Empowering Communities RFP Now Open

OCDCA and the CareSource Foundation are launching the Empowering Communities Grant Challenge. The Empowering Communities Grant Challenge will provide funding for innovative solutions to unique community challenges that involve the social determinants of health. Applications are due by May 4, 2018. Join us for an informational and a technical assistance webinar for this brand new funding opportunity.

Event and Date	Location	Registration
What is Empowering Communities?	Webinar	Watch Here!

Event and Date	Location	Registration
Empowering Communities RFP TA Webinar April 10, 2018 10:00 - 11:30 AM	Webinar	Register Here!

OCDCA Releases 2017 Annual Report

Ohio CDC Association has just released its 2017 Annual Report. Special thanks to our members, partners, sponsors, and funders for supporting us through 2017. We had a great year, and are looking forward to an even better 2018!

OCDCA Members! Give Us Your Thoughts

As our membership grows and changes each year, we like to ask you, our member, what you are doing and how we can better serve your organization. Members, would you please take just 10 minutes to complete this brief survey? As a thank you for taking a moment out of your day, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free conference registration to OCDCA's 34th Annual Conference in Columbus on October 3-5, 2018.

Ohio Microbusiness Summit

Join us for a day of informative sessions, discussion, and networking with microbusiness program providers throughout the state.  If your organization has an existing microbusiness development program or if you want to learn more about microbusiness development in Ohio, don't miss this summit! 

Featured Speaker, Gary Schoeniger  Founder & CEO of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative. Gary is the co-author of Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur. In addition to the guest speaker, the agenda will include networking and a tour of ECDI's Women's Business Center and the Food Commissary. This event is free to attend and lunch will be provided.

Event and Date	Location	Registration
Ohio Microbusiness Summit May 17, 2018 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM	ECDI 1655 Old Leonard Avenue Columbus, OH 43219	Register Here!

The Ohio Microbusiness Summits are supported by Citizens Bank.

Harnessing the Forces of Gentrification to Improve your Neighborhood

For years, communities working to improve their economy have struggled with the forces of gentrification. In this workshop, we will explore how to define and measure gentrification, and practical tools to promote inclusive neighborhood development.

Presenters for this training are Brian Higgins of Parsons Area Redevelopment Corporation and Mark Barbash. This event is free to attend. Attendees will have lunch on their own.

Event and Date	Location	Registration
Harnessing the Forces of Gentrification to Improve your Neighborhood June 7, 2018 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Ohio CDC Association 100 E. Broad Street, 6th Floor Columbus, OH 43215	Register Here!

OCDCA Announces AmeriCorps VISTA Sub-Sites and Open Positions

In February, OCDCA awarded thirty-two OCDCA members positions for a year-long AmeriCorps VISTA to begin summer 2018. VISTA Members are full-time volunteers that serve at a non-profit organization and focus their efforts on building organizational, administrative, and financial capacity for organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, strengthen community groups, and otherwise assist low-income communities. We are currently recruiting for these positions, including an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader to serve in our office. Please share these positions widely to help recruit. 

Building Community Together

Save the Date! #cdcOhio18 is in Columbus October 3-5, 2018!

Join us this October in the Capitol City at the Westin Columbus Downtown as we explore all of the work going on in the Arch City. Read more here. Follow the excitement on Twitter with #cdcohio18.

If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference, please contact Lisa Much .

Welcome New Members!

Midtown Cleveland, Inc. and Gordon Square Arts District in Cleveland join OCDCA as our newest 2018 members. Welcome!

Stuck in Dial-Up Age, Rural Ohio Still Pushing for High-Speed Internet

Terri Fetherolf has two wishes for Vinton County: clean water and fast internet. The first is imperative for its safety and health. "But rolling out broadband is key to our economic survival," said Fetherolf, Vinton County's development director. Read the full article in The Columbus Dispatch.

FHLB Comments Due by May 14th

A new set of rules has been proposed for the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) by the Federal Home Loan Bank's (FHLB) regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Proposed changes include expanded review of the AHP development team, establishment of multiple AHP pools, new statutory and regulatory priorities, new scoring and feasibility parameters, changes in retention requirements, etc. The FHFA is seeking comment on the proposed rule by close of business on May 14, 2018. The FHLB Cincinnati will be formally soliciting comments from its Members and affordable housing partners in the next few weeks. For questions or additional information, please contact the Housing and Community Investment Department at (888) 345-2246.

HDGF Application Package Now Available

The 2018 Housing Development Gap Financing program's full application package , including applicable guidelines, useful forms, and helpful website links is now on OHFA's website.

OneOhio Now Releases Story Through Statistics

OneOhio Now has released The State of Ohio: A Story Through Statistics. This easy-to-read report looks at a variety of issues including infant mortality, college tuition, unemployment and 13 other key indicators to offer a comprehensive view of how Ohio is measuring up to other states. 

Cleveland Fed Community Advisory Council

The Cleveland Fed seeks members for a council that will inform and advise the Cleveland Fed's Community Development Department and senior bank leaders on issues impacting underserved and lower-income communities. They invite applications from leaders of community development organizations and experts familiar with issues such as household financial stability, workforce development, small business, and housing. Learn more.

Enterprise Community Partners, Cleveland, is seeking a Program Officer.

Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Canton, is seeking a Home Lending and Counseling Manager. 

Coalition leaders are still working to advance HB 123, a measure to reform Ohio's worst-in-the-country payday lending system. Unfortunately it appears that the House legislation has stalled. The introduction of a Senate bill is anticipated. "I think it is a concern when you look around the state and see things like 600% interest rates, allegedly," said Senate President Larry Obhof (R - Medina). "Nobody should be stuck in a death spiral of debt that they can't get out of." 

Numerous newspapers have lambasted the legislature for their lack of action such as the Columbus Dispatch, The Plain Dealer, Youngstown Vindicator, and Akron Beacon-Journal. The lack of action is best summed up by coalition partner Pastor Tom Stephenson's OpEd who is grieved that this deplorable practice is permitted. The New York Times Editorial Board said "The lenders are blocking bills restricting the industry in other states, including Ohio, where borrowers typically pay an annual rate of 591 percent - the highest payday loan costs in the United States.'' The Columbus Dispatch Editorial Board wrote that "As always, the legislative process would be the best way to create law. But if legislators - many supported by campaign contributions from the lending lobby - don't get the job done, a ballot initiative will be welcome.'' 

In that spirit coalition leaders have begun the process to place meaningful payday lending reform on the ballot. The first summary petition was denied by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office but the coalition is undeterred. This is quite common with ballot issues given their inherent complexities. The language has been remedied and will be submitted along with revised petitions later this month. Deep appreciation to the many members that collected signatures for the first submission. If you would like to assist in collecting signatures for the revised petition please contact Nate Coffman at [email protected] or 614-461-6392 x 207.

Governor John Kasich has submitted to the US Department of Treasury 320 census tracts that are eligible for the new Opportunity Zones program. View a map of eligible tracts and a map of selected tracts.

A proposed program that matches college-age mentors with at-risk youth would expand its initial launch into northeast Ohio, under a new version of legislation. The House Finance Committee approved an amendment to the proposal ( HB 508) establishing the OhioCorps program that backers say would give students hope and opportunities in the wake of the drug crisis. The amendment from Rep. Scott Ryan (R-Newark) expands the pilot project, initially intended to focus on southeastern Ohio, into nearly half of the state's counties. It would also increase the appropriation for the program to 2.5M. Widespread interest in the program from across the state prompted lawmakers to consider expanding the program outside of just one corner, he said. The hope is that the pilot program will eventually grow to cover the entire state.