April 2020

Live, Work, Thrive

Your Monthly Update from the Community Development Partnership

A Word from Jay... Last month I wrote about our 2020 Annual Meeting and community awards. Never could I have imagined how our world would change over the past several weeks.  We have postponed the Annual Meeting to a date to be determined – just one example of the many ways in which our work has pivoted to respond to the unprecedented economic and public health challenge posed by COVID-19. In this issue, you will find the details of our response to this crisis. We have remained “Open for Business” through remote working and we are committed to supporting the 80+ individuals and families living in our affordable apartments as well as meeting the urgent needs of our region’s small businesses by ensuring that federal and state resources are accessible to all those in need. For nearly three decades, the CDP has been committed to building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive here by nurturing the launch and growth of small businesses and promoting, developing and managing housing that is affordable. This crisis has underscored the importance of our work because a strong and diverse community is a resilient community able to weather this and the challenges of the future.  Thanks for your commitment to our mission and support for our work – our community needs you now more than ever.

Please make an emergency gift today

Jay Coburn Chief Executive Officer

Update from the CDP

In the midst of the pandemic the CDP remains "Open for Business"

Since March 14 th we have all been adapting to the Coronavirus pandemic as we respond to the public health crisis and the growing economic impact on our community. While circumstances will evolve, at the CDP we have identified three priorities that will frame our ongoing response to the effects of the pandemic. First, we are continuing to do our work while fully protecting the safety of our staff members and all the people with whom we work. As a result, most of our staff are now working from home and we have cancelled or postponed all public events, trainings, workshops and in-person consultations until further notice.  Click here to see what the CDP is doing

Housing

Harbor Hill residents can rest easy...now they have stable housing “I now wake up every morning knowing that I have a place to sleep that is safe and secure, and I don't have to worry about being kicked out.” Kymberly Wilkinson Harbor Hill Resident  Harbor Hill is a 28-unit property owned by the Town of Provincetown’s Year-Round Market Rate Rental Trust. This is a unique effort created by special state legislation to create rental housing for working people who earn too much to qualify for traditional Affordable Housing yet can’t secure year-round housing due to the predominance of short-term and seasonal rentals. For the past year, the CDP has served as the property’s managers, assisting the town with completing renovations and renting up the property.  As renovations have been completed, new residents have moved in over the past several months. Recently, CDP staff interviewed several of the new residents at Harbor Hill. Their stories underscore why creating Affordable and Community Housing is so important if we are to have a vibrant, year-round community.  Click to learn how Harbor Hill is helping the community

Supporting Local Business

Mobil Mixers: Bringing the party right to your door

“There are a lot of younger people out there looking to put down roots on the Cape by starting their own business. I’m glad we got to do it with the help of a local organization.” Mike Doherty Co-founder, Mobile Mixers & CDP Micro-loan Client

It was the winter of 2016 and friends Mike Doherty and Rory Nickerson were talking over drinks at the Orleans bowling alley. They both grew up on the Lower Cape, and had been close friends since high school. Mike had spent the past fifteen years living in California but had returned to the Cape often to attend weddings and visit with friends. Reflecting on his own wedding, Mike was frustrated with the lack of bar options at the venue. “There was a gazebo on the property, but it wasn’t really big enough for a bar” says Mike. Over the course of their conversation, Mike recalled a wedding he attended in California where the bar service transported all their equipment in an old trailer. From there the two asked themselves what if the trailer was the bar? “How cool would it be if a full-service bar just rolled right up to your event?” Read more about Mobile Mixers here

Supporter Spotlight

Supporter Spotlight: For Laura Clements it’s about young people

“These are the same kids who are now in our workforce and they want to start their own business, but due to the housing crisis they don’t have the funds to do either, and this is the reason the CDP is so important." Laura Clements Owner, Cove Road Real Estate A resident and business owner on the Lower Cape for sixteen years, Laura Clements is the owner of Cove Road Real Estate in Orleans and sees daily the struggles young people face trying to make a living and own a home in our communities. Laura enjoyed a very successful career in publishing and advertising in the Boston area, but retired to raise her two children. During that time she worked with several nonprofits and she enjoyed being able to make an impact - “this is why I have such a passion for helping good causes,” she says.  Her first visit to the Cape was in 2004. She was going through a divorce and a friend suggested Laura stay at her home in Brewster to get away from it all. While she was recharging, Laura became friends with staff at the LandHo! and soon decided she wanted to make Brewster and the Lower Cape her home.                                    Read more about why Laura Supports the CDP

Business & Credit Workshops

I n response to the evolving impacts of the Coronavirus, the CDP has canceled all in-person trainings, workshops, technical assistance sessions, and walk-in appointments until May 6th. We remain committed to serving our business clients and our community. Staff is now working remotely and will continue our existing programs and services while also responding to the evolving challenges that this pandemic presents. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Pam Andersen at pam@capecdp.org or 508-240-7873 x18.

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This Place Matters

This Place Matters   our bi-weekly radio & television show

Tune in  92.1 WOMR & 91.3 WFMR     Wednesdays 12:30pm   Also on  Lower Cape TV Join host Jay Coburn & guests to learn more  about activities affecting the people and places on the Lower and Outer Cape. Click Here to Listen to or Watch Past Shows   If you have an idea for a guest or topic -  Contact Britt Beedenbende r

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Thank you for supporting our efforts to support the Lower Cape community during this crisis.

www.capecdp.org