What's Happening in Ohio Community Development?
|
|
|
April 2021 | Vol. 12, Issue 4
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
April 21st Statement on Chauvin Verdict & the Killing of Ma'Khia Bryant
We are relieved that Derek Chauvin has been found guilty on all counts for the murder George Floyd. We celebrate this step towards police accountability, and we are hopeful that this moment is a catalyst towards real change in this country.
Sadly, while America awaited the verdict yesterday, at the same time, Columbus police shot and killed a sixteen year old girl: Ma’Khia Bryant. Justice for George Floyd means he’d still be alive. Justice for Ma’Khia Bryant means that she'd still be alive, able to grow up healthy and safe in her community. Read the full statement.
|
|
|
OCDCA Releases 2020 Annual Report
Ohio CDC Association has released its 2020 annual report. Special thanks to our members, partners, sponsors, and funders for supporting us through 2020. Also, thank you to each member for the work they do in their communities throughout 2020.
|
|
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.
|
|
OCDCA Recruiting AmeriCorps VISTAs for Year-Long & Summer Positions
|
|
CHN Housing Partners Launches Low-Dollar Mortgage
CHN Housing Partners formed the lending subsidiary CHN Housing Capital in 2019, but it is now marketing its first mortgages. There are no earning restrictions for a program the nonprofit is calling “The Believe Mortgage,” but it’s generally targeted at lending $70,000 or less to those with low or moderate income. Read more in The Plain Dealer.
|
|
Famicos Foundation Hosts First Virtual Youth Resource and Employment Fair
Famicos Foundation has been hosting a Youth Resource and Employment Fair for the last two years, but this year, through their AmeriCorps VISTA Andrea Searcy, they brought the resources to the students in their service area schools through virtual means. Various organizations submitted videos discussing their programming and the youth did mock interviews. Check out their promo video.
|
|
|
Rev. Edgar's Neighborhood
Columbus Monthly recently ran a large story on Community Development for All People, serving Columbus's South Side. Read the full story.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
What is an Opportunity Rich Neighborhood?
Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity (Kirwan) at The Ohio State University are requesting your help to complete this short, 5-minute survey to identify critical resources, assets, and neighborhood structures that support the population that your organization serves.
|
|
Enterprise Ohio Scholarship Applications Due Today
Applications for the third round of the Enterprise Ohio Scholarship are due Friday, April 30. This opportunity is for African-American students pursuing a graduate degree or graduate certificate that will help them in joining or advancing in Cleveland’s community development field.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Policy Summit 2021
The biennial multi-day event offers its audience of researchers, academics, practitioners, and policymakers the latest research and best practices through presentations and real-world conversations. Save the date for the June event.
|
|
|
Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program
The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. Deadline is May 3.
Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
CFPs are designed to create community-based food projects with objectives, activities and outcomes that are in alignment with Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) primary goals. The purpose of a Planning Project (PP) is to complete a plan toward the improvement of community food security in keeping with the primary goals of the CFPCGP. Deadline is May 4.
Historic Preservation Fund
The goal of the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program is to fund subgrant PROGRAMS that support the rehabilitation of historic properties to foster economic development of rural communities. Deadline is May 12.
|
|
|
|
Main Street Job Recovery Program Included in House Budget
|
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 neighborhoods 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 – Youngstown), 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). The program was included in the House-passed budget but at a lower than requested amount of $500,000 a year. This is still positive as it’s rare to have new programs funded in the budget. Efforts are underway to increase this amount in the Senate and to access state resources for community development in the American Rescue Plan Act.
|
|
|
Property Tax Increase Limits Sought For Low-Income Owners
|
Sen. Hearcel Craig (D – Columbus) said the ongoing impact of the pandemic makes it all the more crucial lawmakers rally to support his forthcoming plan to protect Ohioans from being priced out of their homes. He announced his yet-to-be-introduced legislation to cap property tax increases at 5% for households at or below their county's median income level. He said the bill is a combination of sorts of laws adopted in other states, including Michigan and Nevada. The cap would prevent drastic increases, he said, instead pursuing a more phased-in approach. Sen. Craig said the legislation was crafted while keeping in mind local government funding cuts over the last decade as well as the ongoing debate over revamping the K-12 school funding formula.
|
|
|
|
UPDATED PY21 Housing Development Gap Financing Guidelines
|
OHFA has made several updates to the previously released PY21 HDGF Guidelines to address applicants seeking funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank's Affordable Housing Program. Updated language can be found on pages 3, 5, and 11 of the Guidelines. Below is a summary of the additions made:
- Due to the timing of the funding round, OHFA will reserve HDGF resources from the agency’s Program Year 2022 (PY22) HDAP allocation for up to four projects in the PY21 round who are seeking Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) financing in the to-be-announced November Affordable Housing Program (AHP) round. PY22 resources are subject to funding availability.
- PY22 reservations will be contingent upon the award of FHLB AHP funds. If PY22 funds are reserved for a development that does not receive an AHP award in November, the reservation will then be cancelled and the funds will become available for use in the 2022 program year.
