NOVEMBER 2011 

The Department of Housing and Community Development has released guidelines for certifying community development corporations (CDCs) as required under M.G.L. Chapter 40H, a new state CDC enabling law passed in 2010. The statute and the corresponding guidelines emerged from discussions at the Massachusetts Community Development Innovation Forum in 2008 where our members and other stakeholders agreed that the 1977 CDC enabling law was out-of-date. The new CDC definition provides more flexibility so that each CDC can be structured to meet the needs of its community.

By creating a formal certification program, Chapter 40H will enhance the credibility of the CDC sector and help attract more public and private resources to the field. MACDC's website has more information about the new law and how it will strengthen the field, including a Chapter 40H Powerpoint Presentation (which is linked to the attached page) and a short article about the new law.

MACDC strongly encourages all of its members, and other non profits who think they may qualify, to review the guidelines and submit an application.  For more information, please contact Joe Kriesberg.

 

Four cities in seven days - two in one day. That is how the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business finished up its fall Listening Tour of community development in the Commonwealth.

 

Jt. Committee Tour of Holcroft Park Homes in Beverly, Massachusetts.

On a beautiful fall day in October, members of the Joint Committee, municipal officials and others gathered at a construction site in the Gloucester Crossing neighborhood of Beverly. Donning hard hats, the group entered Holcroft Park Homes, named after a local park at the center of the community, which is part of a neighborhood-wide revitalization effort led by North Shore CDC. This historic neighborhood experienced a period of neglect and economic decline after a manufacturing facility closed in the early 1980s. Working with neighborhood residents and local officials, the North Shore CDC is pursuing a series of projects that will collectively transform two key neighborhoods. Holcroft Park Homes will provide 58 families with homes when it is completed in 2013 and will generate over 90 construction jobs. Following a tour of Holcroft Park Homes, the group visited 325 Cabot Street in Beverly to see the 43-unit, LEED-Platinum certified single room occupancy (SRO) development that the CDC completed last year.  The tour then moved on to a discussion at the Beverly Public Library.

The next morning the Joint Committee took its tour to Worcester and even a

Jt. Committee Tour of 9 May Street in Worcester, Massachusetts.

steady downpour of rain could not stop the enthusiastic group as it rode a school bus to 9 May Street, a former organ factory that is now home to 46 families living in apartments developed by Worcester Common Ground. The bus continued to the Kilby, Gardner, Hammond neighborhood to see the transformation spearheaded by Main South CDC. Lastly the tour concluded with a lively discussion at Oak Hill CDC's Homeownership Center.

On October 24, , the tour wrapped up with two different stops. The first was at The Woodlands in Kingston, developed by South Shore Housing Development Corporation, an associate member of MACDC. A couple who met and married at The Woodlands opened their apartment for the group to visit and then the discussion continued in a community room with Senate President Therese Murray.

Rep. Thomas Calter, Senator Sal DiDomenico, South Shore Housing's Carl Nagy-Koechlin, Senate President Therese Murray, Representative Jim Cantwell and MACDC's Joe Kriesberg at the Kingston stop.

That afternoon the final stop on the tour was on a sunny afternoon in the Codman Square neighborhood of Dorchester in Boston. The group walked down Washington Street to visit several small business owners and saw the Levedo Building, which is a new transit oriented development consisting of 24 affordable rental units and one commercial space developed by Codman Square NDC. The last discussion hour of the series was held at the Codman Square Health Center.

All of the information shared during the tour will be compiled into a report by the committee staff.  To learn about the tour or report, or to share information about community development in your area, please contact Stephanie Keller, Research Director for Representative Linda Dorcena Forry at Stephanie.keller@mahouse.gov or 617-722-2080.

MACDC congratulates Citizens Housing and Planning Agency (CHAPA) and Joint Committee on Housing Chairs Representative Kevin Honan and Senator James Eldridge for their shared leadership to expand the state low income housing tax credit in both FY'13 and FY'14 to $20 million each year.  This expansion is necessary to speed the development of more than 50 shovel-ready projects in the DHCD pipeline, including many being sponsored by MACDC members. The increased tax credit authority will help create over 2,700 homes and 2,600 construction jobs. 

Join us for MACDC's Annual Meeting November 15th

Paul Teixeira wins Community Leadership Award 

MACDC recognizes CDC staff, board members and other leaders who work tirelessly to ensure their communities are vibrant places to live and work.  Recently, MACDC's Shirronda Almeida attended RCAP Solution's Townsend Woods Ribbon Cutting and Open House to present Paul Teixeira, their Vice President and Chief Program Officer with a Community Leadership Award in recognition of his 25 years of service.

RCAP Solutions President & CEO Karen A. Koller and MACDC's Shirronda Almeida present Paul Teixeira, RCAP Solutions VP & Chief Program Officer, with his award.

Mel King Institute for Community Building - Fall 2011 courses

MACDC's Calendar - promote your event

MACDC provides a calendar on our website for members and supporting organizations to publicize their events including Annual Meetings, Ribbon Cuttings and fundraisers.  This month's highlighted events are:  

November 9 - MBHP Funders Celebration

November 15 - Fenway CDC Honoring Barbara Burnham

November 16 - HAP Annual Event 

November 16 - Women's Institute 2011 Annual Meeting

December 1 - SEED Corporation Annual Meeting

MACDC's Job Postings

We provide job postings on our website for members and supporting organizations to publicize employment opportunities.  This month's highlighted positions are: 

• Financial Coach, Chelsea ND
• Customer Service Representative, Urban Edge
• Executive Director, Worcester Community Housing Resources

Please send your job postings via email to Rosa at rosan@macdc.org