Your Monthly Update
from the Community Development Partnership
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A Word from Ben...
This is the time of year when the days are getting longer and here at the CDP we are ramping up for the months ahead.
Last month, at our annual meeting with the CDP Board to discuss our legislative priorities for 2019, our leadership was able to thank Senator Cyr and Representative Peake for their great work in securing increased state funding for our programs to support small businesses and efforts such as the Real Estate Transfer Tax which should fund affordable housing developments and climate change.
On an almost daily basis, I am reminded of the difference our programs and services make in the lives of our low- to moderate-income neighbors here on the Lower Cape. Our meeting with Sen Cyr and Rep. Peake was an affirmation that the efforts we are working on--with our partners at the State House and with your support-- have realized results.
Last month we were awarded a Housing Rehabilitation grant for Provincetown, Truro, Eastham and Harwich. We have inquiries coming in every day and thus far we have processed 8 applications. This grant will give us the ability to help roughly 16 homeowners get critical repairs done to their home that might otherwise be left unchanged.
In this issue, you’ll read about Kevin Sturtevant of Neighborhood Auto, who has worked with the CDP for several years, and does his part to better our community. You will also see how Chatham and Harwich are reflecting a shift in how towns do business on the Lower Cape by working together to solve an affordable housing need.
So on behalf of the entire Board of Directors of the CDP, thanks for investing in all that we do to create opportunities for people to live, work, and thrive on the Lower Cape.
Enjoy these last weeks of winter. With gratitude,
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Ben deRuyter
President, CDP Board of Directors
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CDP Provides Housing Coordinator Services to Chatham and Harwich
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“What matters most is that there are more housing units on the Lower Cape and that towns can move the needle on achieving their housing goals.”
Andrea Aldana, CDP Director of Housing Advocacy
Most Cape towns on the Lower Cape have a plan about their housing needs and how to achieve them. All towns have volunteer boards addressing housing issues, but they aren’t necessarily equipped to handle the complexities of managing, never mind developing, affordable housing while navigating public resistance.
Thus it’s no surprise that towns that are successful in reaching their housing production goals are towns that have housing staff. Without it, no single person in town hall is responsible for advancing housing production goals and it is left to volunteer boards. Provincetown, which has had a full-time housing specialist for several years, leads the entire region with an inventory of affordable housing stock at 9.8%.
To address this lack of resources, adopting a more regional view by sharing staff is an efficient solution. Staff can serve multiple towns facing similar issues and provide education and consulting services to town boards, committees, town leaders and those seeking affordable housing.
Last month the CDP entered into contracts with Harwich and Chatham to provide housing consulting services. For now, Andrea Aldana, the CDP’s Director of Housing Advocacy, is serving in this position while the CDP hires a Housing Advocacy Program Manager to take on this role .
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Supporting Local Business
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Neighborhood Automotive…A Wellfleetian's love of tinkering makes for good business
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“We’ve found steady growth each year, even in the winter months. The quality of the work and word of mouth have both helped us.”
Kevin Sturtevant
Owner, Neighborhood Automotive
Just past the PB Boulangerie Bistro on Route 6 in South Wellfleet, you may see a small, fairly inconspicuous sign for Neighborhood Automotive on the right. Turn down the driveway and you’ll find yourself in the busy parking lot of a spacious and clean automotive shop. The atmosphere is friendly and the shop is owned and operated by Kevin Sturtevant, a self-described “Wellfleetian” of several generations.
Inside the front door of the office there’s an old barber’s chair you can sit in, as well as photos of classic cars on the wall. In addition to its charm and character, Neighborhood Automotive is a bustling business with an AAA approval, a much sought after distinction.
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Chris Ward shares his hope for the Cape
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“The CDP works tirelessly to get the message out that if we cannot have affordable housing we cannot have a viable and young workforce.“
Chris Ward, Eastham
Chris Ward knows firsthand the difficulties of the housing crisis on Cape Cod and its ramifications on business owners. A Trust & Estates and Tax lawyer, Chris is a Managing Partner at Latanzi, Spaulding & Landreth in Orleans and has served on the CDP’s Advisory Council for over five years.
A native of Granby Massachusetts, Chris had an aunt who lived in Eastham, which became the family’s summer gathering place. He spent countless hours on Thumpertown Beach and worked at the Orleans Inn as a dishwasher. After college he traveled and then pursued his law degree at Western New England College and an LLM in Taxation at Georgetown University. In 2002 he was first hired by a law firm in Hyannis and settled on the Cape for good. He began working at Latanzi in 2007 and commuted from his home in Centerville but recently moved to Eastham to be closer to work.
Chris first learned about the CDP from CEO Jay Coburn. They had served on a couple of boards together and Jay asked him if he would join the CDP’s Advisory Council. “I was thrilled. It is such a smart and talented group of people. There is an extraordinary amount of talent, experience and knowledge. This is a truly unique group of people” He also notes that what really stands out is that “No one is there for their ego. They are all on the Advisory Council to help their community and make it a better place for people to live.”
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The Village at Nauset Green
As many of you know, we have been watching the woods behind our offices transform into what will become The Village at Nauset Green, an affordable 65 unit development for households making 30-90% AMI. The first buildings are expected to open in the Fall of 2019.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, you can do so
here.
Their website is: www.villageatnausetgreen.com
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Upcoming Events and Workshops
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Business & Credit Workshops
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These workshops are sponsored by:
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Check out our Spring Marketing Musts Workshops with SCORE
Workshops take place at the CDP offices
5:30 - 7:00 pm
March 5
Networking Like Your business Depends on It...It Does
March 19
Creating the Brand Called "..." - Building Your
Business Into a Relevant Brand
April 2
Marketing - It's More Than Advertising
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Spring Workshops at Seamen's Bank, Wellfleet
8:30 - 10:00 AM
March 4:
The 4 Pillars of an Effective Website
April 11:
Growing Your Business Through Social Media
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This Place Matters
our bi-weekly radio & television show
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Tune in
92.1 WOMR & 91.3 WFMR
Wednesdays 12:30pm
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Join host Jay Coburn & guests to learn more
about activities affecting the people and places on the Lower and Outer Cape Cod.
March 6
: Join
Mara Glatzel
of Truro about her experiences as a CDP First Time Home Buyer and Housing Rehabilitation client.
March 30
: Listen in as
Donna Kalinick,
Assistant Town Manager of Brewster and
Stefanie Coxe,
Consultant to Smarter Cape Cod discuss Accessory Dwelling Units and other solutions to affordable housing.
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Thank you
for supporting the work we do to make the Lower Cape a place where we can all
live
,
work
and
thrive
!
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