This week (April 17-22) communities across the nation will celebrate National Community Development Week. This annual event is designed to celebrate the accomplishments of community, economic, and housing development programs across the country.
Throughout Community Development week, held during the spring Congressional recess, hundreds of communities will hold numerous events and meet with Members of Congress in their home districts to build support for the programs that make their community development projects possible. To recognize the achievements of our members and these programs, NALHFA will also be participating in Community Development week by sharing content, featuring member projects, and meeting with Hill staffers to advocate for these important programs.
To see NALHFA's activities during Community Development week, follow us on
Facebook,
Twitter, and
LinkedIn. You won't want to miss it!
Are you celebrating National Community Development Week? Let us know what you're doing! We will feature your activities on social media and future NALHFA publications. Send your events and stories to
hvoorman@nalhfa.org.
National Community Development Week NALHFA Member Spotlight
Throughout Community Development Week, we will be featuring this year's submissions for the NALHFA Awards program. For over 20 years, NALHFA has been recognizing the outstanding efforts of its member agencies and non-profit organizations through our Awards program. Held in conjunction with the NALHFA Annual Educational Conference, these awards draw submissions from across the United States and in all categories of affordable housing development-single family, multifamily redevelopment, mixed-use, senior housing, and many others. The NALHFA awards committee judges submissions and final decisions will be announced at the
2017 Annual Conference.
Single-Family Excellence Category: Green Homes North, City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Green Homes North was launched in 2012 and financed construction of 105 homes in North, Minneapolis. Program goals include:
- Create new construction homeownership opportunities in North Minneapolis;
- Build capacity of local developers to create energy efficient and sustainable homes;
- Create job opportunities for local residents and disadvantaged business enterprises;
- Promote Minneapolis businesses providing green products.
The program was focused in North Minneapolis to address a host of housing challenges most concentrated in that sector, including subprime lending, foreclosures, and devastation from a 2011 tornado.
Green Homes North encouraged diverse and innovative design. Funded homes include features, such as net zero energy, LEED Gold certified, multigenerational, universally designed, artist live/work space, and small units with expansion capacity.
(Left, Right) Hawthorne EcoVillave Community members at groundbreaking ceremony for a new community garden space, across the street from two Green Homes North homes.
Great job, City of Minneapolis on Green Homes North! Stay tuned throughout Community Development week for more innovative and resourceful affordable housing stories from NALHFA members!
