.

Good article on online fundraising by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Somerville rents to go up with expansion of Green Line.

ULI and Enterprise release new report on how to increase supply of affordable housing.

The Guardian has a new section dedicated to cities.

Great article on the Community Investment Tax Credit in Banker and Tradesman

New regional growth projections released for the greater Boston metropolitan area.

Check out NECN coverage of the housing needs in the greater Boston region with interviews with MAPC's Marc Draisen and POAH's Patricia Belden.

Check out WBUR's "Square by Square" special reporting that covers how Boston has changed over the twenty years Mayor Menino was in office.


The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston just announced $1.8 million to six cities in Massachusetts as they launch a new pilot program: the Working Cities Challenge.  Each of the awarded cities has a strong CDC operating within their communities:

Lawrence CommunityWorks (Lawrence)

Twin Cities CDC (Fitchburg)

The Neighborhood Developers (Chelsea)

Somerville Community Corporation (Somerville)

North Shore CDC (Salem)


Check out this idea for transforming Hamburg into a incredibly "green" city.

For MassHousing, 2013 was record year for lending.

Check out the Rapoza Associates report on 2013 Community Development Corporations titled: "Stories of Community Impact," which details how CDCs in urban and rural communities across the country work with federal community development funding.

Check out a report from The Harvard Joint Center for Housing "America's Rental Housing: Evolving Markets and Needs." 

A few good rules to follow to make sure those awesome looking infographics aren't leading you astray.

Third Sector New England is offering to valuable trainings worth checking out:  Creating Highly Functional Teams (February 13th) and Presentations and Public Speaking (March 27th).

A great resource for online trainings:  http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2013/12/02/free-non-profit-webinars-for-december-2013

How do you engage a membership/network in crafting policy online and with other technological resources? http://www.rooflines.org/3555/the_quest_to_create_standards_for_affordable_homeownership/

What are the most walkable cities in the country? http://www.governing.com/topics/urban/gov-most-walkable-cities.html

Are you living in a happy city?  How do you make a city's residents happy? http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131213-how-to-build-a-happier-city

Check out a peformance hall this is underground in the city of Boston:  http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2013/12/13/steinert-hall-most-famous-subterranean-theater-you-never-heard/hmNEd74IQpIcqP35X0d9GP/picture.html

Is it time for us to start building our cities underground?

Knight Foundation reports that $430 million invested in technology designed for civic engagement.

"America's Rental Housing Evolving Markets and Needs" - New study released today by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies

Right now, East Boston is the hottest housing market in Mass:  http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass_roundup/2013/12/the-hottest-housing-markets-in.html?ana=e_bost_real&s=newsletter&ed=2013-12-06

MACDC's President, Joe Kriesberg, and Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, CEO of Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, become co-chairs of the Boston Mayor-elect's Housing Working Group: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/11/23/mayor-elect-martin-walsh-expands-transition-team/tZMQH2YVI909YKzx6bNDsO/story.html

Check out this great website for data visualization: http://visualizing.org/

What do we want out of our communities?  http://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2013/11/americans-are-very-confused-about-what-they-want-out-community/7691/

Could co-living housing be an answer to some of the challenges we're facing in eastern Mass?  http://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2013/12/one-answer-san-franciscos-overpriced-housing-co-living/7654/

Creative crosswalks?  Interesting idea. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/03/248461489/something-cool-a-hopscotch-crosswalk-in-baltimore?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprnews&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=twitter

Turn a bike into a hybrid?  Local company thinks so... http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/startups/2013/12/superpedestrian-debuts-wheel-that.html

Solid and thoughtful feedback on the HUD and Department of Transporation new online tool, the Location Affordability Portal in Shelterforces' Rooflines:  http://www.rooflines.org/3523/3_good_and_3_not-so-good_uses_for_huds_new_data_on_location_affordability/

Nice article on Community Organizing and Community Economic Development in Shelterforce.  It nicely builds off of MACDC's Theory of Change for CDCs.  Check it out.

Check out this great new video by MAHA:  http://www.mahahome.org/

“There’s new evidence that the quality of housing can affect a child’s brain growth”. Hear more of what “Home Matters for Health” panelist Dr. Megan Sandel has to say on how housing is a vital sign for health in the first Home Matters Talks video http://youtu.be/xnneRi5v01k

Imagine having this seat and directional stand combo in your neighborhood.  http://www.yankodesign.com/2013/11/20/wayfinding-rest-stop/

Check out this infographic prepared by our peers at the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development: Creating Adaptive Prosperity for Indiana Communities - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/416723771741446631/

Check out what happened to this old factory site!  http://www.fastcodesign.com/3021481/how-architects-transformed-this-former-set-from-the-wire-into-a-training-ground-for-tomorrow

A new traffic light that works and is attractive and compact. A new look for our streets?  http://www.tuvie.com/kayserius-traffic-light-design-for-kayseri-turkey/

Trying to quickly express and share complex blocks of information that is really engaging is tough.  Check out more great infographic examples:  http://www.coolhunting.com/design/information-is-beautiful-award-winners-2013.php

Infographics are a great way for community development groups to communicate.  Check out 8 great infographics: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3021783/infographic-of-the-day/8-of-the-years-most-creative-infographics

Should the MBTA follow Moscow's lead on fitness and free subway passes?  http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/winter-olympics-moscow-free-ticket-machine

An interesting fundraiser idea:  Doll Houses design competition.  It creates very interesting pieces for a social event too.

Green housing and other means to help prevent the accelerated melting of the polar ice caps shouldn't be delayed.  Check out these graphics of what the world would look like if the ice melted.

"Building Support for Affordable Homeownership and Rental Choices: A Summary of Research Findings on Public Opinion and Messaging on Affordable Housing" A Center for Housing Policy Study by Janet Viveiros and Rebecca Cohen

Not surprising:  "How Crummy, Run-Down Housing Harms the Children Who Live in It," an article by Emily Badger for The Atlantic Cities

To Curb Medicaid Spending Tomorrow, Invest in Housing Today http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terri-ludwig/curb-medicaid-spending_b_4117001.html

Check out this house that's only 15 feet wide:  http://www.fastcodesign.com/3020868/innovation-by-design/a-15-foot-wide-house-youd-kill-to-live-in

A very good, comprehensive and balanced summary of the literature about poverty and place: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/division-street-u-s-a/?_r=1

Could suburbs be a good source of power one day?  http://www.fastcoexist.com/3020666/the-suburbs-might-be-the-source-of-power-for-cities-of-the-future

Check out how this chapel became a gorgeous bookstore:  http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/10/a-15th-century-cathedral-transformed-into-a-modern-bookstore/

Coakley Weighs In On U.S. Supreme Court Case, Urges Acceptance Of Broad Fair Housing Protections:  http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/news157152.html

Google releases new mapping tool that's great for CDCs as they visually represent what they're doing in the community:  http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/21/google-introduces-maps-engine-pro-a-5-per-usermo-service-to-help-businesses-make-decisions-using-location-data/

Save the Date! MACDC's Annual Meeting & Conference will be on November 15th at Clark University in Worcester.

CLICK HERE to read Joe's article on the CITC program in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Communities and Banking magazine.

Join MPHA and our partners on October 9th for "Healthy by Design: Planning and Development for Vibrant Communities" with internationally renowned public health, planning and transportation expert Mark Fenton. 

HUD's "Ideas in Action" is tranforming into the "HUD Switchboard."  This is an additional way to learn more about what HUD is doing...  CHECK IT OUT.

The Mass. Nonprofit Networks Annual Conference is coming up: October 29! 

The Boston Foundation's Greater Boston Housing Report Card event is 10/10/2013.  CLICK HERE to register.

Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) Update: The Commonwealth's Legislature and Governor approved an important technical change to the Community Investment Tax Credit as part of the Supplemental Budget making the credit refundable to taxpayers who don't have sufficient tax liability. The CITC, first enacted in 2012 and scheduled to take effect in January 2014, provides a 50% tax credit to individuals and corporations, including banks, who make donations to qualified community development corporations in the Commonwealth. The credit will be a particularly useful tool for banks seeking to deepen their community engagement, increase the impact of their philanthropic efforts and obtain additional CRA credit. By making the credit refundable, the legislation will allow taxpayers to participate without worrying whether they will have sufficient tax liability to take advantage of the credit. For more information contact Joe Kriesberg at MACDC at joek@macdc.org.

Share! Nominate a CDC that you think is doing great work that should be highlighted as the MACDC CDC Innovator of the Month. Send your nominations and ideas to John Fitterer at johnf@macdc.org.

Learn More! 2013 EcoDistricts Summit:
Coming to Boston November 12-14, the EcoDistricts Summit is the premier conference dedicated to the global movement to promote sustainable neighborhood development. Each year the EcoDistricts Summit convenes community leaders to share best practices and shape the growing EcoDistricts marketplace. More than 60 plenary sessions and panel discussions are carefully curated to introduce conference participants to cutting-edge projects and thought leadership in green buildings, smart infrastructure and community action. For More Information: CLICK HERE

In Brief:  If you're using Twitter for your organization and receive CDBG funding, use the hashtag #wearecdbg to help acknowledge what you're doing and from where you receive part of your funding support.

In Brief:  The TD Charitable Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2013 Housing for Everyone grant competition. A total of $2.5 million will be awarded this year to 25 local non-profit organizations that make a meaningful difference in meeting the affordable housing needs in communities served by TD Bank. Applications will only be accepted through the TD Charitable Foundation's online application system and should be submitted by 4:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday August 30, 2013. Paper applications will not be accepted. The online application and additional information about the Housing for Everyone grant competition are available at www.tdbank.com (click on 'Our Community').

