Prosperity Indiana Prosperity Indiana Blog

Prosperity Indiana Announces New Membership with the National Council of Nonprofits

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:00:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana is proud to announce its new membership with the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN), expanding opportunities to connect Indiana nonprofits, partners, and communities to the largest network of nonprofits in North America providing advocacy, resources, and collaboration.

Through this new membership, Prosperity Indiana will connect Hoosier nonprofits to a nationwide network focused on strengthening nonprofit leadership, sharing practical tools, and advancing policies that help organizations better serve their communities. The partnership comes at a time when many nonprofits are navigating limited resources and an evolving policy landscape.

“Despite the turbulence of the past year, Indiana’s nonprofits continue to do what they have always done: serve Hoosiers and stabilize our communities. With growingly restricted resources, our nonprofits continue to punch above their weight, doing more with less. Prosperity Indiana is proud to be an ally member of the National Council of Nonprofits and is committed to bringing additional resources and support to our state’s nonprofits and the communities they serve,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director at Prosperity Indiana.

As part of the NCN network, Prosperity Indiana will bring new opportunities for the state’s nonprofits to engage in learning, collaboration, and engagement with peer organizations across the country. Members will gain access to national best practices, training opportunities, and advocacy insights designed to help nonprofits stay informed, connected, and effective in their missions.

Prosperity Indiana will continue its mission to strengthen Indiana’s communities by advance community economic development, while broadening the support it offers to the wider nonprofit sector. By linking Indiana organizations to NCN’s national expertise and communities of practice, Prosperity Indiana aims to help Hoosier nonprofits strengthen operations, build relationships, and respond to the needs of the communities they serve.

Prosperity Indiana is also pleased to announce that National Council of Nonprofits President and CEO Diane Yentel will serve as keynote speaker at the 2026 Prosperity Indiana Summit on May 13-14.

“I am pleased to welcome Prosperity Indiana as an Ally Member to the National Council of Nonprofits and to celebrate this partnership with an event that embodies the collaborative spirit at the heart of our national network. This gathering promises to elevate and empower the voice of Indiana nonprofits that feed, educate, heal, and advocate for communities across the state, and I look forward to coming together with leaders to mark the beginning of this new chapter,” said Diane Yentel, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits.

Registration for the 2026 Prosperity Indiana Summit is open now and can be found here: https://prosperityindiana.org/event-6397070

FACT SHEET: Calculating SB 285's Costs of Citing Homeless Hoosiers

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:20:15 GMT

Download the Fact Sheet.

A new fact sheet created by Prosperity Indiana for the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition calculates the potential costs of Senate Bill 285, Housing Matters, both for individuals and Indiana communities. The fact sheet finds that SB 285 will cost homeless Hoosiers and local court and jail systems an estimated $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 per year, while providing no new resources for housing or homelessness services.

It costs money to run emergency shelters and provide supportive housing, but it costs more to keep vulnerable Hoosiers cycling in and out of county jails. Because Indiana currently underinvests in these services (the small appropriation for supportive housing was cut from the state budget in 2025), SB 285’s shift of those costs to homeless individuals and localities will only further overburden county jails.

The experience of other states can provide specific examples of the costs that Indiana communities can expect to bear if SB 285 becomes law. Our neighbors in Kentucky implemented a ‘public camping ban’ after the passage of HB5 in 2024. According to research from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, 425 Kentuckians without shelter were cited in the first year after the bill’s passage, or approximately one in every five unsheltered persons counted in the state’s Point in Time Count.

The sentencing guidelines in Indiana for a Class C Misdemeanor include a maximum fine of $500 and up to 60 days in jail. The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association estimates the cost of housing an inmate to be between $70 and $75 per day, but given the variation from county to county, we have conservatively estimated a cost of $65 per day. From this we estimate the cost of a Class C Misdemeanor to be $4,874 if fines and penalties are enforced at maximum sentencing guidelines. In the 2025 Point in Time Count, there were just over 1,530 Hoosiers living without shelter.

So what would enforcement of SB 285 really cost unsheltered Hoosiers and their communities if the rollout here is similar to what our neighbors saw in Kentucky?

