October 2023

Where Are They Now?

For over three decades, the Community Development Partnership has led the Lower Cape region in building a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work, and thrive here. Through promoting, developing, and managing affordable housing and nurturing the launch and growth of small businesses, we seek to significantly impact residents' quality of life in the eight Lower Cape towns.

One of the joys of my job is the constant reminder of the impact of our collective work. Patronizing businesses that we have supported, such as Sunbird Kitchen, Truro Vineyards, and Mac's Seafood, and meeting residents who received a housing rehab loan or who live in one of our affordable rentals, I feel deep satisfaction knowing that we are doing work that matters and is vital for our community to thrive.

This issue of our monthly E-news features three "Where Are They Now?" stories about people benefitting from their CDP experience.

Cara Mase, a longtime resident of one of our affordable rentals, was able to purchase a home in Chatham this summer. Mobile Mixers, a recipient of a CDP Micro-loan in 2019, has adapted its business model through successful partnerships. Alex Hay, a former CDP Board Member, owner of Wellfleet Shellfishing Company, and an early Micro-loan recipient, shares why he continues to believe in and support the CDP's work.

Seeing the power of partnerships and collective impact inspires me and gives me confidence we are doing the right thing. I hope you see and feel it too. Truly remarkable impact goes beyond providing a loan or a place to live. It's creating the conditions that give people opportunities to achieve more. Thank you for generously supporting the CDP’s goals and for making transformative experiences possible.

Partnering to Leverage Success

The Community Development Partnership (CDP) annually loans approximately $225,000 to local small business owners. Unlike more traditional loan providers, the CDP wholly invests in the long-term success of their loan clients. CDP staff conducts regular follow-up meetings with loan clients and encourages them to utilize additional services to help meet their goals.



This month, we caught up with Mobile Mixers, a previous loan recipient whose business continues to grow. Mobile Mixers are 1960s Shasta campers retrofitted to offer portable full-service bars. They received a CDP microloan in 2019 to help cover the costs of outfitting a second trailer for bar service.

Read more about our Rory and Mobile Mixers

Supporting Steps to Homeownership

"It seems like everything is just falling into place. I am thankful to move on and was ready to give up my rental to someone who truly needs it."

 – Cara Maes, Former CDP Resident

Across the Lower and Outer Cape, the Community Development Partnership manages nearly 100 affordable and market-rate rental units. For some residents, living in a CDP housing unit is just one step on their housing journey. Many have the goal of homeownership. Finding an affordable and stable rental is critical for them since it allows them to save money to buy an affordable homeownership home. One CDP resident who achieved her dream of homeownership is Cara Maes, a former resident at Thankful Chases Pathways, the CDP's affordable housing development in Harwich.

Cara first moved into a CDP affordable unit at Thankful Chases with her daughter nearly ten years ago. Before Thankful Chases, her experience was sadly all too familiar to many Cape Codders. She and her daughter jumped from staying with family to living in seasonal or year-round rentals that are expensive for working families and even more for single parents.

Read more about Cara's homeownership journey

Growing up, Alex Hay and Mac Hay spent summers with their grandparents in Truro, where they fell in love with fishing and life on the Outer Cape. The two brothers started Mac's Seafood in 1995 when Mac, then 20, and Alex, 15, opened their first seafood market in Wellfleet. Mac's Seafood has grown from just the two of them to over 400 employees today.

Alex Hay's introduction to the CDP began when Mac's Seafood received a microloan from the CDP in 1999. Alex said the loan was a huge lift, enabling them to grow their business. "I am a big fan of supporting small businesses," Alex shared. "We never will forget getting a boost early on, especially when we couldn't get a bank loan, and a lack of funding was holding us back." 

Read why Alex supports the CDP

Read about the CDP's first $25K ADU Incentive going to an Eastham Family in The Provincetown Independent.

Free Small Business Assistance

Read about how the CDP’s Business & Credit Team is helping small businesses thrive in The Cape Cod Chronicle.

The CDP's Business & Credit team is available to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with one-on-one, no-cost technical assistance to help them succeed.

Meetings can take place remotely via phone or video conference, or in person at the Provincetown Commons, The 204 (Harwich Cultural Center), Brewster Chamber of Commerce, and Chatham Works.

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