Volume 8, Issue 1 / January 31, 2017
OCDCA News
AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate RFP Released Tomorrow
The RFP for the Summer Associate VISTA Project will be released February 1, 2017. The applications will be due on February 21, 2017 by 5 pm. Stay tuned!
Artist Space Code Enforcement Question
The National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA) is interested in knowing about code enforcement in the wake of the Oakland Ghost Ship fire. Does your organization work with artists live/work spaces? Are you seeing changes or a crack down on code enforcement since last year? If you have a story or insight to share, please contact Lisa Much at lmuch@ohiocdc.org.
ICYMI: 1,000,000 Empowered Through Ohio CDCs in 2015
Have you seen our new video demonstrating the impact of Ohio CDCs?

In 2015,  Ohio's CDCs:
  • Served 1 in 12 Ohioans; 1,000,000 people!
  • Invested over $290,000,000 in their communities to meet the housing needs for more than 34,000 households
  • Reached over 115,000 individuals through food access efforts
  • Helped over 36,000 households with job training and small business development
  • Leveraged $5,750,000 of investments for financial empowerment into $57,000,000 in assets for LMI Ohioans
  • Organized volunteers that performed more than 324,000 hours of service in their communities
1,000,000 Empowered Through Ohio CDCs
1,000,000 Empowered Through Ohio CDCs

Please share this video with co-workers, friends, and your community, and use it as a resource to tell your story.  

Special thanks to Patrick Fromuth of Fromuth Productions for his outstanding work creating the video, to Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing for their generous funding support for the project, and to Bill LaFayette of Regionomics, for his assistance in analyzing the data.
Member News
Welcome New Members!
Summit County and Oak Hill Collaborative join OCDCA as our newest 2017 members. Welcome!
Youngstown homes converted to Airbnb rental units
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. converted 2 houses in the Idora Neighborhood into Airbnb rental units. Learn more on WKBN 27.
Campus District is getting an at-home feel
"Five years ago, no one could have predicted the demand that exists now," Reichtell said. "It's the success of downtown that has driven us and given developers the confidence to sink money into a neighborhood that was on the edge."  Read more in Crain's Cleveland Business.
From condemned to rehabbed: German Village home on market
Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF) has launched a pilot program designed to rehab houses that are on the verge of being torn down so they can be restored and sold to low-income families that might otherwise not have an opportunity to own a home. Read more in the Hamilton Journal-News.
What's next for 'matriarch' of Cincinnati neighborhoods?
Longtime executive director of the CDC Association of Greater Cincinnati recently retired and her history with community development in Cincinnati was recently retold in  this Cincinnati Enquirer article.
Share Your Stories
We love hearing about the awesome work you do throughout Ohio. If your organization is mentioned in the news, please share it with us. We love photos too! If you send it to Lisa Much at lmuch@ohiocdc.org , we can put it on our blog and in this newsletter. 
Partner News
Cleveland Housing Court Judge Ray Pianka Passes
Cleveland recently lost Housing Court Judge Raymond Pianka unexpectedly at the age of 65. A tireless advocate for Cleveland's neighborhoods he helped found the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization and was a national innovator during his 21-years as Cleveland's housing court judge working with CDCs across the city. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Pianka family.
AmeriCorps VISTA Spotlight
OCDCA VISTAs continue to work hard and the results are excellence examples to prove they can and will come through. November and December were amazing months for the community development corporations of OCDCA.

VISTAs acquired a total $16,930 in cash and in-kind resources. Three partnerships were solidified in employment opportunity efforts, 56 people received training or counseling in asset development, and 246 volunteers recruited who served a total of 221 hours.

Kristian Hunter, VISTA with Collinwood, acquired a $5,000 grant from Cooking with Cops to assist in affordable housing efforts. To assist in asset development, Ohio CDC Association VISTA, Patrick Creedon acquired a grant for $5,000, and Nicole Liatos, ECDI VISTA, developed $1,430 in in-kind resources. In efforts towards employment opportunities, Julia Honchel, VISTA with Arthur Morgan Institute acquired a $5,000 grant, and VISTA Erin Phillips of ACEnet developed $500 in in-kind resources.

Amazing work VISTAs!  
Events
Lunch and Learn: OANO Member Benefits Review
Looking to find out more about OANO's member benefits? This February 8th webinar will cover the wide range of OANO member benefits for new members, those looking into an OANO membership or longtime members looking to refresh their knowledge and learn about new benefits. Register here.
Brown Bag Forum: Cuyahoga County Housing Trends
This forum will update housing and community development practitioners on the latest trends in housing. Frank Ford, Senior Policy Advisor with Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and Kyle Fee, Regional Community Development Advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland will present. Maria Thompson of Third Federal Savings & Loan will moderate. Register here for the February 15th event.
Council for Rural Housing & Development In Ohio
Join CRHDO on February 22 for the HD Supply Maintenance Solutions Training in Columbus. More information and registration available here.
Healthy Soil Symposium 
The importance of soil quality to human health and climate cooling will be the focus of a Healthy Soil Symposium on Feb. 24 and 25 in McGregor Hall, Room 113, on the Antioch College campus. The event, sponsored by OCDCA member, the Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions, in partnership with Antioch College, Central State University and the Soil Carbon Coalition, will include presentations by area farmers, extension agents, researchers, gardeners, academics and climate activists. More information here.
CNU-Midwest 2017 Summit: The New Neighborhood Brewery
Check out the CUN-Midwest 2017 Summit at the Woodward Theater on March 3rd from 1:00-6:00 pm to explore how the craft beer craze is affecting urban spaces. Event cost is $25. More information here.
Registration for GOPC's 2017 Summit is Open
Join our partners at the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) for their 2017 Summit, Investing in Ohio's Future: Maximizing Growth in our Cities and Regions. The Summit will take place on March 7th and 8th, 2017  at the Westin Hotel in downtown Columbus. This biennial convening will bring together experts, policymakers, and local leaders to explore best practices in financing and accelerating comprehensive and sustainable growth in communities throughout Ohio. The Summit is open to anyone interested in the development and redevelopment of Ohio's neighborhoods and metropolitan areas.