% Cited under SB 285	Unsheltered Persons in 2025 PIT Count	Total Citations (rounded to nearest whole number)	Total cost (citations *$4,874)
15%	1,532	230	$1,121,020
20%	1,532	306	$1,491,444
25%	1,532	383	$1,866,742

If SB 285 becomes law, these costs will ultimately come due to Indiana’s local governments and vulnerable Hoosiers who are least able to afford them. But these scenarios can only account for the costs of the misdemeanor itself. It cannot account for the increased costs communities bear when residents go without shelter, and data consistently show policies like SB 285 do not reduce those numbers, and the threat of police interaction has adverse consequences on the mental and physical health of people without shelter.

Any evaluation of the costs of SB 285 should seriously consider the practical impacts of implementing the legislation that are not currently specified in the bill’s fiscal impact statement. In addition, lawmakers should consider where taxpayer dollars could better be invested in services proven to work. A broader evaluation of the costs of SB 285 should include what it will cost in dollars and cents for families and local jails, in addition to what it will cost in terms of trust of local law enforcement, the costs to local partnerships, and the cost to the quality of life for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Hoosiers in need of housing deserve better than the threat of a misdemeanor. They deserve to receive what we know works. They deserve safe, affordable housing and services that help them get – and stay – housed. It is not just what is more humane and dignified, it’s what will work.

Update, February 9: This article has been updated with revised calculations using a more appropriate figure from 2025 PIT data.

Update, February 20: This article has been updated to include a revised one-pager.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis announces new Indiana Heirs’ Property Initiative in partnership with Indiana Legal Services and Prosperity Indiana

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBank Indianapolis” or “Bank”) today announced a new program to resolve and prevent ongoing heirs’ property issues in Indiana. Heirs’ property refers to land or property passed down among family members without a formal will or estate plan. The program, called “Indiana Heirs’ Property Initiative” will be administered by Indiana Legal Services and Prosperity Indiana in partnership with FHLBank Indianapolis, following a $500,000 grant provided by the Bank.

This announcement follows a December 2024 report and subsequent policy briefs published by FHLBank Indianapolis and Black Onyx Management. The report, titled “Turning Legacy into Opportunity: Overcoming Inherited Property Obstacles in Marion County and Allen County, Ind.,” found 1,410 existing impacted properties in Marion County, with an additional 3,181 properties considered ‘at risk’ of becoming heirs’ properties. In Allen County, the report uncovered 484 currently impacted properties, with an additional 1,525 considered ‘at risk.’ The combined value of at-risk properties in both counties totals more than $8.2 million.

“Research from Black Onyx Management revealed that heirs’ property is a widespread and growing risk to housing stability and generational wealth in Indiana. This partnership ensures the data leads to action by connecting families to education, legal support, and trusted resources that help protect homes and strengthen communities for the long term,” said Roxann Lawrence, VP of Applied Research, Black Onyx Management.

“Our partnership with Indiana Legal Services and Prosperity Indiana will support educational efforts and evidence-backed strategies that help at-risk homeowners in our communities access the full benefits of homeownership and help maintain the generational wealth they’ve worked hard to build,” said President and CEO of FHLBank Indianapolis Brendan McGrath. “As part of our core mission to promote affordable housing and community development, FHLBank Indianapolis is committed to providing solutions that promote housing stability in communities that might otherwise be at risk.”

The Indiana Heirs’ Property Initiative will focus on education, prevention and resolution for currently impacted properties. The Indiana Heirs’ Property Initiative will be administered by Indiana Legal Services and Prosperity Indiana, who will conduct outreach and educational programming to member financial institutions of FHLBank Indianapolis and additional community partners.

“Helping families protect and preserve their homes is essential to creating and maintaining generational wealth as well as thriving communities,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director, Prosperity Indiana.

Indiana Legal Services will also provide free legal assistance, including estate planning and related litigation. Black Onyx Management, which conducted the research informing this year’s heirs’ property report and policy briefs, will remain engaged to provide ongoing data reporting and an impact assessment.

“Families shouldn’t risk losing a home simply because they’re unsure where to turn for help,” said Blair Hedges, Heirs Rights Attorney at Indiana Legal Services. “This initiative allows us to expand our services and offer free legal support to Hoosiers who need to make an estate plan, clear inherited title, or learn more about their rights. We’re committed to making sure every Hoosier knows that legal tools exist to help protect their homes and the communities they’ve built.”

