What's Happening in Ohio Community Development?
March 2021 | Vol. 12, Issue 3
OCDCA News
OCDCA Upcoming Events
Join OCDCA for one of several upcoming events.
SBA PRIME Grant Program
Ohio CDC Association Capacity Building Initiative
The SBA’s Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME) provides grant funding to organizations that help low-income entrepreneurs gain access to the training and capital they need to establish and expand their small businesses. To enable members of Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) to leverage PRIME and create new, more sustainable initiatives, OCDCA is partnering with ECDI to offer a premier cohort consulting package to a select number of OCDCA members. This cohort will run from May-September 2021. This program gives participating OCDCA members a robust curriculum on small business capital access and provides critical pre-loan services and loan packaging for the CDCs' small business clients. Learn more about the program and ask questions at our virtual SBA Prime Capacity Building Grant Award & PPP Loan Information Session next week, on Thursday, April 8, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Real Estate Development 101
4.21.21 // 10 - 11:30 AM

Join Finance Fund to get some tips and tricks on beginning a real estate development program. Topics include real estate evaluation, third party professionals (contractors and other vendors), lender expectations, financing, and property management. The intended audience is CDCs with limited development experience or new staff. There will be ample time to get all your questions answered during this interactive session. Learn more.
Real Estate Development 401
5.18.21 // 10 - 11:30 AM

After the Real Estate Development 101 in April, OCDCA and Finance Fund wanted to offer a more advanced session where CDCs with real estate experience can get their trickier questions answered. This session will be mostly devoted to open-ended questions in a conversational format, but a presentation will be developed based on questions entered at registration. If you have burning questions now, please let us know. Learn more.
Real Estate For Social Good: Licensing Non-Profit Agents At CDCs And Landbanks To Reduce Costs And Generate Unrestricted Revenue
4.8.21 // 10 - 11:30 AM

This interactive discussion will illustrate how a non-profit social enterprise real estate agency, a thriving CDC, and progressive land bank have created a collaborative model to generate revenue and reduce operating expenses. Learn more.
Coffee Chat: Housing Development
4.30.21 // 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Get some coffee and come chat with fellow OCDCA members to discuss all things housing development, including acquisition, rehab, and financing. Share your challenges and successes with your peers. This will be a low-format 45-minute group conversation on the subject. Come prepared to participate! Learn more.
OCDCA Book Club
5.17.21 // 2 - 3 PM

Are you interested in reading to further your professional or personal development? Maybe it’s a New Year resolution to read more books this year? Join our book club! Our second book as chosen by members who attended the first book club meeting is The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein. Learn more.
OCDCA Announces 2021 - 2022 AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate Sub-Sites
Summer Associates are full-time volunteers that serve at a non-profit organization for ten weeks in the summer. The 2021 VISTAs will begin in June 2021 and serve for ten weeks. Learn more and view the sub-site list.

Additionally, check out the current open year-long VISTA positions throughout the OCDCA network.
Call for Speakers & TA Providers!
Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) is currently seeking engaging presenters on a variety of topics for our year-round training calendar and our upcoming annual conference, scheduled for October 6-8, 2021. OCDCA is also seeking qualified providers of technical assistance on a variety of topics. Learn more and apply by April 29th.
N95 Masks Available
OCDCA, through OHFA, has several boxes of N95 masks. If your organization needs any for any reason, please let Amanda Crawford know at [email protected] or 614-461-6392 ex. 209.
Investing in Community-Driven Solutions Key to Pandemic Recovery
The Ohio CDC Association is proud to be a partner for the Cleveland Federal Reserve Policy Summit 2021 on June 23–25. To help spread the word, we've penned a guest post for their Notes from the Field.
Member News
Welcome New Members!
OCDCA welcomes some of our new members: West End Dayton Street Historic District in Cincinnati; The Westwood Right Project in Dayton; Somali Community Link (SCL)
in Columbus; and Brooklyn Centre Ohio CDC in Cleveland.

For more information on membership benefits or joining, please contact Amanda Crawford at (614) 461-6392 ex. 209.
Homebase Podcast
Homebase has a new podcast featuring their member and OCDCA member over in Cincinnati's West End. To take a listen and catch up on our other podcast click here. 
The eviction moratorium misnomer and the impact of IMPACT
But even more striking was the presence of IMPACT Community Action, a local nonprofit tasked with doling out millions of dollars in rental assistance. Read more in Columbus Alive and watch more with PBS News Hour.
Partner News
Ohio CDFIs Supporting PPP Round 2
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is back and with better terms for small businesses. If your nonprofit or the small businesses in your community haven't applied for a PPP loan, you could consider using a CDFI.

