We value your input

[wlmmyers]

I have really enjoyed this list serve, I am constantly amazed at how much
information passes through.

I am writing today in my capacity as a member of the planning team for the
3rd National Faith-based Community Economic Development Conference. This
conference will be in March of 2003. We want to make sure we are offering
leading edge topics and discussions at this conference. Our target
audience is faith organizations who have or are considering engaging in
housing, workforce development, downtown revitalization, community service
facilities and the like. Our major sponsors are financial institutions.

What topics (and speakers) do you think would create excitement, add depth,
& provide real strategies to do community based economic development work?

Your opinion would be very valuable in our planning process. Thanks for
your response.

Wallica H. Gaines
Manager of Capacity Development Programs
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
501 North Second Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-371-7167
804-371-7091 (fax)
wgaines@dhcd.state.va.us



This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

[tadirector at juno.com]

Wallica (may I call you "Wallica"?)

I would suggest:

1) representatives from local banks and government agencies who can
discuss financing options and the procedures for application;

2) existing practitioners from the various fields of endeavor (workforce
development, housing, etc.) who can share their "best practices";

3) a dynamic accountant, who can discuss simple budgeting and
recordkeeping, as well as tax incentives and how to apply for them.


Keith Ferrell
Technical Assistants
1500 Market Street, 12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 546-4530


On Sun, 11 Aug 2002 14:13:36 -0400 William Myers
<WMyers@alternatives.org> writes:
>
> I have really enjoyed this list serve, I am constantly amazed at how
> much
> information passes through.
>
> I am writing today in my capacity as a member of the planning team
> for the
> 3rd National Faith-based Community Economic Development Conference.
> This
> conference will be in March of 2003. We want to make sure we are
> offering
> leading edge topics and discussions at this conference. Our target
> audience is faith organizations who have or are considering engaging
> in
> housing, workforce development, downtown revitalization, community
> service
> facilities and the like. Our major sponsors are financial
> institutions.
>
> What topics (and speakers) do you think would create excitement, add
> depth,
> & provide real strategies to do community based economic development
> work?
>
> Your opinion would be very valuable in our planning process. Thanks
> for
> your response.
>
> Wallica H. Gaines
> Manager of Capacity Development Programs
> Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
> 501 North Second Street
> Richmond, VA 23219
> 804-371-7167
> 804-371-7091 (fax)
> wgaines@dhcd.state.va.us
>


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[wlmmyers]

Ideas for Faith Based Community Development Conference.

I think using the Lutheran Disaster Services model for the Unmet Needs
Roundtable as a model for financial distribution systems, and the role that
these communities can play in linking community residents with human
services that lead to employment and community redevelopment and advocacy
efforts is a good topic.

Deborah
Deborah Lack Daniels lack@consultant.com
______________________________________________

I received your request for ideas from a colleague.

We are a National non profit that applies outcome thinking to a wide range
of programs supported by government and philanthropy. Recently we are
working with The Council of State Community Development Agencies helping
three state housing agencies use outcome thinking to better define
capacity building for CHDOs. Please visit our web
site www.Rinstitute.org to learn more about our outcome framework and let
me know if you think this topic would be of interest to your
conference attendees.

Regards, Bill

William J. Phillips, Vice President
The Rensselaerville Institute
phone 518-797-3783
fax 518-797-5270
BPhillips@Rinstitute.org
______________________________________________


I am going to look in my files for a contact person but I know Kansas City,
Mo. Has had a very strong faith based initiative in providing senior citizen
centers, senior citizen housing and affordable housing for low-income
people. I also thought that some of the housing models were excellent as
they blended and enhanced the neighborhoods. I will provide you with the
contact person when I find it.

"Michele Howell" <mhowell@ised.org>, Director
Iowa Community Capital (subsidiary ISED)
mhowell@ised.org
(515)883-2513 ext. 8
Fax (515) 283-0348
______________________________________________


I really think that New Markets Tax Credits is a topic that should be a must.

Claudette Konola <claudette@crfusa.com>
______________________________________________


Hi. I am new to the is user group nut I think I have some suggestions for
you. One theme I think you should emphasize is the long history that faith
based groups have in the community development field. I think many forget
this and the a history of faith based activities goes back to the late 19th
century.