More information on the program can be found online at www.fhlbi.com.

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Media contact information:
For more information, contact John Bingham, SVP, MPP and Corporate Communications at FHLBank Indianapolis, at jbingham@fhlbi.com.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis: Building Partnerships. Serving Communities
FHLBank Indianapolis is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to provide access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members' customers. FHLBanks are privately capitalized and funded, and they receive no Congressional appropriations. One of 11 independent regional cooperative banks across the U.S., FHLBank Indianapolis is owned by its Indiana and Michigan financial institution members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. For more information about FHLBank Indianapolis, visit www.fhlbi.com and follow the Bank on LinkedIn, and Instagram and X at @FHLBankIndy. Please note that content the Bank shares on its website and social media is not incorporated by reference into any of its filings with the SEC unless, and only to the extent that a filing by the Bank with the SEC expressly provides to the contrary.

Indiana Legal Services

Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) is a not-for-profit law firm and the largest provider of free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people in Indiana. ILS helps clients in all 92 counties who are faced with legal problems that harm their ability to obtain basic needs such as food, shelter, income, medical care or personal safety. ILS also handles cases in other areas including family law where there is domestic violence, housing, consumer law, access to health care, and access to government benefits. ILS does not handle any criminal matters. Our mission is “to use the law to fight poverty and racism, empower clients, and improve access to justice.” Learn more at www.indianalegalservices.org. For legal help, go to https://www.indianalegalservices.org/applyonline/. For educational events, email Blair.Hedges@ilsi.net.

Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to over 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. For more information about Prosperity Indiana, visit ProsperityIndiana.org or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, or Facebook.

Black Onyx Management

Black Onyx Management is a management consulting firm with a community focus. As experts in research and program design, Black Onyx Management specializes in crafting and executing impactful initiatives for nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies and local government agencies. Their areas of expertise include community health impact, applied research, communications and philanthropic initiatives. Guided by a commitment to excellence and philanthropy, Black Onyx Management collaborates with clients to unlock their potential and achieve measurable success. For more information about Black Onyx Management, visit www.blackonyxmanagement.com, and follow on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Affordable Housing is Out of Reach in Indiana for Low-Wage Hoosiers as State Ranks Last in the Midwest for Renter Incomes

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Full-time Hoosier workers need to earn $22.18 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent in Indiana. This is Indiana’s “2025 Housing Wage” according to Out of Reach, a report published jointly today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Prosperity Indiana. The data for Out of Reach – Indiana 2025 finds that working Hoosiers are struggling to make the rent with an average renter wage of $18.05, with Indiana’s median renter household income of $43,672 that now ranks dead last in the Midwest, and with two-thirds of Indiana’s 20 largest occupations that fail to pay enough to meet the state’s 2025 Housing Wage.

Out of Reach, released annually, documents the gulf between wages and what people need to earn to afford their rents. The report routinely shows that affordable rental homes remain out of reach for millions of low-wage workers and their families. The report’s “Housing Wage” is an estimate of the hourly wage full-time workers must earn to afford a rental home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent without spending more than 30% of their incomes. In 2025, the national Housing Wage is $33.63 per hour for a modest two-bedroom rental home, with a mean hourly renter wage of $23.60.

Read the full ‘Out of Reach - Indiana 2025’ report on PI’s ‘Housing4Hooisers’ site.

New Indiana Law Strengthens Eviction Sealing Protections for Tenants

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:27:50 GMT

New Indiana Law Strengthens Eviction Sealing Protections for Tenants

Senate Enrolled Act 142 Introduces Automatic Sealing and Expands Eligibility Starting July 1, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Starting July 1, Indiana tenants will benefit from significant improvements to the state’s eviction sealing law through Senate Enrolled Act 142 (Public Law 128), which streamlines the process for removing eviction records and expands eligibility for relief.

Key Changes Under the New Law

Automatic Sealing Process

The most significant change is mandatory automatic sealing for certain eviction cases. Going forward, Courts are required to seal eviction records without any action from tenants when:

Cases are dismissed

Judgments are entered in favor of the tenant

Judgments against tenants are overturned or vacated on appeal

This is a major shift from the previous system where tenants had to petition the court for sealing, though some courts were already implementing automatic sealing practices. However, even with this new process, tenants still need to ask the court to seal old cases.