Three CDFIs in Ohio are offering PPP loans: IFF, ECDI, and LISC. These CDFIs may still be setting up their systems for this round of PPP, so please be patient, but look into them for your organization and small businesses.
Despite a Rocky Start, Cleveland Model for Worker Co-ops Stands Test of Time
In the 11 years since we’ve written about the Evergreen Cooperative Initiative, the model has indeed grown. But success did not come immediately, nor smoothly. Read the full article in Shelterforce.
Affordable Housing Programs Resource Manual 
OHFA has developed a new resource manual for the affordable housing industry. The manual will allow you to compare and comply with multiple housing program rules. The manual provides regulation summaries for almost 40 program rules from student eligibility, effective dates of certifications, verification methods, and more.
Ohio Department of Aging Partnering with Ohio National Guard to Bring Vaccination Clinics to Senior Housing Properties
The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), in partnership with key state and local organizations, will offer on-site vaccination clinics at affordable senior housing communities in Ohio, including those financed by OHFA, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and USDA Rural Development. Their approach makes it possible to bring vaccines directly to the homes of tens of thousands older Ohioans. This is a great opportunity to get the residents of your senior properties vaccinates very easily! Learn more or request a vaccine clinic.
Events
Housing Ohio 2021
Housing Ohio is COHHIO’s annual conference to convene advocates, practitioners, and experts to explore new and innovative approaches to ending homelessness and expanding access to affordable housing in Ohio. This year’s event, April 5-7, will occur online due to the ongoing pandemic. Learn more. 
NCRC #JustEconomy 2021
Come to the national online event for community, policy, government, business and foundation leaders who work for fairness in lending, housing and business, and to make all Americans equal parts of the formula for national success. Register for the May 3-4 conference. Learn more.
SBA: Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) Program
This webinar will provide information on program eligibility and application preparation, with an emphasis on helping venues in underserved communities prepare for rollout through actionable steps and best practices. Register for the April 5 webinar.
PCRG Summit
PCRG’s annual Summit features exciting keynote speakers and engaging breakout sessions designed to cover the myriad of issues that surround community development. Save the date for the May 25-26, 2021 event. Learn more.
Funding
Joyce Foundation
We focus specifically on advancing racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region. We concentrate on initiatives that promise to have an impact across the region and/or within the Great Lake states. Our program areas are Culture, Democracy, Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, and Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform. Deadline is April 7.

ServeOhio AmeriCorps Funding
ServeOhio provides grants to organizations that demonstrate they will engage AmeriCorps members to provide a service intervention that addresses a critical need in Ohio. Deadline is April 7.

2021 AARP Community Challenge
The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Deadline is April 14.
Employment
Cincinnati Development Fund is seeking a Chief Lending Officer.
Price Hill Will, Cincinnati, is seeking a Development Director.

Development Finance Authority of Summit County is seeking an Accounting and Asset Manager.

Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development, Cleveland, is seeking a Capital Campaign Manager.
Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation, Cleveland, is seeking a Workforce Development Manager.
Burten Bell Carr Development Inc., Cleveland, is seeking a

View more employment opportunities on our website. OCDCA members and our funders with employment opportunities may send their notices for free posting to Lisa Much. There is a small fee for non-members to post jobs.
State News
Main Street Job Recovery Program Update
Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) is advocating for the Main Street Job Recovery Program at the Statehouse during this budget season in order to increase resources for community development organizations. 
 
The Main Street Job Recovery Program will provide state funds for nonprofit organizations that address the economic needs of low-and moderate- income individuals and families through the creation of permanent business development and employment opportunities. The program will focus on creating jobs for Ohioans while rebuilding Main Streets by addressing priorities such as blight remediation, vacant properties, housing, and the reentry population.
 
We’re pleased that a bipartisan group of 10 submitted the proposed amendment to the House budget version that include Rep Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township), Rep Sara Carruthers (R – Hamilton), Rep Jeff Crossman (D – Parma), Rep Laura Lanese (R – Grove City), Rep Lepore-Hagan (D – Ytown), Rep Gayle Manning (R – North Ridgeville), Rep Mike O’Brien (D – Warren), Rep Tom Patton (R – Strongsville), Rep Jean Schmidt (R – Miami Township), Rep Bride Rose Sweeney (D – Cleveland).
 
