Economic Improvement District: Indianapolis Neighborhood on the Verge of the First Local District

In the last session of Indiana General Assembly session, IACED's priority issue on economic improvement districts (EID) was successfully enacted with the help of Rep. Mary Ann Sullivan, D-97. Economic improvement districts are an important tool in accomplishing the work of revitalizing commercial corridors in downtowns and neighborhoods. The newly modified statute is being used by the merchants and residents in the Fountain Square Neighborhood of Indianapolis to support revitalization work.  Please read more here.

IACED Hires New Member Services Manager

Indiana General Assembly Begins the 2011 Session

Momentive Consumer Credit Counseling Service Merging with Apprisen Financial Advocates

Momentive Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis has merged with Apprisen Financial Advocates, the nation's oldest non-profit credit counseling and financial education organization, effective January 1, 2011.

The 112th Congress Begins This Week

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, was sworn in this week as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and with that change in leadership there will be a dramatic shift in legislative focus.  To read an IACED summary of issues likely to impact our membership in this Congress, please click here to read our blog post.
 

Sections 202 and 811 Legislation passed in the Lame Duck Session of the 111th Congress

In the final days of the 111^th Congress, both the House and Senate passed S. 1481, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009, and S. 118, the Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2009.  The Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009 would improve the Section 811 program designed help persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible through rental housing with supportive services.  The Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act is the first update to the program in 50 years and is aimed at preserving housing for very low income seniors.  Find out information more on our blog.  
 

President Obama signs the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act

The lame duck session of the 111th Congress saw the passage of the $857 billion tax package negotiated by President Obama and congressional Republicans. The legislation will have broad implications for
 

members of IACED as employers and as mission-based organizations involved in local communities. Please refer to our summary of items most likely to impact nonprofits, nonprofit employees, and the people they serve by clicking here.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Issues Bleak Report on Hunger and Homelessness

On December 21, the United States Conference of Mayors revealed some alarming statistics in their annual "Hunger and Homelessness Survey."  The report backed up what many IACED members already know about the impact recent increases in unemployment and foreclosures have had in communities nationwide.
 

According to the Survey, more than 170,000 families were sheltered homeless in 2009, representing a 30 percent increase since 2007. Further, there was a 58 percent increase in homelessness among families.  To read more, check out our blog post about the report.