netNews092407

For Immediate Release

September 24, 2007

Contact:
Lynn Long, 504-669-0576, L2media@cox.net
Erin Angell, 202-220-6317, eangell@nw.org

NeighborWorks America announces $300,000 in Community Building & Organizing Grants to Gulf Coast Partners

Biloxi, Mississippi – NeighborWorks America awarded $30,000 grants each to 10 nonprofit organizations to strengthen their capacity to engage Gulf Coast residents in local rebuilding efforts. Resident participation is critical to ensuring equitable and inclusive redevelopment that results in economically and socially vibrant communities.

The grants were awarded to the following organizations through NeighborWorks America’s Community Building & Organizing Initiative:

Boat People SOS
Broadmoor Improvement Association
Dillard University CDC
Gulf Coast Latin American Association
Gulf Coast Community Services Center,
Lafayette Restoration Center
Mary Queen of Viet Nam CDC
Housing 2010
United Houma Nation
Visions of Hope

Launched in 1995 to enhance the role of residents revitalizing communities, the NeighborWorks Community Building & Organizing Initiative provides grants, technical assistance, peer sharing and training opportunities to local NeighborWorks organizations and community-based partners to engage residents in community development. Initiative resources support resident leadership development and community building and organizing efforts.

NeighborWorks is one of the country’s largest housing and community development organizations and is actively engaged in Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. NeighborWorks is supporting an array of rebuilding activities across the Gulf Coast to meet its rebuilding goals, including the development or rehabilitation of 10,000 affordable housing units and direct investment of $200 million to projects in the region.

NeighborWorks America CEO Ken Wade said, “Residents must have a seat at the table to ensure that rebuilding efforts meet the needs of all families. The job at hand is enormous, but I’m proud to say that NeighborWorks America, together with NeighborWorks organizations, other nonprofit groups and government agencies, has achieved positive early results for families devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – we will rebuild the Gulf Coast region one project and one community at a time.”

Wade explained that NeighborWorks America and its partners have more than 4,500 affordable housing units in development or predevelopment.

Moreover, the corporation and its capital markets affiliate, Neighborhood Housing Services of America, have raised $96 million, nearly half of the $200 million goal.

NeighborWorks America is managing its Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts from two regional offices in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. The offices are staffed by James Ross and Wes Miller respectively.

NeighborWorks America Grant Recipients

Front Row: Mary Tran and Cam Tran, Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation; Donald Phoenix, NeighborWorks America; Lauren Anderson, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans; Brenda Dardar Robichaux, United Houma Nation; Lori West, Gulf Coast Community Services Center/International Relief & Development; Thao Vu, Boat People SOS; Myra Cox and Andy Guerra, Gulf Coast Latin American Association; Nick Harris, Dillard University Community Development Corporation; James Ross, NeighborWorks America

Back Row: Bishop Diane Williams, Lafayette Restoration Center; Marva Fairley-Tanner, Housing 2010; Bobbie Reed, Lafayette Restoration Center; Marc Barnes, Dillard University Community Development Corporation; Melvyn Colon, NeighborWorks America; Sarah D. Walker, Visions of Hope; Ernie Osteen, Broadmoor Improvement Association; Cornelius Jones, Voice of Calvary Ministries; Wes Miller, NeighborWorks America

About NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing.To date, we have assisted nearly 850,000 low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 235 community development organizations working in 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $12.4 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.