Expanded Eligibility for Paid Judgments

The new law clarifies that tenants who have satisfied their financial obligations can petition for sealing of their eviction records. This includes cases involving judgments for possession, monetary damages, or both. Prior to this legislation, courts across Indiana differed in their interpretation of whether paid judgments qualified for sealing relief.

Seven-Year Sealing Option

The law also allows cases with final orders to be sealed where no money judgment was entered, provided seven years have elapsed since the entry of judgment. This expands the types of cases eligible for sealing beyond those that can be sealed immediately.

Impact on Housing Stability

These changes to the eviction sealing law will help Hoosiers achieve stable housing by reducing barriers created by eviction records, which create significant barriers to safe and secure housing. Legal scholars have described this phenomenon as the “scarlet E” that forever labels a renter a “bad tenant” and limits rental opportunity. Sealed eviction records are not accessible to landlords during tenant screening processes, providing individuals and families with better opportunities for safe and secure hosing.

“These improvements to Indiana's eviction sealing law are a significant step forward in helping tenants move past housing difficulties and access stable housing opportunities,” said Jenny Terry, Senior Attorney at Indiana Legal Services.

“Indiana’s expanded eviction sealing under SEA 142 will help put safe, fair, and affordable housing in reach for thousands of Hoosier households and their communities,” said Andrew Bradley, Senior Director for Policy and Strategy at Prosperity Indiana. “With some of the lowest rates of affordable housing, highest cost burdens, and highest rates of eviction filings in the Midwest, the improvements to Indiana’s eviction sealing law are one of the most significant changes to state housing stability policies in years. Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition thank Senator Liz Brown (District 15) for authoring SEA 142, the broad bipartisan majorities in the Indiana General Assembly for passing the bill, and Governor Mike Braun for signing it into law,” Bradley said.

For more information about eviction sealing in Indiana, contact: Jenny Terry at jennifer.terry@ilsi.net

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About Indiana Legal Services, Inc.

Indiana Legal Services, Inc., is the largest provider of free civil legal assistance to low-income people in Indiana. ILS helps clients who are faced with legal problems that harm their ability to have such basics as food, shelter, income, medical care, or personal safety. The nonprofit organization handles cases involving low-wage worker rights, domestic violence, housing, consumer law, access to health care, LGBTQ+ rights, and access to government benefits. It does not handle criminal matters. ILS was established in 1966 and today serves clients in all 92 Indiana counties. The mission of ILS is “to use the law to fight poverty and racism, empower clients, and improve access to justice.” Learn more atwww.indianalegalservices.org.

About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Learn more at www.prosperityindiana.org.

About the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition

The Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition (HHNC) was formed by members of Indiana’s housing security advocacy community in April 2020 to support advocacy and education related to housing and homelessness prevention. HHNC convenes partners from across Indiana to advocate for immediate, medium- and long-term housing stability policy solutions and conduct education and research to achieve federal, state, and local policies. Learn more at www.prosperityindiana.org/HHNC.

Prosperity Indiana Receives Grant to Support Affordable Housing Work through Community Multiplier Grant Program

Mon, 12 May 2025 14:30:06 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – With support from Lampco Federal Credit Union, Prosperity Indiana has been awarded a $27,500 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis's new Community Multiplier Grant Program This funding will support Prosperity Indiana’s ongoing work to expand access to affordable housing across the state.

“We are thrilled to partner with Lampco Federal Credit Union to deepen our support for Indiana’s community economic development sector and those on the front lines of tackling our state’s affordable housing crisis”, said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director at Prosperity Indiana. “The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’s Community Multiplier Grant program is a best-in-class example of the power of collaboration for collective impact”.

The Community Multiplier Member Match program provides matching funds to Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis members to support nonprofits meeting critical local housing needs. Prosperity Indiana will apply the funds to support the work of Indiana’s community economic development network to address Indiana’s affordable housing challenges.

“Lampco is proud to support Prosperity Indiana through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’s Community Multiplier Grant Program. We are committed to supporting our local nonprofits and increasing access to affordable housing throughout our footprint and throughout Indiana”, stated Migual Patterson, President and CEO of Lampco Federal Credit Union.

