Just one month until the National CLT Conference kicks off in beautiful Seattle, WA. We have four days of tours, courses, video screenings, curbside TA, as well as our annual meeting featuring keynote speaker Ron Sims.

The boat tour to Lopez and Orcas Islands is SOLD OUT - so don't wait to register for the other conference events!  For more information, go to www.cltnetwork.org.

There will be two "premier" video screenings at the National CLT Conference . On October 26th, there will be a preview showing of "Gaining Ground", a one-hour sequel to "Holding Ground" that revisits the extraordinary grassroots efforts of the Boston area Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) as it faces the enormous challenges presented by the current economic crisis. And on October 27th, there will be a showing of the video trailer for the Heritage Lands video project, featuring four communities of color in the Southeast and their efforts to start up and sustain community land trusts.

Expert CLT consultants will be on hand at the National CLT Conference in Seattle. If you or your organization are struggling with a particular technical issue, we can help! You'll have 45 minutes of undivided attention from a CLT expert, and walk away with a clearer understanding of the issue and steps necessary to address it. Consulting session slots are going fast. Your organization must be a member to access the TA consultants. Learn more about this great opportunity.

Federal funding cuts threaten to reduce resources, such as HOME funds, that will be available to CLTs and our nonprofit partners. It is with the unified voice of practitioners who build, preserve, and maintain safe and affordable housing and promote community development for low and moderate income families across the country that we can reduce the loss of these critical resources (go to www.placenow.org for updates). It is very important that each organization send their representative an example of a great HOME project in their community.  NOW is the time to tell your story!

The challenges facing Fannie, Freddie and FHA are significant - they hold about 250,000 REO properties across the country. You can find REO owned properties in your community by going to www.huduser.org/REO. Earlier this month the CLT Network sent suggestions to FHFA on how CLTs can help to get these homes back into constructive use.   We need examples of how CLTs have been part of the solution. If you have been successful working on foreclosures in your community, please send us your story (info@cltnetwork.org).

We are starting to work on the 2012 work plan. Please send us your suggestions. What policy work would be most helpful to you?

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has selected NCB Capital Impact's Cornerstone Partnership initiative as one of five intermediaries that will be receiving awards from the Social Innovation Fund (SIF). The CLT Network worked with Cornerstone on this application and will be delivering associated training services. In a time of reduced resources,  access to new and substantial funds is a significant achievement! Cornerstone Partnership will be receiving a $2 million grant, with $1.6 million for capacity building subgrants, and the remainder for technical assistance, training, evaluation and administration. For more information, including subgrant applications, go to www.affordableownership.org.