Thank You to our Funders: 

The following organizations awarded grants in July to MACDC:

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
  • MassHousing
  • The Hyams Foundation
  • Bank of America
  • The MetLife Foundation
  • NeighborWorks America
  • Boston Private Bank and Trust

MACDC 2018 Convention Color of Law Book Presentation

October 26th, 2018 by

At MACDC's 2018 Convention, we hosted a Gubernatorial Forum. Both the Democratic candidate, Jay Gonzalez, and the Republican candidate, Charlie Baker, participated. As each candidate wrapped up their portion of the forum, MACDC's President and CEO, Joseph Kriesberg, presented them with a copy of the book The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. Check out this video to see each candidates presentation and acceptance of the book.


Fundraising Opportunities

September 6th, 2018 by

Funder: The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation Grant Title: Going Beyond Health Care: Addressing Social Determinants Through a Cross-Sector Approach Deadline: 9/20/18 Description:  Going Beyond Health Care:  Addressing Social Determinants Through a Cross-Sector Approach provides an initial one year of planning funding to build the capacity and infrastructure for interdisciplinary teams to coordinate in addressing non-clinical and clinical needs for low-income and vulnerable populations across the age spectrum.  The teams will be led by a social service organization, and include health care and other human service organizations that can collaboratively assist individuals and families.  The goal of the grant is to demonstrate that when supported, these teams can devise a means of coordinating services that leads to: 1) increased health care access and improved health status for clients; 2) stabilization or improvement in social needs; 3) cross-sector collaboration; and 4) development of standardized non-clinical and clinical metrics that measure the effect of their efforts..

 

Funder: The Sasaki Foundation Grant Title: Do You Want to Change the World Deadline: 9/4/18 Description:  If you have ideas on how to tackle climate adaptation, housing or transit inequities, or displacement of residents, apply today for one of our resiliency project awards. If you have ideas on how to tackle climate adaptation, housing or transit inequities, or displacement of residents. We will award up to 4 grants of $15,000 each to winning teams.

Funder: TD Charitable Foundation Grant Title: 2017 Housing for Everyone Grants Description: In 2017, the program will support projects/programs that fall within the theme of Affordable Housing for Single Parent Families. Applications must highlight the ways in which funding will create new or preserve existing units of safe, clean, physically accessible affordable rental housing for families headed by a single individual (parent, grandparent, or guardian). Applications need to include details on access to medical and health services; proximity to schools, employment opportunities, day care centers, shopping, community and transportation services; and adaptability to the changing needs of today's modern families. Through the program, twenty-five organizations within TD Bank's corporate footprint from Maine to Florida will each be awarded a $125,000 grant.

Funder: LISC Boston Grant Title: Capacity Building for Economic Resilience Deadline: 8/4/17 Description: Community-based organizations in Massachusetts with proven success developing both affordable housing and economic opportunity programs are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $50,000.

Funder: Bank of America Grant Title: Economic mobility by addressing community development needs Deadline: 5/8/17 - 6/2/17 Description: We are focused on economic mobility by addressing community developed needs through investments such as affordable housing, community revitalization, arts, and the environment.

Funder: Santander Bank Grant Title: Affordable Housing Deadline: Summer; June 2, 2017, Fall; September 8, 2017 Description: September Supporting a range of affordable housing programs from homelessness prevention to home ownership.

Funder: Santander Bank Grant Title: Financial Education Deadline: Summer; June 2, 2017, Fall; September 8, 2017 Description: Promoting financial education with a focus on helping individuals with basic banking and budgeting, and the transition into the workforce or to college.

Funder: Santander Bank Grant Title: Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Deadline: Summer; June 2, 2017, Fall; September 8, 2017 Description: Providing assistance to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs that create and maintain jobs in our neighborhoods

 
Funder: National Endowment for the Arts Grant Title: Challenge America Deadline: April 13, 2017 Description: grants support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Eligible: Tax-exempt nonprofits, tribes and government organizations with a three-year history of programming; other restrictions apply. Awards: $10,000 to $50,000
 

Funder: National Endowment for the Arts Grant Title:  Art Works: Creativity Connects Deadline: May 5, 2017  Description: grants support collaborative, mutually beneficial partnerships between the arts and non-arts sectors, specifically: Agriculture, Business and Economic Development, Science, Technology, Healthcare, Community Education, Environment, Military, and Transportation. Eligible: Tax-exempt nonprofits, tribes and government organizations with a three-year history of programming; other restrictions apply. Awards: $20,000 to $100,000

 

FunderSantander Bank Deadline: February 17, 2017 Description: Grants will be awarded to eligible 501c3 nonprofits in the following focus areas Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization; Financial Education and Affordable Housing. Awards: $10,000 to $100,000

Funder: Mass Cultural Council Grant Title: Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund Deadline: January 13, 2017 Description: The Cultural Facilities Fund supports capital projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit their website.

Funder: Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation Grant Title: Kuehn Planning Grants Description: The Kuehn Planning Grants of up to $15,000 each will be awarded to organizations for costs associated with affordable housing or economic development projects. There will be a preference for projects undertaken by small, community-based organizations, as well as mixed-use and/or mixed-income projects incorporating historic preservation, projects serving low- and moderate-income artists, supportive housing for vulnerable families and individuals, and smaller scale projects. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit their website.

Funder: Department of Health and Human Services Grant Title: Community Economic Development Healthy Food Financing Initiative Projects  Dealine: April 28, 2017 Description: For FY 2017, the Office of Community Services (OCS) will award approximately $9.5 million in CED discretionary grant funds to CDCs for community-based efforts to improve the economic and physical health of people in areas designated as food deserts or where applicants can point to indicators of need, such as poor access to a healthy food retail outlet, a high percentage of individuals with low-income, incidence of diet-related health conditions, or high concentrations of persons eligible for food assistance programs. Through the Community Economic Development (CED) program and within the framework of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), OCS seeks to fund projects that implement strategies to increase healthy food access, foster self-sufficiency for individuals and families with low-income, and create sustained employment opportunities in communities with low-incomes. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit their website.

Funder: Department of Health and Human Services Grant Title: Community Economic Development Projects  Dealine: April 28, 2017 Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) will award approximately $17.7 million in Community Economic Development (CED) discretionary grant funds to Community Development Corporations (CDC) for well-planned, financially viable, and innovative projects to enhance job creation and business development for individuals with low-income . CED grants will be made as part of a broader strategy to address objectives such as decreasing dependency on federal programs, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas. CED projects are expected to actively recruit individuals with low-income to fill the positions created by CED-funded development activities, to assist those individuals to successfully hold those jobs and to ensure that the businesses and jobs created remain viable for at least one year after the end of the grant period. CED-funded projects can be non-construction or construction projects, however, short-term construction jobs associated with preparing for business startup or expansion are not counted when determining the number of jobs created under the CED program as they are designed to be temporary in nature. OCS is encouraging applications from CDCs to target rural areas and underserved areas in states without current projects. Furthermore, OCS is encouraging projects that align with the Promise Zones Initiative or Choice Neighborhoods Program. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit their website.

Funder: NeighborWorks and Enterprise Grant Title: Health Outcomes Demonstration  Dealine: Sep. 30, 2016 Description: The demonstration project will enable 20 selected affordable housing and community development organizations (10 NeighborWorks Organizations and 10 Enterprise partner organizations) to complete a health outcome evaluation of one of their projects, programs or set of programs. This is an exciting opportunity to build your organization’s measurement and evaluation capacity, demonstrate the health outcomes of your work and participate in a national cohort demonstrating affordable housing and community development’s contributions to improved health outcomes. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit the Foundation’s website.

Funder: United Way and Boston College School of Social Work Grant Title: If Challenge Dealine: Sep. 14, 2016 Description: This grant one-time capital expenses that directly enhance a nonprofit organization's ability to serve its clients and achieve its mission. Grants may be used for such purposes as facility improvements, vehicles, equipment purchases, and other non-expendable assets. The Foundation targets this assistance to nonprofit organizations that would otherwise find it difficult, if not impossible, to meet this type of need through their operating budgets. Agencies must have annual operating budgets of approximately $5M or less and serve people in Greater Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn and/or New Bedford. The next application deadline is Wednesday, September 14, 2016. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit the Foundation’s website.

Funder: The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation Grant Title: Small Capital Grants Program Dealine: Sep. 14, 2016 Description: This grant one-time capital expenses that directly enhance a nonprofit organization's ability to serve its clients and achieve its mission. Grants may be used for such purposes as facility improvements, vehicles, equipment purchases, and other non-expendable assets. The Foundation targets this assistance to nonprofit organizations that would otherwise find it difficult, if not impossible, to meet this type of need through their operating budgets. Agencies must have annual operating budgets of approximately $5M or less and serve people in Greater Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn and/or New Bedford. The next application deadline is Wednesday, September 14, 2016. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements, please visit the Foundation’s website.


Funder: LISC Boston Grant Title: Green Retrofit Initiative Dealine: Aug. 31, 2016 Description: With a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, LISC Boston’s Green Retrofit Initiative will provide two statewide funding opportunities for multifamily affordable housing owners. LISC will offer up to 24 Comprehensive Energy Audits at no cost for multifamily affordable housing projects approaching rehab to help owners achieve deep energy savings and integrate renewable energy technologies.  Applications for these audits are open and will be considered on a rolling basis with audits expected to begin in September. Submit an application ASAP if interested.


