The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities (HUD-HSIAC) program has awarded Donnelly College nearly $600,000 to fund its Housing and Entrepreneurial Support for Low-Income Persons in Kansas City (HELP-KC) project. The College was one of only 11 federally designated Hispanic Serving Institutions selected of more than 40 applicants.

The HELP-KC project is designed to directly support community residents in the urban core through two distinct programming options, one that will promote knowledge of and access to home ownership through educational programming, and another that supports small business development in urban core communities by offering programs to provide technical support to participants as they develop business concepts.

HUD funds will also be used to renovate a stand-alone space on Donnelly's campus to be available to community organizations and agencies.

"HELP-KC addresses the great needs of our surrounding community," said Donnelly President Dr. Steve LaNasa. "It is designed to promote employment, job creation, access to improved housing, community interaction and, as a whole, improve the sustainability and quality of our community.

"We recognize that job growth and opportunity through technical assistance, and housing education are two of the most needed areas of outreach in our community's efforts to be more stable and thus economically viable."

Donnelly is partnering on this grant with two local non-profit organizations that serve the same community as the College: Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC) and the Hispanic Economic Development Corporation (HEDC).

CHWC will promote knowledge of and access to home ownership by offering educational programming and individual counseling at Donnelly through a "Pathways to Successful Home Ownership" program. The goal of this program is to increase awareness of purchase programs, raise financial literacy to avoid foreclosure, and promote home purchase in the KCK community. Outreach for the program will target KCK residents, where nearly one out of four neighborhood Hispanic families live below poverty level.

HEDC will serve as a HELP-KC partner by offering a FastTrac program to the community on the Donnelly College campus. FastTrac is a business training course that targets aspiring and existing entrepreneurs who have limited business experience. HEDC will also provide one-on-one technical assistance and small group workshops to small business owners.  These programs are delivered by certified instructors and coaches who are bilingual and bicultural - a significant benefit considering the sizable Hispanic population in the KCK community. Participants in HEDC's programs will also be eligible to apply for micro-grants to support business establishment, expansion, or stabilization. 

"Together, these three organizations are well positioned to improve our community's substantial issues centering on business ownership, entrepreneurship development, and education on affordable housing options and opportunities," said Brent Miles, President of the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council and member of the HELP-KC Advisory Board. "Donnelly has always served as a committed community partner, and is particularly known for its commitment to serving low-income persons. This project will continue to further our community just as other Donnelly initiatives have done."

Questions about HELP-KC should be directed to Frances Sanders at (913) 621-8716 or fsanders@donnelly.edu.