Ohio Community Development News

HAC's Rural Data Portal is an easy to use, on-line resource that provides essential information on the social, economic, and housing characteristics of communities in the United States. The rural data portal provides over 350 data indictors for your community. Most of the information provided in portal comes from HAC tabulations of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey (ACS) and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Data.

Member News

United North Getting it Done

Recently, a profile about United North was featured in the Toledo Blade. The article highlights many of United North's development activities and successes; offering praise for their propensity to "get it done." You can read the article by clicking here.

Funding Opportunities

United Way Neighborhood Partnership Grants

The Neighborhood Partnership Grant (NPG) Program offers competitive grants that aim to improve the quality of neighborhood life in Franklin County. Grants are available for neighborhood-driven collaborative projects located in Franklin County. The program accepts requests up to $10,000. For more information and to view the application, please click here.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau RFP

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) # CFP-14-R-00001 for Integrating Financial Coaching into Service Delivery for Transitioning Veterans and Economically Vulnerable Consumers. The purpose of thisRFP is to acquire contractor support for the Division of Consumer Education and Engagement's Integrating Financial Coaching into Service Delivery for Transitioning Veterans and Economically Vulnerable Consumers project. The CFPB is requesting a proposal in compliance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW), detailing how the contactor will support the CFPB in this regard. All of the information regarding this RFP, including the solicitation and its supporting documents can be found here. All responses to this request must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, January 6, 2014.

USEPA Cleanup Grants

Did you know that as a community development corporation, you can qualify for Brownfield grant funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)? The US EPA's Brownfields Program has a rich history rooted in environmental justice and is committed to helping communities revitalize brownfield properties, mitigate potential health risks, and restore economic vitality. Part of this program is the Cleanup grant, which provides funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. Your organization can apply for up to $200,000 per site. Due to budget limitations, no entity can apply for funding cleanup activities at more than three (3) sites. These funds may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). Cleanup grants require a 20 percent cost share, which may be in the form of a contribution of money, labor, material, or services, and must be for eligible and allowable costs (the match must equal 20 percent of the amount of funding provided by EPA and cannot include administrative costs). A cleanup grant applicant may request a waiver of the 20 percent cost share requirement based on hardship. An applicant must own the site for which it is requesting funding at time of application. The performance period for these grants is three (3) years. If you would like to learn more, would like assistance in vetting a potential grant project or help in preparing an application, please contact OCDCA member Dan B. Brown, President of Partners Environmental Consulting, Inc. at (440) 248-6005 or [email protected].

Neighborhood Implementation Grants

Wells Fargo is offering Neighborhood Implementation Grants. For more information, click here.

Job Opportunities

For current postings Click Here.

Organizations with employment opportunities in the housing and community development field, please send your employment notices to David Foust, at [email protected].

State News

Neighborhood Infrastructure Assistance Program Update

Progress continued on the legislation with proponent testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee for the Neighborhood Infrastructure Assistance Program (NIAP). Senate Bill 149 and House Bill 219 proposes to create a program that would offer a tax credit to businesses that make monetary donations to catalytic community development projects. At the second hearing on November 20th OCDCA provided testimony in partnership with coalition member Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) and explained the design specifics of the program and discussed successes other states have experienced with similar programs. At the third House Ways and Means Committee hearing on December 4th , testimony was given from varying perspectives. Taris Vrcek, Executive Director of McKees Rocks CDC in Pennsylvania relayed a compelling story of decades long disinvestment in this first ring suburb of Pittsburgh (and Governor Kasich's hometown) reversed by Neighborhood Partnership Program tax credits that resulted in the renovation of the historic Roxian Theatre, brownfield remediation and central business district revitalization. Tim Bete, President, St. Mary Development Corporation described the complexity of development financing, the resource contraction facing the industry, the catalytic impacts of community economic development projects, and the desire for NIAP funding in Ohio. Mike Gonsiorowski, Regional President of PNC Bank in Columbus provided written testimony explaining their many years of experience participating in similar tax credit programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The proponent testimonies significantly contributed to the momentum and energy around this proposed program. The General Assembly is on holiday break and the effort will continue in the New Year. The coalition greatly appreciates the commitment and travels of the testimony team!

For background information and written testimony on the Neighborhood Infrastructure Assistance Program, please click here.

Federal News & Resources

Congress Reaches Bipartisan Budget Agreement

Budget Conference Committee Chairs Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) reached agreement on final FY14 and FY15 spending levels on December 10, ending months of budget gridlock. Representative Ryan offered the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 in the House as a substitute amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the current continuing resolution (CR). The House passed the budget agreement by a vote of 332 to 94 on December 12, and the Senate is approved the budget agreement by a vote of 64 to 26 on December 18th.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 provides $45 billion in FY14 sequestration relief and $17 billion in FY15 relief, split evenly between defense and non-defense discretionary spending. The bill would increase total FY14 spending from the FY13 level of $986 billion to $1.012 trillion, approximately half way between the House's budget resolution level of $967 billion and the Senate's proposed level of $1.058 trillion. The FY14 defense spending cap would be $520 billion and the non-defense spending cap would be $492 billion. For FY15, the bill would slightly increase the overall discretionary spending cap to $1.014 trillion. In addition, the bill provides for $23 billion in deficit reduction over the next ten years.

The House recessed for the rest of the year on December 12 and the Senate is scheduled to adjourn on December 20. When Congress resumes its session in January, it will have to quickly pass the FY14 appropriations package before January 15 when the CR currently funding the government expires. The agreement does not deal with the pending need to increase the debt limit by early March.

Mel Watt Confirmed as FHFA Director

On December 10, the Senate confirmed Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to serve as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Watt will replace Acting Director Ed DeMarco, whose policies were unpopular with housing and community development advocates. As FHFA Director, Watt will have the authority to reaffirm FHFA's role in promoting equitable access to affordable mortgage credit. Advocates are hopeful that he will lift the FHFA's ban on principal reduction, allowing Fannie and Freddie to lower the amount that underwater borrowers owe on their mortgages. Watt will also have the authority to reinstate the mandate that Fannie and Freddie contribute to the National Housing Trust Fund, which was suspended when they were placed in conservatorship. Watt could also reverse plans to scale back Fannie and Freddie's support for multifamily rental housing. Read Mr. Watt's First Day in US News and World Report.

Demolition

To read Allan Mallach's article in Shelterforce, Can We Demolish Our Way to Revitalization, click here.

U.S. Average Opportunity Score Has Increased Since 2011

The 2013 Opportunity Index was is jointly developed by Measure of America and Opportunity Nation, the Opportunity Index provides an overview of the opportunities available to residents at the state and county level. According to Opportunity Index 2011-2013 Findings, the national average Opportunity Score rose to 50.9 (out of 100) in 2013 from 50.0 in 2012 and 49.6 in 2011. During the three-year period, most states and counties saw an increase in their Opportunity Scores (states) and Opportunity Grades (counties). The Index measures 16 factors covering three dimensions: jobs and local economy, education, and community health and civic life. A majority of states and counties improved or maintained their scores in the jobs and local economy and education dimensions. Progress was weakest in the community health and civic life dimension.

To view the Opportunity Index 2011-2013 Findings, click here.

To view the Opportunity Index Interactive Tool, click here.

Thanks for subscribing and reading! Please feel free to email us with any comments or suggestions!

Sincerely,

David Foust
Membership Manager
Ohio CDC Association

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