Funder: The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Grant Title: Massachusetts Food Venture Program Dealine: Aug. 12, 2016 Description: The grants will support the implementation of projects that increase access to Massachusetts grown, caught, or harvested healthy food and to improve economic opportunities for low to moderate income communities.  Funding through the Massachusetts Food Ventures Program is available through reimbursement grants of up to $250,000. Link: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/agr/urban/mdar-fy2017-food-ventures-program-rfr.pdf


Funder: TD Charitable Foundation Grant Title: 2016 Housing for Everyone Grants Description: Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to projects/programs that fall within the theme of Affordable Housing for Single Parent Families. Link: http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps/rfp6816-td-charitable-foundation-invites-applications-for-2016-housing-for-everyone-grants?utm_campaign=rfps%7C2016-07-08&utm_source=pnd&utm_medium=email


Funder: Environmental Protection Agency Grant Title: FY17 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Deadline: Aug 10, 2016  Description: This notice announces the availability of EPA grant funds under § 104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). EPA isauthorized to fund research, technical assistance and/or training activities that facilitate theinventory of brownfields, site assessments, remediation of brownfields sites, communityinvolvement or site preparation. This request for proposals (RFP) solicits proposals from eligibleentities to conduct research and/or technical assistance activities that culminate in an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse. Grant-funded activities must be directed to one or more catalyst, high priority brownfield site(s) located within a specific project area, such as a neighborhood, downtown, business or arts district, a local commercial or industrial corridor, a community waterfront, one or more city blocks, etc. Each recipient that receives a grant under this funding opportunity must develop an area-wide plan for the brownfield(s) within the project area, and include in that plan specific implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up and reusing the brownfield(s) and related project area revitalization strategies.  Link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=284511


Funder: TD Charitable Foundation Grant Title: Nonprofit Training Research Fund Description: Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to community-based organizations wishing to send one or more employees to an approved class/course that will enhance their job performance.  Link: https://www.tdbank.com/net/selectstate.aspx?ref=/community/training_resource_fund_guidelines.html


Funder: Funders' Network for Smart Growth, Urban Sustainability Directors Network Deadline: July 25, 2016 Grant Title: Round Nine of Partners for Places Description: Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties in the United States and Canada to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. Through these projects, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our urban areas more prosperous, livable, and vibrant. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. Link: http://www.fundersnetwork.org/partnersforplaces


Funder: The National Endowment for the Arts Deadline: Sepember 12, 2016 Grant Title: Our Town Description: The Our Town grant program supports creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. This funding supports local efforts to enhance quality of life and opportunity for existing residents, increase creative activity, and create a distinct sense of place.  


Funder: Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation Deadline: June 17, 2016 Grant Title: Small Business Assistance Grant Program Description: MGCC is seeking proposals for technical assistance and training grants to assist small businesses located in Gateway cities and other underserved communities in Massachusetts. MGCC will accept applications from not-for-profit organizations that currently provide technical assistance and training programs to small businesses and start-ups with an emphasis on underserved businesses and entrepreneurs. These grants are intended to supplement the organization’s current and anticipated funding and not to be the primary funding support. Link: http://www.massgcc.com/

Funder: The Kresge Foundation Grant Title: Harvesting Leading Practices Description: "We seek to learn how and under what conditions creative placemaking contributes to neighborhood revitalization. We are interested in the economic, physical, social and cultural changes associated with creative placemaking and in gathering data about its impact." Link: http://kresge.org/programs/arts-culture/harvesting-leading-practices
 

Funder: Department of Housing and Urban Development Deadline: 4/04/2016 Grant Title:  Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Department's Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 Comprehensive Housing Counseling Grant Program Description: All housing counseling agencies (including LHCAs, Intermediaries and MSOs) that are directly approved by HUD to participate in the HUD Housing Counseling Program prior to the NOFA issue date and SHFAs are eligible for this NOFA. Housing Counseling agencies that have not received HUD approval but meet the Housing Counseling Program approval criteria at 24 C.F.R. § 214.103 are encouraged to affiliate with a HUD-approved Intermediary or SHFA. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.  Link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281614
 

Funder: Administration for Children & Families Deadline: 4/27/2016 Grant Title:  Community Economic Development Healthy Food Financing Initiative Projects Description: The Office of Community Services seeks innovative strategies for increasing healthy food access while achieving sustainable employment and business opportunities for individuals who have low income. Eligible: Community Development Corporations Awards: $100,000 to $800,000 Link:http://tinyurl.com/mmgkh5c


Citizens Bankin partnership with NECN - 2016 Champions in Action Program - $35,000 in unrestricted grants, click here for more information.


The Home Depot Foundation’s (THDF) Veteran Housing Grants Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations for the development and repair of veterans housing. Awards typically range from $100,000 to $500,000.

Eligible Projects

  • New construction, rehab or repair, single family or multifamily, permanent supportive housing or transitional housing.
  • Grants are awarded solely for the physical construction or repair of housing for veterans (hard costs). THDF does not provide funding for soft costs, such as furnishings, rental subsidies, tenant services, etc.
  • Target population of veterans, at or below 80% AMI.
  • Projects in which at least 20% of the units are reserved for veterans.
  • All veterans served are honorably discharged.
  • Project will commence within the next twelve months.
  • THDF grant funding must comprise less than 50% of the total development cost of the project.
  • 75% of the project’s funding sources have been identified at the time of proposal submission.
  • The amount of funding requested does not exceed $25,000 per veteran unit.
  • For multifamily rental projects, proposals requesting above $100,000 must provide evidence of a third party binding agreement that ensures the units are a.) reserved for veterans; b.) occupied by veterans for a minimum of 15 years for rental or 3 years for homeownership ( i.e. project-based HUDVASH, other funder requirement, deed restriction, zoning requirement, etc.).

Eligible Applicants

  • Grants are only awarded to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that have been in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service for at least 5 years.
  • Organizations with a current operating budget of at least $300,000 and audited financial statements from the past three years.
  • Organizations with previous experience developing, and either currently manage or own, veteran specific housing.
  • For rental projects, nonprofit must have a 15+ year ownership stake in the development.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Announces 2016 CommunityWINS Grant Program

  • Wells Fargo Bank and the Wells Fargo Foundation are teaming up with the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) to offer the CommunityWINSSM(Working/Investing in Neighborhood Stabilization) Grant Program.
  • CommunityWINSSM will be administered by USCM with the goal of awarding $3 million over three years, to support local nonprofits in promoting long-term economic prosperity and quality of life for their community.
  • Check out the RFP

Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation Targeted Grants - Each year, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation provides more than $1,500,000 of support in grants to community-based organizations working for progress on a specific issue or set of issues facing our communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, within the Eastern Bank footprint.  Grants to these organizations are referred to as Targeted Grants.  They are intended to support programming that strengthens our communities and enhance the lives of our neighbors in specific and impactful ways.

For 2016, the Targeted Grant category of the Eastern Bank Charitable will be:

Strengthening Families: There is nothing more basic than the family unit. The award winning television series, Modern Family has humorously helped America understand that families come in many different forms. But regardless of the makeup of the family unit, we can all agree that the fundamental essence of a family is a group of people who nurture one another with love and compassion and share a mutual commitment to each other.

And yet, despite our best intention, a myriad of factors can influence a family’s equilibrium. Some factors are political, some are societal, some are geographic, some are medical and some are environmental. All of them can catastrophically impact the family.

For 2016, our Targeted Grant program will support organizations that help build strength in families and work to assist the family in enduring a crisis and regaining their resiliency.

Programs we anticipate to support, but are not limited to, include:

Chronic disease: Programs that address the household environmental causes of disease. Programs that support family members when chronic or terminal disease strikes.
Counseling for families: Support for community counseling programs.
Grandparents Raising Children: Programs that support grandparents raising their children’s children.
Military Families: Programs that support families during deployment. Programs that support the family as their veteran returns to civilian life. Programs that work to help members of the military find meaningful work. Programs that support higher education for veterans.
Opiate addiction: Programs addressing the opiate addiction crisis. Programs offering support and solutions when addiction impacts their family.
Physically- and intellectually-challenged family members: Programs that provide services when a family member is physically- or intellectuallychallenged. Respite programs for family members.
Single Parents: Programs offering support and education for single parent households. 
Undocumented Families:Programs addressing issues related to undocumented family members. This may include programs focusing on the impact of detention and deportation, restrictions on obtaining higher education, and refugee and asylum issues.

For additional information please go to: www.easternbank.com/foundation


Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants - HUD funding for communities with severely distressed public or HUD-assisted housing top develop neighborhood transformation plans. Feb 9 deadline.


Gender/Racial/Economic Justice grants - Open Meadows Foundation grants for projects led by and benefiting women in vulnerable communities. Feb 15 deadline for cycle 1.


Veterans Housing Grants - Home Depot Foundation, Feb 27 and June 23 deadlines.


Fund for a Just Society - Unitarian Universalist funding for community organizing to bring about systematic change. Mar 15 and Sept 15 deadlines.


NEA Challenge America - National Endowment for the Arts funding for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development projects. Apr 14 deadline.


Financial Literacy Funding - Discover Foundation. Applications accepted year-round.


Rural Business Enterprise Grant Programs - Department of Agriculture. Supports targeted TA, training, and other assistance for small and emerging private businesses. Rolling deadlines.


Bank of America Charitable Foundation - Workforce development and education, apply Jan 19-Feb 12; Community development, apply Apr 19-May 6; Basic needs, apply July 18-Aug 5.


Thriving Cultures Grants - The Surdna Foundation supports efforts that provide artists with business training and financial resources to be valuable economic assets for their communities. 