Prosperity Indiana looks forward to working with Lampco and other partners to turn this investment into lasting impact for Indiana communities.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

About Lampco Federal Credit Union

Founded in 1962, Lampco Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution based in Anderson, Indiana, dedicated to providing affordable, accessible, and

personalized financial services to the communities it serves. Lampco offers a full range of banking products, including savings, checking, loans, and mortgages, with a focus on member satisfaction and financial education.

Prosperity Indiana Awarded Opportunity Starts at Home Grant

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:59:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce the renewal of its grant to participate in the Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign, a program of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). This grant will further support Prosperity Indiana’s efforts to build multi-sector partnerships and advocate for stable, affordable housing solutions, particularly focusing on faith-based and veterans-serving organizations.

As a recognized affiliate of the OSAH national campaign, Prosperity Indiana will continue to collaborate with other state-based organizations, participate in cohort learning experiences, and receive access to valuable technical assistance and networks. The new grant will allow Prosperity Indiana to recruit and assemble an Engagement Team of faith-based and veterans-serving organizations and leaders, emphasized on educating the public about OSAH priorities, curating projects that express public support for OSAH-endorsed federal policies, and advocating for policies that advance housing justice and racial equity.

"Organizations from all sectors have good reasons to care about Indiana's affordable housing crisis, and we've had great success building multisector partnerships to address it--especially in healthcare and among faith-based partners. We're very fortunate to receive continued support from the Opportunity Starts At Home campaign to continue this important work," said Prosperity Indiana Policy Manager Hale Crumley.

The renewed OSAH grant will support customized advocacy plans for Engagement Team members, including outreach to the congressional delegation, op-eds, and social media promotion. Prosperity Indiana will continue to work with faith-based partners while expanding its efforts to include veterans-serving organizations.

Prosperity Indiana looks forward to continuing our critical work of advocating for housing policies that reflect the needs of our communities.

Prosperity Indiana Releases New Statewide Housing Stability Tool

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:49:31 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A new tool is available for Hoosiers seeking housing resources. Prosperity Indiana has released a new statewide map of available housing counseling resources. Households in need of information and guidance on how to rent or own a home can find U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) housing counseling services near them.

HUD Housing Counseling Agencies (HCAs) provide information, advice, and guidance for people who are seeking to finance, maintain, rent, or own a home. Housing counselors also assist those facing homelessness and homeowners in need of foreclosure assistance. HCAs and housing counselors can assist with educating clients on best rental practices, how to maintain a safe and healthy home, and how to prepare for future homeownership. HUD explains that HCAs and housing counselors play a critical role in serving cost-burdened renter households or households that may be facing an eviction by, “helping clients identify an affordable unit, providing information to renters on tenant rights and fair housing issues, counseling on household budgeting,” and more.

“The core mission of the map is to contribute information about HCAs in Indiana and the unique and critical housing counseling services they provide to households across the state. With this resource, we hope to increase awareness of HUD-HCAs in Indiana and to provide an interactive tool for residents to explore and access information about HUD housing counseling services near them”, said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. You can access the map by clicking here or on Housing4Hoosiers. To learn more about an agency or organization, please click on a pinned point on the map, and expand the pop-up feature to access the following information: address, services and/or coverage area(s) (i.e. what county/counties or city/cities the agency or organization serves), website, and phone number.

Credits: (1) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development & Research, Single Family Housing Counseling Agencies, HUD open data ArcGIS dataset & (2) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling, HUD Housing Counseling locations map.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

2024 Regional Meeting Tour Recap

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:14:41 GMT

Recap: 2024 Regional Meeting Tour

Prosperity Indiana’s 2024 Regional Meeting Tour provided a unique opportunity to bring together community economic development stakeholders from across Indiana to strategize, connect, and learn. This year, the Prosperity Indiana team visited Fort Wayne, Gary, South Bend, Lafayette, Evansville, Jeffersonville, and Indianapolis. Our goal was to better understand local needs of our members and partners and to explore together how emerging trends are impacting communities throughout Indiana.

What We Learned

During our tour, we focused on fostering intimate conversations regarding trends in the Community Economic Development (CED) field and their effects on Hoosiers. We revamped our meeting format to give attendees more influence over the topics discussed. The three topics that resonated most with participants were:

Increasing Affordable Housing Supply or Developers: Addressing the needs for more affordable housing and engaging developers.