- For applicants who receive a reservation of PY22 HDGF funds (and subsequently are awarded FHLB AHP funds in November 2021), the submission of the full HDGF application will be due to OHFA on May 2, 2022.
|
|
|
Slew of Anti-Protest Bills Hit the Statehouse
|
SB 33, which penalizes and criminalizes many forms of peaceful protest at oil and gas infrastructure sites, was signed into law January 2021. This new law went into effect in April of this year. Following the passage of SB 33, four more anti-protest, anti-democracy bills have been introduced into the Ohio Legislature and are under discussion. These new bills (HB 22, HB 109, SB 16, SB 41 – note, SB 16 has been recently amended to remove protest language) are very broad in their definitions of prohibited action. In addition, the language in the bills is so vague, confusing and complex that those of us who participate in any kind of peaceful public protest anywhere for any reason, risk being charged with felonies, incarcerated and liable to heavy fines for something as simple as blocking a street or throwing confetti or distracting a police officer. One of these bills even threatens huge penalties for non-profits for advertising or organizing pubic protest. These penalties would bankrupt most non-profits. Read more about these bills with action items from Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio (UUJO).
|
|
|
Restaurant Revitalization Fund to Open Monday
|
Restaurants and other eating and drinking establishments will be able to register for federal help beginning today and submit applications beginning Monday. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that registration for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund application portal will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, April 30. Applications can be accessed beginning at noon Monday, May 3. The SBA also will host a webinar about the fund at 2:30 p.m. today. Another was held Tuesday, April 27. Both are being recorded and will be posted on the SBA’s YouTube channel. Details on application requirements, eligibility, and a program guide are now available in English at sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurants.
|
|
|
President Biden Calls for 15% Increase in HUD Budget and to fund Neighborhood Homes Investment Act
|
From NACEDA…President Biden recently released a "budget blueprint" that would boost discretionary funding for the HUD budget by $9 billion in fiscal year 2022, raising the total HUD budget to $68.7 billion. View the HUD fact sheet.
NACEDA is encouraged by the President's request for a $500 million increase to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the highest funding level since 2009. The NACEDA network has been advocating for this increased HOME funding though the HOME Coalition. Thank you to all the organizations who participated in the national sign-on letter, which was signed by more than 2,000 organizations. The funding request also provides $3.8 billion for Community Development Block Grant program.
In a separate March 31 announcement, President Biden released details on the American Jobs Plan to boost America's infrastructure. The plan would invest $213 billion in housing funds in a bid to tackle the historic shortage of housing supply, currently at its lowest in 30 years. The President called on Congress to fund these housing priorities in the American Jobs Plan:
-
Invest $20 billion to build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers through the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (a NACEDA priority).
- Produce, preserve, and retrofit more than a million affordable, resilient, accessible, energy efficient, and electrified housing units.
- Eliminate exclusionary zoning and harmful land use policies.
- Address longstanding public housing capital needs.
NACEDA applauds President Biden for including the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA) in the plan. NHIA creates a tax credit to encourage private investment in single-family construction, rehabilitation, and repair in disinvested neighborhoods to stabilize neighborhoods and increase homeownership opportunities. NACEDA has been advocating for this legislation through the Neighborhood Homes Coalition.
|
|
|
President Biden Calls for 15% Increase in HUD Budget and to fund Neighborhood Homes Investment Act
|
From Enterprise…On March 23, Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY-26) introduced the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA) in the House (H.R. 2143). Identical companion legislation was introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in the Senate late January (S. 98). The NHIA, modeled after the successful Housing Credit and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), would create a federal tax credit to encourage investment in distressed urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods that face a “value gap” – where the cost of rehabilitating or building a home is greater than the post-construction value of that home. The program would target communities facing the greatest need – those with high poverty rates, low median family incomes, and low home values – and could revitalize an estimated 500,000 homes, creating $100 billion in development revenue over the next 10 years.
The NHIA, which was first introduced last Congress in both the Senate, S. 4073, and the House, H.R. 3316, was also included in the House passed, H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. More recently, the Biden administration called for $20 billion to incentivize the building or rehabilitation of over 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers through the NHIA through its American Jobs Plan. Enterprise applauds Representative Higgins, other members of Congress, and the Biden administration for their championship of this critical legislation, which could improve property values, increase family wealth, and decrease blight and abandonment in distressed communities.
|
|
|
|
Federal Small Business Assistance – PPP deadline May 31
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) current relief efforts can be found at sba.gov/coronavirusrelief. Here are two key programs:
Paycheck Protection Program: The deadline for applying for federal financial help through the Paycheck Protection Program has been pushed back to May 31. For more information, click here.
COVID-19 disaster loans: The SBA is increasing the maximum amount small businesses and nonprofit organizations can borrow through its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The SBA has raised the loan limit for the COVID-19 EIDL program from six months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24 months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000. Also, the SBA extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the EIDL program, until 2022.
|
|
|
|
HUD Announces $693 Million for National Housing Trust Fund
HUD announced earlier this month that communities will receive $693 million, more than double last year’s allocation, in national Housing Trust Fund (HTF) funding for the construction and operation of affordable, accessible housing for the lowest-income people. The HTF is a dedicated resource for building, rehabilitating, and preserving affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes.
|
|
|
CFPB Ramps Up Enforcement of CDC Eviction Moratorium
|
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an interim final rule on April 19 that establishes new enforcement measures for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) eviction moratorium. Under the new rule, which takes effect on May 3, debt collectors can be prosecuted for failing to provide tenants written notice of their rights under the federal eviction moratorium and for misrepresenting a tenant’s eligibility under the CDC order.
|
|
|
Roundtable: A Movement-Based Federal Housing Agenda
|
|
|
OHIO CDC ASSOCIATION | www.ohiocdc.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|