Funding and Design Assistance for Rural Communities - The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design helps small towns and rural communities solve design-related challenges, from Main Street revitalization to art-based community development. 


Check out the Robinson + Cole Green Tax Incentive Compendium.


Invest in your organization by investing in your employees' health and well-being!  We are excited to share an opportunity for Massachusetts employers to participate in Working on Wellness, a new comprehensive statewide worksite wellness initiative. The goal of Working on Wellness is to support Massachusetts employers in creating healthy. By developing worksite wellness programs, organizations can promote a culture of health that allows employees to focus on wellness and reduce their risk for chronic health conditions. Your organization may also benefit from worksite wellness programs through lower insurance and workers compensation costs, increased employee productivity, and decreased employee absenteeism. LEARN MORE


ArtPlace America: Call for Proposals - ArtPlace is calling for applications for $10.5 million to fund projects that work with artists and arts organizations help build stronger, healthier communities anywhere in the United States. LEARN MORE


Advancing Accountable Health Communities: A New Funding Opportunity to Spur Clinical and Community Partnerships - The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) recently announced a new $157 million funding opportunity, the Accountable Health Community Model (AHC) to better bridge clinical care and social services. READ MORE


Funder: US Department of Agriculture Deadline: Rolling Description: We currently have a Section 6025 initiative which has set aside funding for regional projects that are part of an established plan. Visit US Agriculture's website


Funder: Health Resources in Action Deadline: Rolling DescriptionInvest in your organization by investing in your employees' health and well-being! New opportunity for Massachusetts employers to participate in Working on Wellness, a comprehensive statewide worksite wellness initiative. The goal of Working on Wellness is to support Massachusetts employers in creating healthy. By developing worksite wellness programs, organizations can promote a culture of health that allows employees to focus on wellness and reduce their risk for chronic health conditions. Your organization may also benefit from worksite wellness programs through lower insurance and workers compensation costs, increased employee productivity, and decreased employee absenteeism. Working on Wellness started accepting applications for their 2nd cohort on January 4th. Visit www.MAWOW.org for more information, to register for an upcoming webinar and to learn how to apply for this exciting new opportunity! 


Funder:  InvestHealth  Deadline:  January 29, 2016  Invest Health Now Accepting Letters of Intent - Invest Health, a pioneering, multi-sector initiative to improve health in mid-sized cities across the country, has released a Call for Proposals. The initiative, a partnership of The Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), will work to fully incorporate health outcomes into community development activity and fundamentally change how we revitalize neighborhoods across the country.


Funder:  Environmental Protection Agency Deadline: 2/12/2016 Grant Title: Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Description: Supports community-based collaborations to develop/implement solutions that address environment and public health issues at the local level. Organizations are encouraged to have a connection between the proposed project activities and applicable neighborhood, local, city or regional land use planning efforts. Eligible: Tribal governments and nonprofits Awards: Up to $120,000 Link: http://tinyurl.com/o5dfqac


Funder: BCBS Massachusetts Foundation Deadline: Rolling Grant Title: Catalyst Fund Description: Examples of supported activities: hiring a grant writer, technology enhancements (AEDs are not eligible), hosting community meetings for stakeholders and constituents, engaging in leadership development opportunities for staff or board members, and marketing or outreach materials. Requests for other types of capacity-building activities will be considered. Eligible: Massachusetts community health centers, clinics, mobile health units, and community-based organizations. Awards: One-year, non-renewable grants of up to $5,000. Link: http://tinyurl.com/lds6boy


Kresge Arts & Culture, Health teams launch food-oriFunder: BCBS Massachusetts Foundation Deadline: Rolling Grant Title: Catalyst Fund Description: Examples of supported activities: hiring a grant writer, technology enhancements (AEDs are not eligible), hosting community meetings for stakeholders and constituents, engaging in leadership development opportunities for staff or board members, and marketing or outreach materials. Requests for other types of capacity-building activities will be considered. Eligible: Massachusetts community health centers, clinics, mobile health units, and community-based organizations. Awards: One-year, non-renewable grants of up to $5,000. Link: http://tinyurl.com/lds6boyented grant opportunity"Fresh, Local & Equitable" initiative seeks to foster economic vitality, cultural expression in low-income communities - Kresge will award up to 20 planning grants of up to $75,000 each in the first quarter of 2016 as part of the initiative. Organizations and collaborations that lead food-oriented development initiatives in economically distressed urban neighborhoods are eligible. Planning grants can last up to 12 months. Recipients will participate in a national learning network and also have the opportunity to apply for implementation grants. Read more


Santander Bank 2015 Financial Education Grant Opportunity - Santander Bank focuses its charitable contributions in four main areas: Housing, Health, Education and Neighborhood / Financial Stability. Santander Bank is making approximately $1 million in funding available focused on improving financial outcomes among low-income adults, with a special focus on young adults age 16- 24, within its footprint. Grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000 for a one year period, with an opportunity to renew funding in 2016. LEARN MORE


Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2016 Call for Applications Now Open: Up to 10 winning communities will each receive a $25,000 cash prize and have their success stories celebrated and shared broadly to inspire locally-driven change across the nation. Applications will be accepted August 10, 2015 through November 12, 2015 at 3pm ET. Communities should understand they are applying for a prize and not a grant. The Prize recognizes work that has already been accomplished.


Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation Deadline: 11/1/2015 Grant Title: Art & Social Justice Description: Grants to catalyze collective action, promote equality, contribute to advocacy and policy change and develop capacity for greater civic engagement.  The Foundation is also interested in supporting organizations outside of the arts whose programs seek to engage communities through cultural activities.. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits Awards: $2,500 to $100,000 Link: http://tinyurl.com/qf8bdau


Cultural Facilities Fund Grants Now Available. These funds will allow the Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment to support capital projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences that expand access and education; create jobs in construction and cultural tourism; and improve the quality of life in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Deadlines vary – details at http://tinyurl.com/p8lt4rn


Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation Deadline: 10/15/2015 Grant Title: Small capital Grants Description: Grants support one-time capital expenses that directly enhance a nonprofit organization’s ability to serve its clients and achieve its mission. Examples: facility improvements, vehicles, equipment purchases, and other non-expendable assets. The Foundation targets this assistance to nonprofits that would otherwise find it difficult, if not impossible, to meet this type of need through their operating budgets. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits with annual budgets of $3M or less. Awards: $5,000 to $50,000 Link: http://tinyurl.com/q5cmnn2


Bank of America Foundation Deadline: Rolling Funding Focus: Community development, education/workforce development and critical needs. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits in specific markets Awards: Not specified Link: http://tinyurl.com/nm3ww7q


Nonprofit Finance Fund Deadline: 11/18/2015 Grant Title: Catalyst Fund for Nonprofits Description: The Catalyst Fund is a source of financial and technical advisory support as a catalyst for promising voluntary collaborative ventures and mergers among nonprofit organizations. The Fund is currently focused on supporting Boston area collaborations in the following mission areas:  arts & culture, community development, human services, and youth development. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits. The boards of all participating nonprofits must be in communication and have passed a resolution identifying their potential partner(s), and the proposed collaborative venture must meet the definition of collaboration noted on the Catalyst Fund website. Awards: Catalyst Fund financial support ("in the tens of thousands of dollars") will be deployed on behalf of participating nonprofits to pay for services delivered by their preferred technical assistance provider. In certain instances, the Catalyst Fund may elect to provide financing directly to the collaborating nonprofits to support the implementation of a formally agreed collaboration. Link: http://tinyurl.com/q54bg3g


Surdna Foundation Deadline: Rolling; Letter of Inquiry  Funding Focus: The Foundation seeks to foster sustainable communities in US communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies and thriving cultures. We seek to dismantle the structural barriers that limit opportunity for many, helping to create communities that are prosperous, culturally enriching, and sustainable. How to Apply: The Foundation makes both project and general support grant after staff review of Letters of Inquiry. Full proposals are requested by staff and reviewed by the Foundation’s board of directors in March, July, or December. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits, including fiscal agentsAwards: Not specified Link: http://tinyurl.com/ovf9jrk


CITC NOFA Released by DHCD:  Remaining credits for 2015 will be available to all certified CDCs seeking a first-time credit allocation and any 2015 Community Partner (CDCs only) in receipt of less than the maximum allowable allocation amount in 2015 ($150,000) and seeking additional credits.  DOWNLOAD (Word document). DUE: September 22, 2015


Learn more about the Heart of the Community grant program offered by the Project for Public Spaces.


DEADLINE EXTENDED - 13A Tenant Outreach Program - REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS - Issued by CEDAC

Please be advised that the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) is re-posting the attached RFQ and extending the deadline for responses to 5:00PM EST, September 11, 2015. Please see amended RFQ for an updated timeline of submissions and awards.

The Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) seeks qualified organizations and individuals to provide tenant outreach services for tenants currently residing at expiring use 13A properties. This Tenant Outreach Program (TOP) will provide information to tenants at all expiring use 13A developments. CLICK HERE to learn more (PDF).  


Federal Reserve Bank of Boston announces second round of Working Cities Challenge for Massachusetts cities

Collaborative leaders in eligible Massachusetts cities are invited to form cross-sector teams to compete in the Working Cities Challenge. The Challenge is a competition designed to lead smaller cities in Massachusetts through a rigorous process that builds cross-sector collaboration and leadership to solve issues impacting the lives of low-income residents. The second round features $15,000 design grants for select teams; after a six-month planning period, design grantees may then compete for three-year implementation prizes (amount TBD, but expected to be in the $300-500,0000 range).Teams that wish to apply must express their interest by 9/11/15; applications are due on 9/30/15, and only one per eligible city will be accepted. More details are available at: http://www.bostonfed.org/WorkingCities/Round2.


