SEPTEMBER 2012 

Now that Governor Deval Patrick has signed the Community Development Partnership Act into law (click here to learn how CDPA became law), the Department of Housing and Community Development has the primary responsibility for implementing this innovative and groundbreaking legislation. The first step in that process will be to issue a Request for Proposals for the one-year grant program established by the Legislature. That program provides $1.5 million in funding for community development corporations across the state.  The larger task will be to develop the guidelines and structure for the Community Investment Tax Credit which takes effect on January 1, 2014. DHCD will be working with the Department of Revenue to develop those rules and systems. DHCD also has to develop the selection process through which CDCs would apply to receive tax credit allocations.

MACDC, LISC and the Mel King Institute will be hosting an Innovation Forum event on October 29, 2012 to celebrate the passage of CDPA  and to share information about how the program will be implemented. The program will include Aaron Gornstein, Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development, as well as the legislative sponsors of CDPA, Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representative Linda Dorcena Forry.  There will also be a panel of donors and CDCs talking about how they think the law can help advance community development in their communities and across the state.

MACDC hosted  a roundtable on September 10th, where our members discussed strategies for addressing community opposition to affordable housing.  Hosted by Jamaica Plain NDC at the Julia Martin House in Boston, housing development and organizing staff, discussed strategies for addressing community opposition from some neighbors, and began to identify ways that MACDC Members can support each other and develop resources to better equip the community development movement to respond to this growing challenge.

The roundtable began with presentations by Valley CDC and Somerville Community Corporation on affordable housing projects they are developing which have faced strong and organized opposition from some neighbors.  Other participants weighed in on challenges they have faced.  Participants acknowledged the role that community based organizations have historically played in opposing development that would be detrimental to their communities, and the importance of understanding the distinction between legitimate community concerns and opposition based on misinformation, and in some cases, bigotry or classism.

The session concluded with a discussion of next steps.  Ideas discussed included sharing information among CDCs, offering support for each other in public gatherings, and developing videos and other presentations that show the faces of those living in affordable housing. MACDC staff will follow up with Members and other allied organizations to identify the best way to proceed. 

For more information, please contact MACDC Senior Organizer Pam Bender or MACDC Senior Policy Advocate Don Bianchi.

MACDC is seeking a full-time Communications Director. The Director of Communications is a new position designed specifically to help MACDC ensure the effective implementation of the newly enacted Community Development Partnership Act, a seven year, $67.5 million statewide initiative to expand the scale and impact of the community development field in Massachusetts. This is a senior level position that would have lead responsibility for creating and implementing a multifaceted communications plan and resource development campaign. The Director will work with the MACDC President & CEO, other members of the staff and the board to develop and  implement our communications work. S/he would also lead and steward our fundraising efforts and help promote the community development field to the larger funding community on behalf of our members.  

Please click here for the full job description. 

To honor 30 years of advocacy and support for the Community Development movement, and to kick off our fourth decade, MACDC will be hosting our 30th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, November 16, 2012 from 8:00 to 10:00 AM in the State Room at 60 State St in Boston.  At this event we will honor several leaders in our field, including two individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to community economic development - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and the President of the Boston Foundation, Paul Grogan.  

For more information about MACDC's 30th Anniversary Celebration, please contact Joe Kriesberg.  If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring the event please complete this form and send it to Joe.