NeighborWorks America has applauded the recent separate decisions by federal banking regulators and Freddie Mac that offer new underwriting guidance for subprime and hybrid mortgage products. Read more.

The NeighborWorks Campaign for Homeownership has generated nearly $7.2 billion in new mortgage lending between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2006. Since 1993 the program has assisted more than 110,000 low- and moderate-income families become homeowners. Read more.

Rural Opportunities Inc. (ROI), a multistate rural development organization based in Rochester, N.Y., has announced the formation of a partnership with Fannie Mae to protect affordable rental properties in the Northeast, according to the National Mortgage News.  "The net loss of affordable units in rural communities is of particular concern in the face of mounting challenges to the development of new projects in smaller communities," said Lee Beaulac Sr., vice president of ROI, which is part of the national NeighborWorks network.

Urban Neighborhoods Alliance has helped roll out the Missouri Homeownership Partnership Network, a statewide initiative aimed at helping Missouri homeowners avoid foreclosures. The partnership is led by St. Louis nonprofit Beyond Housing and funded by NeighborWorks America, which on March 19 presented a $110,000 check to Beyond Housing at Ozarks Technical Community College.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has released a report entitled, "New Markets Tax Credits: Unlocking Investment Potential" [PDF, 380KB].  National banks often make NMTC investments under the "Part 24" community development investment authority, which encourages bank equity investments in activities that primarily promote the public welfare in a safe and sound manner.

Deadline: April 13, 2007

2007 Categories of Funding:
1. Implementation Grants: to $150,000 -- For organizations whose proposals reflect mature initiatives ready to be implemented.
2. Catalyst Grants: to $50,000 -- For organizations that submit proposals for projects in earlier stages of development, and for feasibility studies, market research, etc.

Description: The I’M HOME initiative focuses on four issues areas:

1.        New & Replacement Development
2.        Mortgage Financing
3.        Long Term Security for MH Communities
4.        Public Policy

Support for efforts to improve the ability of low- and moderate-income families to build wealth and attain greater financial security through ownership of manufactured homes. To apply, go to CFED's Web site.

Deadline: May 31, 2007
Grant Range: $1,000 To $3,000

Annual Giving: A legacy started in 1946, the founding company of Target began giving five percent of its income back to the community. Today, that five percent translates into $3 million each week.

Arts Grants: Programs that bring the arts to schools or make it affordable for families to participate in cultural experiences. Click here for more information.

Early Childhood Reading Grants: Program that promote a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age 9, to read together with their families.

Family Violence Prevention Grants: Programs that strengthen families by preventing or reducing the cycle of family violence.

Apply Online: In addition to completing the application you will need to provide a current board of directors list, a project budget and an operating budget. Click here to visit Target's grant page.

Join us in Phoenix, May 7-11, for a week of intensive community development coursework, best-practice sharing, and professional networking with peers from all segments of the field.  Choose from more than 90 community development-related courses, including:  

• Spanish-bilingual homeownership courses.
• The five-day Advanced Housing Asset Management course.
• Green building and healthy homes courses sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation.
• The Native American Community Economic Development Training Program. Click here to view program.
• A symposium – Taking Care of Business: Managing the Business Side of Homeownership Programs. Click here to view more on the symposium.

We also offer specialized courses in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, community building and organizing, management and leadership, and more!  To learn more about all that the NeighborWorks Training Institute in Phoenix has to offer or register online today at www.nw.org/onlinereg.

The 2007 conference theme, “Building a Sustainable Future,” will focus on the sustainability of both the revitalization organization and the community it serves. Educational sessions and tours will address the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable communities. Sessions will include:

• Smart growth
• Livability
• Strong organizations
• Strong businesses

Fore more information, visit http://conference.mainstreet.org/, e-mail msconference@nthp.org, or call 202-588-6219.

This conference addresses Hispanic related issues as well as the future development and delivery of farmworker programs and services.  Sowing the Seeds of Success – Harvesting the American Dream is this year’s conference theme. Breakout sessions focus on workforce development, community development, health and social, immigration, education, and Latino farmers and ranchers.  Visit www.mafofarmworker.com for conference details and registration.

ICMA’s Restoration 2007 conference will help you learn how to foster community redevelopment and revitalization following a disaster. New this year is the Restoration Transaction Forum, a venue for property owners to showcase up to three sites to a captive audience of developers, financiers, and investors. The properties do not need to have been affected by a disaster to be eligible for this property redevelopment event. Get conference and forum details from ICMA at www.restoration2007.org

NeighborWorks America is developing a guide to faith-based community development, and is in the process of identifying approximately 15 case studies to be featured. If your organization has been involved in a faith-based community development project that you would like us to consider, please fill out the nomination form located here. [DOC, 96 KB]

One of the consequences of the rapid growth of subprime lending that began in the early 1990s, has
been a significant rise in the incidence of mortgage foreclosures, which threatens to undermine the
gains in homeownership achieved over the last decade. To address this growth in foreclosures,
NeighborWorks America has established the NeighborWorks Center for Foreclosure Solutions (CFS). The mission of the Center is to test scaleable and innovative foreclosure prevention strategies to increase the sustainability of homeownership.

• As part of its effort to mitigate the damage from foreclosures, NeighborWorks is set to release research findings that provides insight on data available which determines where the incidence of foreclosure has become problematic, including how to interpret various sources of data and locations where foreclosures are currently a concern. To read the full report, visit NeighborWorks' applied research Web site.

Promoting Livable Communities is a core part of AARP’s goal of ensuring that people 50+ will have independence, choice, and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable for them and society as a whole.  A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life. Click here to visit AARP's new site.