State Farm Foundation: Grants
State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education). Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: US 501c3 nonprofits, Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and government entities. Deadline: October 31, 2015.


TD Charitable Foundation Deadline: 9/4/2015 Grant Title: Housing for Everyone Funding Goals: To create new units focused on the needs of the elderly; including access to medical and health services or programs; proximity to shopping, community and transportation services; and adaptability to the changing needs of aging populations. Eligible: Nonprofits Awards: $100,000 Link: http://tinyurl.com/3ajrcj8


George B. Henderson Foundation Invites Applications for Boston Beautification Projects:  The George B. Henderson Foundation is dedicated solely to the enhancement of the physical appearance of the City of Boston. To that end, the foundation awards grants in support of  projects that improve the visual environment of city parks, streets, buildings, monuments, and architectural and sculptural works. Each project must be visible by the public, preferably from a public way. If funds are expended for work on building interiors, the building must be open to the public a reasonable number of days annually. Priority will be given to projects with the potential for the most significant and lasting enhancement of the physical appearance of the City of Boston.


Funder: Tufts Foundation  Deadline: July 20, 2015 Grant Title: Systems and Best Practices Description: The Tufts Health Plan Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in their work to improve systems and best practices that influence and ultimately result in healthy communities and age-friendly cities. The Foundation will fund activities in Health and Wellness, Workforce Development, Purposeful Engagement, and Field and Capacity Building that will: Improve or build systems to support healthy living with an emphasis on the systems that are serving older adults. Bring organizations together to collaboratively achieve broader impact and change, Scale efforts to address community needs Link: http://tinyurl.com/p6cuhpb


Funder: National Endowment for the Arts Deadline: September 21, 2015 Grant Title: Our Town Description: Supports creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. Our Town 1) arts engagement, cultural planning and design projects that represent the distinct character and quality of their communities; and 2) projects that build knowledge about creative placemaking. Eligible: Governments, higher education and nonprofits Awards: $25,000 to $200,000 Link: http://tinyurl.com/lgttb4w


The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) is pleased to announce that it is accepting grant applications for participation in the Fiscal Year 2016 (July 2015 – June 2016) Small Business Assistance Grant Program.  MGCC is seeking proposals for technical assistance and training grants to assist small businesses located in Gateway cities and other underserved communities in Massachusetts.  Grants are subject to state funding. CLICK HERE for RFP.


Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation Deadlines: July 1, 2015 Grant Title: Mid-Size Capital Grants Funding Priorities Funds requested must be for a game-changing physical asset that will permanently enhance an agency’s service delivery potential, either by enabling it to serve significantly more clients, provide new and vitally important services, or improve the quality of its existing programs in deep and lasting ways. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits that are well-led, can point to significant accomplishments, and have a mission that is clearly aligned with that of the Smith Family Foundation  Awards: $250,000 to $3 million. Link: http://tinyurl.com/q9cdez2


Social Venture Partners is looking for nonprofits wanting to try a different kind of funding relationship. The organizations they fund are ready to take their vital work to the next level and are committed to the hard work of building their organizations. They relish the counsel of SVP Boston and working collaboratively with our Partners.

SVP Offers

•  Its Partners: Skilled volunteers who will help build your organization’s capacity in the areas that will help you reach your full potential.

•  Three years of general operating support, allocated to the areas you determine will best support your organizational development.

•  Tools to assess your organizational capacity – human resources, communications, board governance, financial management, and other systems.

•  A commitment to working in partnership.

Applicants Provide

•  A willingness to share openly what’s holding your organization back. Once the cards are on the table, we can get to work – together.

•  Flexibility and openness to working with SVP Partners who have busy schedules and varied professional backgrounds.

•  A commitment to talking to us when something’s not working for you. That may be uncomfortable, but our best results come from honest relationships.

•  An annual work plan and progress report that outlines the capacity building areas on which you are focused, how they relate to your mission, and what you have achieved at the end of each year.

For Application Instructions, Visit http://tinyurl.com/puh2gnd


Apply now to Small Business Administration's Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) grant! Community development organizations who are able to provide a 50% match are eligible for up to $250,000 to put towards training, capacity building, and technical assistance programs. Applications will be accepted until June 29, 2015.


Apply now for the Ben & Jerry's Foundation grant for community organizing. This grant provides up to $15,000 to organizations to provide resources to community groups helping to further further social justice and produce sustainable food systems. 


Interested in preserving play spaces? Apply now to the Keen Effect funding opportunity, providing $10,000 to nonprofit organizations with projects dedicated to responsible outdoor participation.  They're receiving applications now and finalists will be announced by September 26, 2015, National Public Lands Day.


Housing and Urban Development is currently offering a total of $3.5 million for up to 60 organizations for their Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program. This funding will go to support agencies with programs providing counsel around housing and homeownership. Apply before May 7th!


Apply by April 30th for the Region One New England Healthy Communities Grant funded by the Environmental Protection Agency!  For this $600,000 grant, three awards will be chosen that increase collaborations with community partners, decrease environmental and health risks, and establish emergency preparedness.


Harvesting Leading Practices is a new grant offered by The Kresge Foundation providing funding for local programs geared towards provided resources and guides for those pursuing creative placemaking in their communities. This grant is available to all non profits not considered private foundations and has an open deadline. READ MORE & APPLY


Apply now for Clipper Ship Foundation grants for up to $20,000 in funding to help poor and sick residents in Boston, Brockton and Lawrence.  These grants are available to 501c3 nonprofits that currently operate with less than $5 million a year and work with children, elders, new immigrant populations, the homeless, people with disabilities or low-income communities.


Boost your grant-seeking capacity for only $75/year (reg. $699/year). MACDC members get full access to GrantStation, an online resource that aids nonprofits in identifying and securing funding sources, and coaches them through the process. Take the free webinar March 20 at 2:00 pm (Eastern Time) to learn how to use GrantStation to identify and secure grants. REGISTER NOW


It's time to apply for the Adams Art Program Grant! This amazing program has provided over $9 million over the past ten years to Massachusetts initiatives dedicated to revitalizing communities, growing creative industries, creating jobs, and increasing engagement in cultural activities. With matched grants, these projects have led to over $38 million in investment to Massachusetts creatives over the past 10 years!
 
Register now for the March 25th Adams Art Program Webinar for more information on how to apply for the grant! Then submit your online application by May 7th for a chance to be selected.

Wells Fargo NEXT Awards are providing funding for CDFIs committed to producing new strategies for  low-income and low-wealth communities. Apply by March 2, 2015 for one of the three NEXT Awards: the NEXT Opportunity Award, the NEXT Seed Capital Award, and the NEXT Seed Capital Award for Savings Innovation!


Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is providing funding for their new initiative Spreading Community Accelerators through Learning and Evaluation (SCALE). This initiative would allow collaborative organizations to bring refreshing alternatives to community health awareness. To find out if your organization is eligible, READ MORE. Apply by March 4th!


The Home Depot Foundation is now offering Community Impact Grants to organizations whom heavily rely on volunteers to improve the physical health of those in their communities. These $5000 grants are in the form of Home Depot gift cards which can be used for tools, services or materials. Apply by September 1st!


Haven't heard about HUD’s $76 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant?  Apply by February 9th to support the development work in your neighborhood!


The Walmart Foundation is now providing grants for organizations providing hunger relief or healthy eating programs. This State Giving Program is providing grants on a rolling deadline of May 1st, July 17th, and September 18th.


USDA is now offering funding to connect rural communities with broadband service. Apply for the Community Connect Grant Program before it’s too late!  Applications will be accepted until February 17th.


HUD’s Choice Neighborhood Implementation grants now provide $76 million to qualified neighborhoods. Apply by February 9th!


Is your organization looking to provide skills and guidance to low-income tax payers? If so, the CFED Taxpayer Opportunity Network is looking to provide resources for your programs.


Looking for a grant to promote safe neighborhood work? The Trustees of the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation is now providing $1 million in grants for work towards violence prevention in eastern Massachusetts.  Apply before March 2nd, 2015!


Apply now for Preservation Massachusetts Predevelopment Loan Fund.  The Predevelopment Loan Fund offers loans between $25,000 and $75,000 for up to 5 recipients per year.  The loan will allow for a new source of predevelopment preservation funding for buildings that are eligible or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. READ MORE


The BUILD Health Challenge is currently offering grants and loans to up to 14 organizations to help foster collaborations for improving health in low-income communities.  These collaborations are specifically for low-income communities in cities with populations greater than 150,000. Apply by January 16, 2015!


The Tufts Health Plan Foundation is now accepting grant applications for activities that aid older adults who are economically and socially at-risk.  Massachusetts and Rhode Island non-profit organizations are eligible for the grant.  Apply before January 20, 2015!


CDCs, Colleges, and other non-profit organizations are now encouraged to participate in the Innovation Mentoring Initiative.  Grantees will receive up to $50,000 to form innovative mentorship opportunities for underserved populations.  Submissions will be accepted on a rolling deadline through June 30, 2016.