For more information, please check out GOPC's 2017 Summit Website. The registration deadline is March 1, 2017. See you in Columbus!
Funding Opportunities
Clif Bar Family Foundation Small Grants Program
Small grants up to $7,000 will be awarded to address their funding priorities from a holistic perspective including: protecting the earth's beauty and bounty; creating a robust, healthy food system; increasing opportunities for outdoor activity; reducing environmental health hazards; and building stronger communities. Deadline is February 1, 2017.
USDA Utilities Program Revolving Loan Fund
This program helps qualified non-profits create a revolving loan fund (RLF) that can provide financing for the extension and improvement of water and waste disposal systems in rural areas. Deadline is February 6.
Cleveland Neighborhood Grants
Neighborhood Connections offers small grants to groups of residents in Cleveland and East Cleveland to do projects that improve the quality of life in their communities. Grants range from $500 to $5,000. Grants are intended to spur small, grassroots community projects. Grants may be used for a wide variety of activities and projects, and groups are encouraged to think in new ways about what will work in their communities and with whom they might partner. Deadline is February 10, 2017.
ArtPlace America National Creative Placemaking Fund
ArtPlace America opened their seventh round of applications to the National Creative Placemaking Fund. Please carefully review all of the information provided and register to apply by February 14. Deadline is February 22.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Our community action grant priorities include education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment. Deadline is February 28.
Infosys Foundation USA: Call for Maker Submissions
The Infosys Foundation USA has launched its second year of the Infy Maker Awards competition to provide $10,000 to adult Makers who are working on social impact projects and tackling important challenges. This year's themes are education, health, environmental sustainability and combating hunger. There are 25 prizes available. Applications are due February 28.
Employment Opportunities
Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization is hiring a Staff Accountant and a Marketing & Events Coordinator.

Community Housing Network is seeking an Executive Assistant/Office Manager.

View more employment opportunities on our website.  Organizations with employment opportunities in community development may send their notices for free posting to Lisa Much at lmuch@ohiocdc.org .
State News
Ohio Housing Trust Fund Expansion
Home Matters to Ohio, a broad-based campaign to build awareness about the importance of affordable housing is working to expand the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) through the state's budget process. 

Hundreds of organizations in and out of housing and community development have signed on to support the effort. We thank you for your support! 
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) has also recently released an OHTF economic impact study that demonstrates further value such as leveraging other funds (nearly 5:1) and job creation (855 FT jobs per $10 M in grants). 

The Akron Beacon Journal recently published an editorial outlining the compelling reasons to supplement the OHTF with general revenue.
Save the Dream Ohio Foreclosure Prevention
QAP 2017 Comment Periods End Soon
OHFA will accept comments on the 2017 Qualified Allocation Plan Amendment through February 6, 2017, at QAP@ohiohome.org.
Federal News
TAKE ACTION: Affordable Housing and Community Development Programs Threatened By Severe Cuts
Funding for affordable housing, community development, and transportation programs is under attack.  Last week, news broke that the Trump administration is preparing dramatic cuts to the federal budget to reduce spending by over $10 trillion over 10 years, while also promising to increase defense spending and cut taxes for wealthy Americans. 

Organizations and advocates concerned about transportation, housing, community development, and homelessness are working together to circulate a letter urging Congress to lift the harmful caps on federal spending and provide the highest level of funding possible for these programs in fiscal year (FY) 2018.

Please sign your organization on today! The deadline to sign the letter is March 3. Thank you for your support!
Congress and Trump Administration Begin FY 18 Budget Process
The Trump Administration is drafting a budget blueprint that is expected to be released in the next 45 days. This so-called "skinny budget" purportedly proposes to cut government spending by $10.5 trillion over ten years and outlines plans for shrinking the federal bureaucracy. These initial proposals closely match a Heritage Foundation blueprint published last year - The Blueprint for Reform - which also recommends eliminating most HUD programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and transferring other programs to the states. In addition, the blueprint suggests transferring programs like homelessness assistance to the Department of Health and Human Services and proposes eliminating the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund from the Treasury Department. The Trump Administration is expected to release a full budget request by the end of April.
New American Housing Survey Results for 25 Metro Areas
HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau have released the results of the 2015 American Housing Survey for 25 metropolitan areas including Cincinnati and Cleveland, focusing on housing costs, food insecurity and neighborhood characteristics. For the first time in its 42-year history, the American Housing Survey included questions on food security status, which allowed HUD to assign households a "food security status" score and identify those that are food insecure. The survey results show that 4.9 percent of homeowners and 15.5 percent of renters were food insecure in 2015.
Congress Aims to Move Quickly on Comprehensive Tax Reform
Comprehensive tax reform is a top priority for the 115th Congress and incoming Administration, and the House is aiming to move quickly to finalize its proposal. In December, Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee held a meeting to discuss specifics for translating the House's tax reform blueprint, released last summer, into legislation. At the December meeting of Republican Ways and Means Committee members, key Republicans on the committee voiced support for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, suggesting the Housing Credit remains in a strong position as the committee works to translate their tax reform proposal into legislation. However, it remains to be seen whether the New Markets Tax Credit and multifamily Housing Bonds are also likely to be retained in a reformed tax code.
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