I also work as a consultant and I am currently involved in helping to
initiate a Credit Literacy program through the Maryland Association of
Realtor's Partnership for Housing Foundation with Freddie Mac. I have also
been doing some work with JumpStart, a national youth financial literacy
organization. JumpStart has a really great website--www.jumpstart.org

I think credit/financial literacy is a big topic, especially for young
people. If you have more questions, please feel free to contact me.

Kristine Hanson
hansonkw@concentric.net
______________________________________________

One of the great challenges people have working to restore (or
even maintain) communities is the lack of understanding of market
dynamics and the powerful role played by public policies -- tax
policies in particular. The structure and inept admnistration of
the property tax has been a major cause of community
disinvestment and decline. Revamping the property tax to
gradually exempt houses and other types of property improvements
-- relying for public revenue on the taxation of land parcels
only -- is key to the long-term health of communities; yet, this
issue is understood by only a small number of economists
specializing in land economics.

If this topic seems to have any appeal, I will be more than happy
to provide you with the names of people I know who might be
willing to speak to the conference on this subject.

Edward Dodson
edward_dodson@fanniemae.com
______________________________________________

I am a community affairs specialist working for the FDIC, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation. I have a suggestion for a topic/ workshop
for your conference: FDIC has a financial literacy education program called
Money Smart which teaches basic banking and financial management skills.
The details about the program can be found in the following links:

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html
<http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html>
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/mstrm.html
<http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/mstrm.html>
http://www2.fdic.gov/moneysmartregister/index.asp
<http://www2.fdic.gov/moneysmartregister/index.asp>
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/SmartForm.pdf
<http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/SmartForm.pdf>

I believe introduction of this program to the conference attendee would give
them a very useful tool in helping their clients. The program is FREE.
Please review the summary in the above links. If you are interested, or
should have any questions, I would glad to answer any questions you may
have.

Joan Lok
Community Affairs Specialist
FDIC - Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection
8825 Stanford Blvd., suite 210
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 872 -9024
fax (410) 953 - 0465
e-mail: jlok@fdic.gov


-----Original Message-----

I have really enjoyed this list serve, I am constantly
amazed at how much
information passes through.

I am writing today in my capacity as a member of the
planning team for the
3rd National Faith-based Community Economic Development
Conference. This
conference will be in March of 2003. We want to make sure
we are offering
leading edge topics and discussions at this conference. Our
target
audience is faith organizations who have or are considering
engaging in
housing, workforce development, downtown revitalization,
community service
facilities and the like. Our major sponsors are financial
institutions.

What topics (and speakers) do you think would create
excitement, add depth,
& provide real strategies to do community based economic
development work?

Your opinion would be very valuable in our planning process.
Thanks for
your response.

Wallica H. Gaines
Manager of Capacity Development Programs
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
501 North Second Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-371-7167
804-371-7091 (fax)
wgaines@dhcd.state.va.us



This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list

[wlmmyers]

As a new member of this wonderful list serve, you might be interested in
PARO's approach to grassroots CED. We have 29 PARO groups (peer-lending
circles) in NW Ontario, Canada, which is a very large geographical area.
The board is elected from this membership. These groups work in their
communities to provide peer lending, networking, community activities,
and mentoring. They have done everything from starting community youth
centres, opening rural community craft stores, organizing fishing
derbies, putting computers in central locations, and putting together
community coupon books. Without core funding, PARO has developed PARO
PLACE: a micro-business centre for women, offering an incubator, a
resource centre and self-employment training, and PARO PRESENTS
community store. In addition, PARO developed community partnerships to
start the Thunder Bay Community Mentoring Program.

Enjoying the listserve. So much wonderful work and creative ideas.

Rosalind Lockyer
Executive Director
PARO: A Northwestern Ontario Women's Community Loan Fund
PARO Place: Microbusiness Centre for Women
110-105 May St. N.
Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3N9
<rlockyer@paro.ca>
________________________________________________

Wallica:
I am excited to hear of this planning team that you are participating on
and look forward to more details about the conference. Faith based economic
development is something that is near and dear to my heart. I am a former
small business lender at a major bank. During my tenure there, I developed
specialized underwriting for lending to faith institutions. As such I
believe I have much information that may be helpful to your group (wouldn't
mind serving on the planning committee as well).