Citizens Bank is now offering grants for up to $50,000 to community organizations invested in providing financial readiness courses.  Eligible financial readiness courses encompass the following topics: budgeting, foreclosure prevention, homeownership counseling, credit management, asset building and the basics of banking, and financial management for small businesses.  Applications for these grants are due by January 30, 2015. LEARN MORE


The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), in partnership with JP Morgan Chase, is now offering $20,000 grants for organizations interested in their “Community Financial Empowerment Learning Partnership”. This 18-month program offers community organizations the opportunity to learn more about expanding their services and building capacity in their field. The program runs from April 2015- September 2016, and proposals should be submitted no later than Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 5:00pm PT. LEARN MORE


Liberty Mutual Foundation – 12/22/2015

Funding Priorities: homeless youth and increased coordination. Applicants may find solutions by working across education, workforce development, housing, health care, feeding programs, youth development, arts and culture – or by focusing on a single area. Funder seeks asset-based solutions that empower and nurture youth. Eligible: 501c3 nonprofits located, and providing services, in Boston. Funding: Average grant: $40,000. Link: http://tinyurl.com/kmgc63n


Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund – 2/1/2015 and 7/1/2015

Funding Priorities: health (human and animal), visual arts, land conservation and historic preservation. The Fund also makes grants in support of capital projects. Eligible: 501c3 social service and youth service organizations in Massachusetts only. Funding: Not specified. Link:http://tinyurl.com/mmrm5em


TD Green Streets is a new collaborative program with TD Bank and the Arbor Day Foundation that will provide 10 grants, each $20,000.  These grants will be provided for trees, tree planting, and tree maintenance in low to moderate-income communities.  Opportunity available to current Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA -designated communities.


USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants

$10,000 to $500,000 grants are available for small rural businesses and adult education programs related to employment in rural areas.  Rolling deadline.


Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence

Every two years, the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence honors urban places with innovative and well-crafted design.  One $50,000 award and four $10,000 awards will be granted.  Deadline for applications are due by December 9, 2014.


Black Rock Arts Foundation Civic Arts Projects

This funding opportunity provides support for interactive art that is community-driven and collaborative in nature.  This interactive artwork should be open to the public and entice viewers toward action or involvement in the piece.  Funding for these projects ranges anywhere from $500 to $10,000.  Deadline for applications is December 1, 2014.


Artists Engaging in Social Change: Request for Proposals

One to two year funding is now available for projects aiming to use artwork to strengthen and reflect communities.  Both individuals and 501(c)(3) organizations are open to apply.  Deadline for applications is November 12, 2014.


USDA Rural Community Development Initiative

The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) has over $5,000,000 in funding for intermediary organizations aiming to provide or assist in housing, economic development, and community facilities and developments.  All grant funding must be matched by intermediary organizations.  Deadline for applications is November 12, 2014.


DHCD has issued a NOFA for supportive housing under the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund (HPSTF):  CLICK HERE to download PDF

  • Please note the timelines are very tight, and that the awards are dependent upon final passage and signing of the supplemental budget.

Health Starts At Home - The deadline for applications is December 12, 2014:

The Boston Foundation (TBF) is holding a grant competition, Health Starts at Home,to bring housing and health related organizations together to address the negative impact that a lack of stable, affordable housing has on children’s health outcomes. Winners of the competition will receive nine month planning grants from TBF to formulate and hone their partnership and proposed program to address health and housing instability in children.


Resident volunteers, neighborhood groups and associations run by volunteers in the Dudley Street Neighborhood are encouraged to apply for the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation Small Grants Fund.  These small grants, totaling up to $5000 per project, allow community volunteers to create education and engagement oriented programs for strengthening families in the Roxbury  and Dorchester community.  Applications are due by October 30th, 2014.


STATE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS
With plans to spark redevelopment by creating a "critical mass of activities" in certain urban districts, state officials are soliciting nominations from municipal officials and private sector partners in gateway cities. MassDevelopment on Wednesday announced its invitation for development district nominations, saying assistance is available under a Transformative Development Fund created as part of economic development legislation signed in August by Gov. Deval Patrick. Economic development over the years has been slow to come in many former industrial cities in Massachusetts where jobless rates have historically been higher than in the Greater Boston area. In a statement, state Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki said the initiative was "part of our overall strategy to transform these communities into great places to live, work, and play." A related TDI Cowork Grant Program provides up to $2 million in matching grants to for-profit and nonprofit entities that will own, sponsor, or operate collaborative workspaces. Under a pilot program, MassDevelopment is also seeking economic development fellows to work in designated gateway cities.  CLICK  HERE to learn more.


The Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund has renewed their Grant for another year!  Overseen by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment, this grant funds projects towards construction and real estate development.  See more about the application process here.


ArtPlace America is currently accepting Letters of Inquiry for the 2015 round of its National Grants Program.  Since 2011, ArtPlace has contributed $56.8 million to 189 projects across 42 states and the District of Columbia. This year ArtPlace intends to support approximately 40 projects with roughly $10 million. These grants target creative placemaking projects, in which art and culture help strengthen the social, physical, and economic fabric of communities. Any individual or organization within the United States or U.S. Territories is eligible to apply. For more information or to submit an application, please visit www.ArtPlaceAmerica.org/LOI. The submission deadline is November 3rd at 3:59pm EST.


BACH releases new RFP for organizations in Boston.  


Transformative Development Initiative (TDI): Cowork

Collaborative Workspace Grant Program

Growing communities of entrepreneurs in Gateway Cities can now apply for grants for collaborative workspaces from the Transformative Development Fund, which the Commonwealth created through the economic development legislation that Governor Patrick signed into law on August 13. MassDevelopment is rolling out this first component of the Fund as part of the new Transformative Development Initiative (TDI).

The TDI Cowork grant program will provide up to $2 million in matching grants to for-profit and nonprofit entities that will own, sponsor, or operate collaborative workspaces - shared communities that promote innovation, creativity, and interaction - for building improvements, fit-out, and/or procuring equipment that collaborative workspace participants will utilize. This grant program can support the creation of spaces and the expansion of existing ones.

Applicats can apply for two types of grants. Proposals for Fit-out Grants, which MassDevelopment will accept on a rolling basis through January 16, 2015, will apply to construction, improvements, or equipment for new spaces or for existing facility expansions. Seed Feasibility grants will help incubate business plans for promising new spaces. Please see complete program guidelines and eligibility requirements in the RFP.


EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Program - Sep 22 deadline. Synopsis

Department of Commerce FY 2014 Economic Development Assistance Programs - Oct deadline for funding cycle 1 of FY 2015. EDAP2014. Go to grants.gov.

Economic Development Administration Planning Program and Local Technical Assistance - Department of Commerce. Applications accepted on a continuing basis. EDAPLANNING2012. Go to grants.gov

Fitch Foundation Preservation Grants for Mid-Career Professionals - Oct 15 deadline. Application

Office Depot Foundation Funding - Oct 31 deadline for "Building Capacity to Serve Communities" and "Giving Children Tools for Success" applications. No deadline for "Disaster Preparedness, Relief, Recovery and Rebuilding" grants. Announcement

USDA Rural Community Development Initiative Grants - Nov 12 deadline. Announcement

USDA Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program - Dec 2015 deadline. NOFA

 


Clipper Ship Foundation Grants - Deadline August 8, 2014

The Clipper Ship Foundation makes grants to federally tax-qualified, public charities serving sick and poor residents of the Greater Boston community and the cities of Brockton and Lawrence.  Preference is given to organizations devoted to helping the homeless and under-housed; people in need; children; elders; people with disabilities; new immigrant populations; and low-income communities and neighborhoods. The Clipper Ship Foundation specializes in funding smaller organizations. It considers applications from organizations with annual operating budget of less than $5,000,000.

The Foundation typically awards individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, with most grants being between $5,000 to $10,000. All applications must be submitted online, on the Foundation's website. The deadline for the current cycle is August 8th. 


HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants - Deadline August 15, 2014

HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants will support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans that are expected to achieve three core goals: (1) Housing: transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term; (2) People: support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents’ health, safety, employment, mobility, and education; and (3) Neighborhood: transform distressed, high-poverty neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs. To achieve these core goals, communities must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or "Transformation Plan."

HUD expects to make approximately 10 awards, with the maximum grant size equalling no more than $500,000. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, county, city and/or township governments, and public housing associations. More information is available on HUD's website


TD Bank Charitable Foundation's Housing for Everyone - Deadline August 29, 2014

The TD Charitable Foundation's 2014 Housing for Everyone grant competition focuses on Housing for the Future. Applications should highlight the ways in which will encourage the creation or preservation of rental housing units for families with children. Through the program, 25 organizations throughout TD Bank's corporate footprint from Maine to Florida will each be awarded a $100,000 grant in 2014.

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 PM EST on Friday, August 29, 2014. Notification of awards will be made by mid November 2014. Complete grant guidelines are available on TD's website


Cabot Family Charitable Trust - Deadline September 1, 2014

The Cabot Family Charitable Trust supports arts and culture, education and youth development, environment and conservation, health and human services, and civic/public benefit. Grant awards are made in Boston and contiguous communities, as well as to organizations elsewhere in which Cabot family members have philanthropic interest. 

Grant awards range from $5,000-$50,000 for a one-year period. Applicants must begin by submitting a concept paper, using the format found on the Trust website, by September 1st. The trustees will notify applicants by email if further information is needed to complete their consideration of a request. For full application guidelines and the concept paper format, please visit the Trust website.  