If you or your organization are represented by one of the below reps, will you please send them a quick email thanking them? Look up your Rep quickly to know for sure who they are.
Brownfield Revitalization Funding in the State Legislature
The Greater Ohio Policy Center has been advancing brownfields funding and House Bill 143 (HB143) and Senate Bill 84 (SB84) were introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate by Representative Brett Hudson Hillyer (R – Uhrichsville) and Senators Sandra Williams (D – Cleveland) and Michael Rulli (R – Salem). These bills provide dedicated funding to the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF). CORF was a highly successful program which, between 2002 and 2013, provided state funding to revitalize brownfields, and in turn, provided the state with a four-to-one economic return. CORF is recognized as a community-responsive tool for brownfield redevelopment efforts.
Final PY21 Housing Development Gap Financing Guidelines Now Available
The Final Program Year 2021 HDGF Guidelines are now available on OHFA's HDAP webpage. The HDGF program will award Ohio Housing Trust Funds and National Housing Trust Funds to affordable housing developments consisting of four to 24 units. OHFA will begin accepting Intents to Apply from applicants on May 3, 2021. Questions regarding HDGF can be sent to [email protected].
Federal News
American Rescue Plan Provides Billions for Housing Security, Small Businesses, State and Local Aid
President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion stimulus package into law on March 11. This sweeping legislation is expected to lift 13 million people out of poverty, including 5.7 million children. These are some of the provisions of interest to community developers:
  • $27.4 billion in emergency rental assistance
  • $5 billion for the HOME program to support homelessness assistance and supportive services
  • $9.96 billion for a Homeowner Assistance Fund, including $100 million for housing counseling via NeighborWorks America
  • $7.25 billion in additional funding for Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans (still scheduled to close March 31)
  • $15 billion for targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance payments targeted to low-income communities
  • $350 billion to help states, counties, cities and tribal governments mitigate economic harm from the pandemic.

Watch OCDCA’s Nate Coffman and Greater Ohio Policy Center’s Jason Warner discuss what this all means, including updates on what we know about state or local ARPA funding. This is a huge opportunity for recovery funding that make a real impact in communities across the state, and we want to make sure that community development organizations are top of mind during this time. This call was held March 31, 2021 at 10 AM EST.

In the meantime, check out these additional resources, all of which were referenced in this call:

If you have additional questions, please contact Nate Coffman at [email protected].
Maximize HUD Funding
Urge Congressional appropriators to allocate the largest possible slice of the pie to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) subcommittee. It's critical that the THUD subcommittee get the resources they need to fund housing and community development programs at HUD and USDA. Sign the letter!
American Jobs Plan Proposal Includes Affordable Housing
President Biden announced Wednesday his priorities for the “American Jobs Plan,” an approximately $2 trillion infrastructure and recovery package. The proposal includes $213 billion “to produce, preserve, and retrofit more than two million affordable and sustainable places to live . . . through grants, formula funding, targeted tax credits and project-based rental assistance.” The proposal includes $40 billion to repair public housing, resources to support homeownership and weatherize homes, and new incentives to encourage communities to eliminate exclusionary zoning and harmful land-use restrictions.
CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium, Announces Enforcement
FROM NLIHC: The Biden administration announced an extension of the federal eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, and greater enforcement of the moratorium’s protections – two measures that will help keep millions of renters stably housed during the pandemic and prevent further spread of and deaths from COVID-19. The announcement comes after NLIHC and more than 2,300 national, state, and local organizations and elected officials urged the Biden administration to take action. The extended moratorium and its enforcement are essential to help ten million families remain in their homes as states and local communities work to distribute emergency rental assistance to address arrears and prevent evictions.
FHFA Authorizes $1+ Billion for Affordable Housing
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) authorized the disbursement of $1.09 billion for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's affordable housing allocations for 2020. This is the largest amount ever disbursed and more than double what was provided last year. Of the funds, $711 million will go to HUD for the Housing Trust Fund and $383 million will go to the Department of the Treasury for the Capital Magnet Fund. Read the FHFA announcement.