MAY 2012 

MACDC's Lobby Day in the Great Hall, 2012 Photo by Lolita Parker, Jr.

Over 200 CDC leaders and staff members came together in the historic Great Hall in the State House in early May to advocate on behalf of The Community Development Partnership Act and share their latest community-driven initiatives.   

Amy Shapiro of Franklin County CDC being interviewed by WWLP of Springfield, MA.

"It is a fun day" noted Rob Corley of NHS of South Shore.  "It is a great way for us as staff to spend time together and to meet with our legislators" he said.  Mickey Northcutt of North Shore CDC concurred, "we had terrific conversations with our legislators and their staff about what North Shore CDC is doing in their districts."  

MACDC members Amy Shapiro of Franklin County CDC and Joanne Campbell of Valley CDC were both interviewed by WWLP Channel 22 of Springfield explaining how CDPA works and how it will benefit communities throughout the Commonwealth.

Walking the halls of the MA State House. Photo by Lolita Parker, Jr.

If CDPA should pass this year, CDCs stand poised for even greater success in the coming years. This bill, currently under consideration by the Massachusetts Legislature, would engage the private sector's support of high-performing CDCs to expand economic opportunities for families across the State. For information on how you can support its passage, please contact Allison Staton. 

MACDC member organizations generated $336 million in economic activity in 2011, the highest number recorded since MACDC began tracking this data in 2003. This finding is part of the MACDC's newly released 2012 GOALs Report which also found that CDCs created or preserved 1,379 homes, a 17 percent increase over 2010.

MACDC released its 2012 GOALs Initiative Report to coincide with its Lobby Day in early May. The GOALs Report highlights the accomplishments of MACDC members during Calendar Year 2011 in six key areas: Leaders Engaged, Homes Built or Preserved, Job Opportunities Created or Preserved, Entrepreneurs Assisted, Families Supported, and Investment Generated. 

The $336 million in economic activity represents the sum total of CDC investment in real estate, business development and community programs. The 1,379 homes built or preserved includes new construction, preservation of existing affordable housing, and privately owned homes where the CDC provided financing and technical assistance to preserve and improve those homes. The other key findings in the report for 2011 were:

• 2,095 Leaders Engaged
• 1,910 Jobs Created or Preserved
• 1,976 Entrepreneurs Assisted
• 38,343 Families Supported

"These findings demonstrate the extraordinary resiliency of our members who are able to continue having extraordinary impacts in their communities despite the slow economy and declining public resources," said MACDC President Joseph Kriesberg.  

For more information on GOALs, please contact Don Bianchi.  

In April, four MACDC members - Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation and the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation - were awarded $600,000 in grants from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute.   

Photo courtesy of MA Broadband Institute.

The Institute, in collaboration with MACDC, allots $150,000 to each of the four CDCs for a period of two years to enhance broadband adoption and support for small businesses and non-profit organizations across the state.  The funds will be used both for training and technical assistance for small businesses as well as to purchase computers, software and broadband access.  Both the CDCs and the up to 40 participating small businesses will provide 25% in matching funds to kick-start the program.

For more information about CDCs and broadband adoption, contact Joe Kriesberg.

In April, the Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) announced its 2012 awards to support the foreclosure prevention work of nonprofit agencies across the state. The awards totaled over $900,000 and were made to Regional Foreclosure Centers, Consumer Counseling Agencies and First-Time Homebuyer Program. For a list of the grants visit the DOB website.   

The awards are made under Chapter 206 of the Acts of 2007, a law enacted as the foreclosure crisis was gaining steam, with MACDC and its members instrumental in drafting and passing the legislation. It tackles foreclosure through a variety of different efforts including regulating non-bank mortgage lenders for the first time, and uses the licensing fees from mortgage originators to fund the foreclosure prevention counseling awards.   MACDC members who received grants were:

• Allston Brighton CDC
• Arlington Community Trabajando
• Dorchester Bay EDC
• ESAC
• NHS of the South Shore  
• Housing Assistance Corporation
• HAP, Inc 
• Lawrence Community Works with the Merrimack Valley Coalition
• NOAH
• Oak Hill CDC 
• SMOC
• Urban Edge

The 2012 awards announced in April bring the cumulative total of dollars awarded for foreclosure prevention counseling by the DOB to $5.6 million over the past five years.

The effectiveness of MACDC members to provide quality counseling was acknowledged since 12 of the 18 awards were made to MACDC members or to coalitions which include MACDC members. In fact, over a four year period ending in December, 2011, MACDC members have provided foreclosure prevention counseling to over 20,000 households, and more than 5,600 of these families achieved a positive outcome.

A different program, the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) has picked up steam after a slow start. The U.S. Treasury Department reports that over 900,000 homeowners nationwide have received permanent loan modifications under HAMP, with the number in Massachusetts approaching 20,000. Furthermore, according to Treasury, 83% of eligible homeowners that signed on to HAMP since June, 2010 have received a permanent loan modification.

Unfortunately, the foreclosure crisis is not abating. According to the Warren Group, the number of foreclosure deeds filed in March, 2012 increased by 36.5% over March, 2011 to 856, and the number of foreclosure petitions filed (the first step in the process) increased by almost 55% to 1,621 over the same period.

What is the solution? According to HUD Secretary Sean Donovan, continued funding for foreclosure prevention counseling is essential. Speaking at the National Community Reinvestment Coalitions Annual Conference on April 20th, Secretary Donovan touted the impact of foreclosure prevention counseling, saying that homeowners are twice as likely to stay in their homes if they get such counseling.

For more information on this, please contact Don Bianchi.

This week the Patrick-Murray administration announced $105 million in affordable housing resources and tax credits to support housing construction, including 10 projects sponsored by MACDC members.   The administration increased the capital budget by $10 million in order to fund additional projects.

• Madison Park Development Corporation 
• South Boston NDC & Caritas
• Nuestra Communidad & Wise Development
• NOAH  
• Lawrence Community Works
• Hilltown CDC
• HAP  
• Better Homes Inc
• B'Nai B'rith

Please join us as we celebrate our Third Anniversary!

June 21, 2012; 9:30-11:30am

Goodwin Procter LLP (53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109)

You are invited to the Mel King Institute for Community Building's Third Anniversary celebration! Join us as we highlight our accomplishments of the past year and look toward the future. This year the featuring keynote speaker is Lauren Smith, MD, MPH, Medical Director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Please click here for more information.

Introduction to Grant and Report Writing

Instructor: Matt Thall (CDC Consultant)

This two-session course will focus on how CDC Board members and other volunteers can and should engage in the real estate development work of their CDCs. It will provide tools for Board members to understand the CDC's portfolio of completed developments and evaluate the organization's planned development. The basics of  real estate development financing and budgets will be reviewed as well as the life-cycle of a real estate development from the initial selection of a project through planning and building the project to operating the development to serve the occupants and  further the CDC's larger community development mission. Essential areas for Board involvement, direction and decision-making will be reviewed as well as best practices to build a strong partnership between Board and CDC staff in pursuing a successful real estate development strategy.

Additional Information and Registration 

Registration Deadline: May 16, 2012

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.  Several upcoming member events are: 

• May 14th - The Community Builders Honor Pat Clancy, 6pm  
• May 21st - JPNDC Celebrates New Businesses, 270 Centre Street, Jackson Square, 4pm  
• May 23rd - WHALEs 50th Birthday Bash & Annual Meeting, 7pm 
• June 4th - B'nai B'rith 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award Dinner, 5:30pm  

MACDC members, please tell us about your events by sending an email to Rosa Nin.

MACDC's Job Postings