Santander Bank Foundation – Deadline September 5, 2014

Santander Bank (formerly Sovereign Bank) Foundation is accepting grant applications for programming that benefits low- and moderate-income communities, primarily for community and economic development, youth and education, health and human services, and arts and culture. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. The April-June funding cycle has now closed, but the July-September funding cycle will accept applications until September 5, 2014, with grant recipients notified by October 31, 2014. Link: http://tinyurl.com/ogozaq6


Assets for Independence for Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) - Deadline October 27, 2014

The Assets for Independence program provides five-year grants to empower low-income families to become economically self-sufficient for the long-term. Participants receive financial education training on money management issues and matched savings accounts called Individual Development Accounts. Participants can use IDAs to accumulate funds with the goal of acquiring a first home, post-secondary education, or starting up or expanding a small business. Community action agencies do very well with this funding. Faith-based groups also are among recent awardees. 

Governments, public housing authorities, public and private colleges & universities, and nonprofits are eligible to apply. The average grant size is $350K per year for five years. Grants may range from $10,000 to $1,000,000. For more information, click here


EDA: Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program – Due October 17, 2014

EDA's mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills this mission through strategic investments and partnerships that create the regional economic ecosystems required to foster globally competitive regions throughout the United States. EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the United States by fostering job creation and attracting private investment. Economic Development Assistance programs will make construction, non-construction, and revolving loan fund investments under the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs. Grants made under these programs will leverage regional assets to support the implementation of regional economic development strategies designed to create jobs, leverage private capital, encourage economic development, and strengthen America's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Through the EDAP FFO, EDA solicits applications from rural and urban communities to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions. Eligible: Local, state and tribal governments; nonprofits; higher education. Funding: $100,000 - $3,000,000. Link: http://tinyurl.com/pkhoeb5


National Grid Foundation - Deadline October 31, 2014

The National Grid Foundaiton supports programs that focus on:

  1. Energy and Environment: Reducing the causes and impact of climate change, the promotion of the local environment around National Grid operational sites, the delivery of energy efficiency and alleviating fuel poverty;
  2. Education and Skills: The shortage of skills which are essential to the daily delivery of business operations is a key issue for National Grid. The company's community work focuses on engineering, research and development skills central to its business activities; and 
  3. Community Investment: Programs that directly support National Grid employees and their initiatives in the community and also encompass safety and inclusion & diversity initiatives.

US schools and 501(c)3 nonprofits that work in the Foundation’s focus areas and serve National Grid communities are eligible to apply. Grants will range from $5,000 to $25,000. National Grid has an online application process, which is available on its website. 


Trader Joe's In the Neighborhood Grants: Each store has a Donations Coordinator who handles requests for donations and volunteers. Written requests should be made at least three weeks prior to the date donaion is needed  Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits Funds: Multiple awards of volunteering and product donations. In 2013, the company donated $260 million worth of product to food banks. Deadline: None/Rolling Link:  http://tinyurl.com/nxvleh6.  


GrantStation Discounted for MACDC Members:

If you are a member of MACDC, you can get access to GrantStation for $75/yr. (regular price $699/yr.)

In order to improve community developers' capacity to identify and secure grants, the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA) has negotiated a highly-discounted rate for GrantStation's online grant research and grant writing tool.

Click here to see if you belong to a NACEDA state or regional association. If so, your organization is eligible to have full access to GrantStation for $75 per year. (GrantStation costs $699 when purchased individually.)

GrantStation membership includes:

  • Up-to-date database of thousands of grant makers
  • Search tools to help you find the right funders for your organization
  • Online grant writing tools
  • Strategic planning tools
  • Online grant calendar

Join us for a free webinar for community developers on Tuesday, September 10 from 2-3 pm (Eastern). Learn how to use GrantStation to identify probable funders, check out GrantStation's grant writing, planning, and calendar tools, and find out if GrantStation meets your organization's needs.

Click here to register for the FREE September 10 webinar.

Click here to register for GrantStation at the $75 rate.

This notice announces the availability of EPA grant funds under § 104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). EPA isauthorized to fund research, technical assistance and/or training activities that facilitate theinventory of brownfields, site assessments, remediation of brownfields sites, communityinvolvement or site preparation. This request for proposals (RFP) solicits proposals from eligibleentities to conduct research and/or technical assistance activities that culminate in an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse. Grant-funded activities must be directed to one or more catalyst, high priority brownfield site(s) located within a specific project area, such as a neighborhood, downtown, business or arts district, a local commercial or industrial corridor, a community waterfront, one or more city blocks, etc. Each recipient that receives a grant under this funding opportunity must develop an area-wide plan for the brownfield(s) within the project area, and include in that plan specific implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up and reusing the brownfield(s) and related project area revitalization strategies.

MACDC announces Eastern Bank to award $300k in grants for third year through Community Investment Tax Credit Program

July 2nd, 2018 by

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) has announced that Eastern Bank will award $300,000 in grants for the third consecutive year to Community Development Corporations (CDCs) in Massachusetts participating in the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program.  The announcement was made at the 9th annual Mel King Institute for Community Building Celebration held on June 21 at the Benjamin Franklin Institute in Boston.

“Eastern Bank’s consistent support of CDCs in Massachusetts is incredible,” noted Joseph Kriesberg, MACDC’s President.  “This is an ideal example of how the Community Investment Tax Credit should work with a local business supporting programs that benefit residents in the communities in which they work.”

In 2017, Certified CDCs in Massachusetts, which include all organizations participating in the CITC program, accomplished the following:

  • Homes Built or Preserved:  1,990
  • Job Opportunities Created or Preserved:  5,086
  • Entrepreneurs Provided Technical Assistance: 858
  • Families Served with Housing, Jobs, or Other Services:  79,218
  • Investment in Local Communities:  $803.8 million

“Eastern Bank’s continued involvement in the CITC program is very much aligned to our purpose of doing good things to help people prosper,” commented Pamela Feingold, Senior Vice President and Director of Community Development Lending at Eastern Bank.  “CDCs do so much more than develop affordable housing, by also providing housing counseling services, support to small businesses, and more.  At Eastern, we are committed to helping accelerate growth and opportunity in our neighborhoods and communities.  Our support of CDCs is helping to do just that.”

The CITC program provides a 50% refundable state tax credit for donations of $1,000 or more to participating CDCs.  Because the donation is refundable, organizations, such as foundations and donor advised funds, can support CDCs across Massachusetts through the program as well as individuals and businesses. CDCs can apply for an Eastern Bank grant at www.easternbank.com/foundation.


Governor Baker Signs Legislation Extending & Expanding the Community Investment Tax Credit

May 31st, 2018 by

Leaders from the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations and United Way praised Governor Charlie Baker today for signing the Affordable Housing Bond Bill into law. The legislation, officially known as An Act Financing the Production and Preservation of Housing for Low and Moderate Income Residents, authorizes $1.8 billion in capital funds for the preservation and production of affordable housing, while also extending and expanding several highly successful tax credit programs.

"By signing this bill into law, Governor Baker assures that the Commonwealth will have the capital authorizations it needs to fully implement the Governor's five-year capital plan for housing, with the flexibility to adapt and expand those plans as needed to meet evolving circumstances and opportunities," noted Joseph Kriesberg, President of MACDC. "We are particularly excited that the Legislature and the Governor enacted legislation to extend and expand the Community Investment Tax Credit program, which is a gamechanger for the Commonwealth by spurring millions of dollars of private philanthropy aimed at high impact, resident-led community economic development."

The Community Investment Tax Credit provides a 50% refundable tax credit for qualifying donations to participating Community Development Corporations. With this tool, CDCs attracted over $34 million since the program was enacted in 2014 to fund community engagement, affordable housing, small business development, family asset building and other high impact programs that expand economic opportunity. This program was limited to $6 million per year and it was scheduled to end in 2019, so this legislation extends the sunset until 2025 and increases the statewide cap to $8 million in 2019 and eventually up to $12 million by 2023. 

"With high housing costs, a lack of affordable housing, and low-wages, too many individuals and families can't make ends meet and do not have the opportunity for upward economic mobility," said Michael K. Durkin, President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. "The Community Investment Tax Credit is generating millions of new dollars to build affordable housing, prevent foreclosures, provide financial counseling, jump-start small businesses, and revitalize neighborhoods. We applaud Governor Baker, the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives for their support of this tax credit and for helping to create financial opportunity for people in need." 

MACDC also noted that the legislation extends and expands other vital tax credit programs, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Historic Preservation Credit. These programs have proven themselves to be cost-effective programs worthy of expansion.


For more information, contact Joe Kriesberg: (617) 721-7250


2018 CITC Awards Announced

April 4th, 2018 by

On Tuesday, April 3rd, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito announced $5.9 million in allocations to 46 CDCs through the Community Investment Tax Credit program.  Over the program’s first four years, $34.5 million was raised for critical community development programs that directly benefit low- and moderate-income families across Massachusetts.  These funds are helping CDCs to work with residents in their communities by providing vital affordable housing options, access to services and capital for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as programs and services to ensure that community residents can not only become stabilized, but thrive and benefit from our Commonwealth’s economy.

“The Community Investment Tax Credit Program is a unique tool to encourage private investment,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “From instituting new lead paint programming in Central Massachusetts, to bringing on a full-time community planner in Boston’s Chinatown, our CDCs have leveraged significant funding to bring impactful programming to communities across the Commonwealth.”

Commenting on the 2018 CITC allocation, MACDC’s President Joe Kriesberg said, “It is truly exciting to see what happens when banks, hospitals and individuals work together to make their communities a better place to live. Today, because of their collective belief and investment in their local community development corporations, millions of Massachusetts residents, regardless of their socio-economic status in life, will see demonstrative improvements to their neighborhoods and share in the benefits of Massachusetts’ success. For those unable to participate in the CITC for this year’s tax filing, be sure to visit the MACDC website to learn about how you can get involved next year.”