Concerning your immediate request, the following topics are suggested:

1. Capacity Building - The importance of faith institutions to develop
skilled and competent human resources

2. Community Organizing - To a certain extent, faith community development
cannot happen in a vacuum, thus it is imperative to understanding the
dynamics of building and organizing the community being served

3. Internal Management & Controls - Discussion on building the proper
internal controls to ensure proper stewardship of resources

4. Financing Options - In depth discussion regarding the myriad of public
and private financing options, including credit enhancement programs, e.g.,
tax credits, etc., Also discussion of loans, grants, investments and equity
in financing CD projects.

5. Leveraging Resources - Discussion of how to effective seek out,
cultivate and leverage human, community and capital resources, e.g.,
partnerships, MOUs, etc.

6. Financial Analysis - Discussion about understanding financial
statements, importance of CPA prepared statements, fiscal management

7. Ministry vs. Entrepreneurship - How (and when) to convert a ministry
into an entrepreneurial enterprise

Hope this list isn't too overwhelming! I've found however, that faith
institutions need to be thoroughly trained in matters concerning economic
and community development. Please let me know if there is anything else I
may assist you in.
Regards,

Glenn Davis
Director of Economic Development
Urban League of Springfield
756 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
413-739-7211 ext. 119
413-723-9364 fax
glendvis@aol.com
________________________________________________

I think it's important to include a piece about the Community in community
development. What are the effective grassroots approaches that include the
community in planning issues? Too often we forget that communities often
have a clear idea what their needs are, and just need help in organizing
and facilitating solutions -

Victoria Kaplan, Fund Manager
"Victoria Kaplan" <vkaplan@jps.net>
The Millennium Fund, LLC
Seattle

________________________________________________

We're interested in the faith-based ec. dev. conference.

We have helped NJ's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives plan,
implement, and lead its first two state-wide conferences and put together a
campus study group on the public policy issues flowing out of Washington.
We've been contracted to partner with two initiating groups sponsoring a
conference at Princeton Theological Seminary, my alma mater, on Nov. 8 both
to examine the unresolved policy issues and local practical themes for
congregational leaders. Our parent, Seton Hall University is considering
one also to explore differences between NJ's successful 4 year effort and
what's coming out of Washington.

We are the gatekeeper for non profits and faith-based
groups to get into the NJ Economic Development Authority's Entrepreneurial
Training Institute (8 evening sessions at 10 sites every fall and spring,
culminating in highest graded business plans being presented before
lender/grantor roundtable) . For this, we have developed assessment
instruments and consultants who use them with applicants; and facilitators
to guide students through the classes. 19 of the first 28 in the five
semesters so far finished--twice the rate of the proprietary students. Nine
of these were faith-based.

Our Mission propels us into providing TA to the voluntary sector to
become more entrepreneurial, especially in creating decent jobs. It also
guides us in working in a non partisan and interfaith manner with
collaborators to "create constituencies of conscience" . I'd be glad to
share more of our activities with you and want to learn of your plans so we
can consider participation.
Our phone is
973-313-6103
and address is
Institute On Work, SHU 400 South Orange Ave. So. Orange 07079 NJ.
From: Workinstitute@shu.edu
Sender: petersba@shu.edu

________________________________________________

>I have really enjoyed this list serve, I am constantly amazed at how much
>information passes through.
>
>I am writing today in my capacity as a member of the planning team for the
>3rd National Faith-based Community Economic Development Conference. This
>conference will be in March of 2003. We want to make sure we are offering
>leading edge topics and discussions at this conference. Our target
>audience is faith organizations who have or are considering engaging in
>housing, workforce development, downtown revitalization, community service
>facilities and the like. Our major sponsors are financial institutions.
>
>What topics (and speakers) do you think would create excitement, add
>depth, & provide real strategies to do community based economic
>development work?
>
>Your opinion would be very valuable in our planning process. Thanks for
>your response.
>
>Wallica H. Gaines
>Manager of Capacity Development Programs
>Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
>501 North Second Street
>Richmond, VA 23219
>804-371-7167
>804-371-7091 (fax)
>wgaines@dhcd.state.va.us



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