Below is the complete list of CDCs receiving 2018 CITC allocations:

ACT Lawrence: $50,000

Allston Brighton CDC: $150,000

Asian CDC: $150,000

CDC Southern Berkshire: $100,000

Coalition for a Better Acre: $70,000

Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp.: $150,000

Community Development Partnership: $150,000

Community Teamwork: $119,465

Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corp.: $150,000

Fenway CDC: $150,000

Franklin County CDC: $150,000

Harborlight Community Partners: $150,000

Hilltown CDC: $150,000

Housing Assistance Corp. Cape Cod: $150,000

Housing Corp. of Arlington: $150,000

Housing Nantucket: $150,000

Housing Solutions Southeastern MA: $70,000

IBA: $100,000

Island Housing Trust: $150,000

JPNDC: $150,000

Just-A-Start: $125,000

Lawrence CommunityWorks: $150,000

Lena Park: $50,000

LISC Boston: $119,465

MACDC: $150,000

Madison Park CDC: $150,000

Main South CDC: $125,000

Metro West CDC: $61,605

Mill Cities: $50,000

NeighborWorks Southern MA: $119,465

NewVue Communities: $150,000

NOAH: $150,000

North Shore CDC: $119,465

Nuestra Comunidad: $150,000

Oak Hill CDC: $119,465

Quaboag CDC: $119,465

SMOC: $150,000

Somerville CDC: $150,000

South Boston Neighborhood Development Corp.: $61,605

Southwest Boston CDC: $50,000

Springfield NHS: $50,000

The Neighborhood Developers: $150,000

Urban Edge: $150,000

Valley CDC: $150,000

WATCH: $150,000

Way Finders: $150,000

WHALE: $150,000

Worcester Common Ground: $50,000


MACDC Praises Gov. Baker, House of Rep. for Advancing Critical Com. Dev. Priorities

January 29th, 2018 by

Wednesday, January 24, 2018, was a very good day for Community Development in Massachusetts. 

Governor Charlie Baker submitted his FY 2019 budget to the Legislature with a recommendation of $2 million for the Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) program.  Over the past two years, funding for this program was reduced 62.5% to $750,000.  MACDC was thrilled that the Governor proposed to restore funding to its historic level of $2 million.  This program helps local entrepreneurs – in particular, people of color, immigrants and women located in urban and rural communities – to start and grow thriving businesses, which, in turn, provide jobs, wealth, vitality and hope to historically under-invested areas.

“Governor Baker’s budget demonstrates his commitment to expanding economic opportunity everywhere and for everyone,” said Joseph Kriesberg, President of MACDC.

MACDC members were also pleased by the Massachusetts House of Representatives passage of the $1.7 billion Housing Bond Bill that same day.  The bill, originally filed by Rep. Kevin Honan and Sen. Linda Dorcena-Forry, passed overwhelmingly and ensures the continuation of the Commonwealth’s affordable housing programs by authorizing funding for housing production and preservation over the next 5 years, including the following allocations:

  • $400 million for the Commonwealth’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund;
  • $150 million for the Housing Stabilization Fund;
  • $100 million for the Housing Innovations Fund;
  • $125 million for the Capital Improvement and Preservation Fund;
  • $45 million to support early education facilities; and
  • $650 million for public housing modernization and to provide innovative financing tools.

The Housing Bond Bill also incorporates legislation to extend and expand the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC), filed earlier in the legislative session by Rep. Steve Kulik and Sen. Sal DiDomenico.  The proposal had more than seventy House and Senate co-sponsors.  We are thankful for all their support.  We are especially grateful that Rep. Sarah Peake offered an amendment to restore and expand the annual amount of tax credits available.  Rep. Peake, working with House Ways & Means Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez and Committee staff, offered a successful amendment to increase the annual amount of tax credits available, incrementally growing CITC from its current cap of $6 million to $12 million in taxable years 2023 through 2025, and to lift the individual CDC cap in alignment with the growth of the overall program.

“By extending and expanding the highly successful Community Investment Tax Credit, the House bill, if ultimately enacted, would draw more private investment to support high impact community economic development across the state,” said Kriesberg.

The Housing Bond Bill also extended the sunset for the Massachusetts Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, but did not include a requested $5 million increase in the program needed to offset the negative impact of the new federal tax law.  MACDC and other advocates will be working with the Senate to secure this additional authorization.

MACDC extends its appreciation to the many legislators that helped move this legislation forward.  In addition to Speaker Robert DeLeo, his leadership team and the sponsors and supporters mentioned before, MACDC thanks Rep. Carmine Gentile and Rep. Peake for sponsoring amendments to extend and to expand LIHTC and CITC, and these select members who offered their remarkable support for community development practice across the Commonwealth:

Rep. Patricia Haddad, Rep. Byron Rushing, Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Rep. Paul Donato, Rep. Jay Kaufman, Rep. Antonio Cabral, Rep. Ed Coppinger, Rep. Joseph McGonagle, Rep. Chris Walsh, Rep. Liz Malia, Rep. Adrian Madaro, Rep. Timothy Whelan, Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, Rep. John Scibak, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Frank Moran, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Denise Provost, Rep. Christine Barber, Rep. Jay Livingstone, Rep. Jonathan Hecht, Rep. Tackey Chan, Rep. Todd Smola, Rep. William Crocker, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Paul Tucker, Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Rep. Evandro Carvalho, Rep. Dan Hunt


Legislature & Governor Poised to Cut Small Business Support by 62.5%

July 10th, 2017 by

Advocates say that second consecutive year of budget cuts undermine efforts to reduce racial wealth gap and extend jobs and opportunity throughout the state.

BOSTON, July 10, 2017—On Friday, the legislature voted to approve the conference committee budget for Fiscal Year 2018, including just $750,000 in funding for the Small Business Technical Assistance program, a 25% cut from FY 2017 and a 62.5% cut from FY 2016.  The funding was also below the levels proposed by the Governor ($1 million), the House ($1 million) and the Senate ($2.5 million).

“We are dismayed with the budget’s devastating and disproportionate cut to a successful program that is creating jobs, opportunity and new tax revenue across the Commonwealth,” said Joseph Kriesberg, President of MACDC.  “This program is specifically targeted to reducing the racial wealth gap, supporting immigrant entrepreneurs, boosting rural economies and reaching other hard to serve markets in our state. These cuts move us in the wrong direction.”

“We understand the state’s tight budget, but a 62.5% cut over two years to a successful program does not make sense when we see growing economic inequality,” noted Kriesberg. “We will continue to advocate for hard working entrepreneurs to ensure they have the support they need to succeed.”

“We call on Governor Baker to use some of the discretionary funds recently pulled from various state accounts to restore funding to this program, at least to the level he proposed in his FY 2018 budget.”

The Small Business Technical Assistance program was created under Governor Mitt Romney and has enjoyed bi-partisan support ever since. It is administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and funds a network of over 30 community based organizations who provide highly specialized services to targeted markets. FY 2016, the program achieved:

  • Technical assistance and training from grantee SBTA providers to 1,891 business clients;
  • 1,056 new jobs were created; 1,594 jobs were preserved;
  • 367 businesses received $29,970,094 in financing, a leverage rate of 15:1;
  • 74% of businesses supported achieved a positive outcome:  opened, grew, or stabilized;
  • 97% of clients are from underserved communities including people of color, immigrants and women.

Joseph Kriesberg can be reached at 617-721-7250 or joek@macdc.org.


Mel King Annual Breakfast A Huge Success!

June 30th, 2017 by
We hope you enjoyed the annual breakfast!
 
On June 22, we came together to celebrate community building, innovation, and connection in Massachusetts. There were many accomplishments and inspirational ideas shared from our partners, the poets from IBA's Youth Development and Arts Program, and our keynote speaker Jeremy Liu from PolicyLink
 
Major Announcements:
  • Our presenting sponsor, Eastern Bank, announced an additional $300,000 in donations available to Community Development Corporations through the Community Investment Tax Credit!
  • The Public Housing Training Program launched in March with a two-day training for residents who serve on the Board of their Local Housing Authority (LHA). Starting in the Fall, we will also offer training for any interested public housing resident, especially those involved with their Local Tenant Organization or Resident Association. 
 
Check out photos and videos from the event on Facebook
 
MKI Accomplishments 2016-2017
 
We are proud to announce our accomplishments from Fiscal Year 2017. Thank you to everyone who attended our trainings and events, taught, or partnered with us this year! 
  • 545 Students
  • 30 Training Courses
  • 171 Organizations
  • 13 New Courses
Watch the Annual Video Again 
 
 
A special thank you to Mel King, Vanessa Calderón Rosado, Marc Draisen, and Representative Byron Rushing for participating in the 8th Annual Video.
 
 

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor:

Platinum:
Boston Private Bank
Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation
Northeastern University

Gold:
Needham Bank
NeighborWorks America
WinnCompanies

Silver:
Kevin Martin and Associates
Klein Hornig LLP
NEI General Contracting
Santander
Tufts Health Public Plan

Bronze:
Ann L. Silverman Consulting
Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC)
Dedham Savings
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
Mass Growth Capital Corp.
Munkenbeck Consulting
Third Sector New England
Maloney Properties, Inc.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute


22 News (WWLP) Highlights Franklin County and their work thanks to CITC

May 5th, 2017 by

22 News (WWLP) reporter Mike Masciadrelli visited Franklin County CDC to highlight how the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) is helping them do more in the community. A great segment that details the value of the Franklin County CDC to the community and how the CITC program is driving critical resources to residents in Northwestern Massachusetts.

CHECK OUT the video and share it!


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