Changing the Narrative: Redefining Housing Affordability for Everyone

Strategies to Support Housing Stability: Developing practical approaches to ensure housing stability.

Key Insights and Engagement

Our tour highlighted a strong commitment from communities across Indiana. Participants shared updates on new and ongoing projects, addressed local challenges, and forged new relationships for partnership. Notably, we experienced a significant increase in engagement this year, with a 14% rise in registration.

Acknowledgments

We want to extend a special thank you to our 2024 Regional Meeting Tour co-hosts. Their dedication ensured that key players were present at each event, contributing greatly to the Tour’s success:

Bedford Collab

Brightpoint

City of Gary

City of Jeffersonville

Homestead Resources

HOUSE

Near Northwest Neighborhood Inc.

United Way Central Indiana & Indiana United Ways

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up this year’s tour, we’re excited to begin thinking about next year’s lineup of cities and potential emerging topics. Thank you to everyone who attended, our co-hosts, and host sites for their support. We look forward to continuing our work together and addressing the evolving needs of Hoosier communities!

Announcing Nominees for Prosperity Indiana's 2024 Annual Awards!

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:30:58 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Top community development leaders and programs across Indiana have been nominated for the prestigious Prosperity Indiana Awards. Winners will be announced at the annual Prosperity Indiana Summit on April 10^th, 2024.

The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank, and co-presented by Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development industry.

The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, presented by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

The Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award, presented by Brightpoint, recognizes the outstanding professional leadership and commitment of a staff person working for a community economic development organization.

The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, presented by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence, and innovation in a service-oriented (non-construction) community development initiative.

The Inaugural Policy & Advocacy Award

The Policy & Advocacy Award will be presented for the first time at the 2024 Summit. The award recognizes a member who works closely with Prosperity Indiana staff and policymakers, building relationships with legislators, local governments, and organizations serving their community.

Nominees:

Amina Pierson, Martindale Brightwood CDC
Jennifer Green, Partners in Housing Development Corporation
Clarence L. Hulse, Economic Development Corporation Michigan City
Marie Morse, HomesteadCS
Stephanie Quick, Intend Indiana
Annette Phillips, Pathstone Housing Corporation of Indiana
Neil Elkins, City of Huntingburg
Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry
Ben Harris, Intend Indiana
Erik Tilkemeier, ECHO Housing Corporation
Jeb Reece, Intend Indiana
E3 Initiative, ECHO Housing Corporation
The Tiger Team Program, Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity
HomePower, Intend Indiana

The 2024 Prosperity Indiana Summit is open to the public and centered on building relationships and an equitable economy through policy, programs, performance, and philanthropic investments. Tickets to the awards luncheon on April 10, 2024, are available by registering at prosperityindiana.org/summit2024.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing more than 1,000 practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Prosperity Indiana Selected for Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:13:20 GMT

Prosperity Indiana Selected for Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. February 16, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana announces its selection as one of seven new State Grantees for the national Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign, marking a significant milestone in advancing the organization's commitment to affordable housing.

The OSAH campaign has awarded Prosperity Indiana a capacity-building grant to enhance its ongoing efforts in the state's housing coalition. The grant will be utilized to expand partnerships with stakeholders from various non-housing sectors, including health, education, racial equity, labor, food security, climate, faith, and anti-poverty sectors.

"Prosperity Indiana is grateful for the continued support of the National Low Income Housing Coalition through its Opportunity Starts At Home campaign. We are thrilled to have the chance to continue developing our multi-sector partnerships, including our pioneering work with Indiana faith-based leaders, who have been incredible champions for good housing affordability & stability policy in Indiana and nationwide," said Hale Crumley, Prosperity Indiana Policy Manager, who manages the OSAH campaign.

The new grantees were chosen through a competitive proposal process, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing federal affordable housing solutions, amplifying racial equity, and expanding partnerships. By becoming state affiliates of the OSAH campaign, Prosperity Indiana and other grantees gain access to resources, multi-sector networks, and technical assistance.

“Today, the campaign celebrates nearly six years of working towards our shared vision of having a multi-sector movement in every state,” said Chantelle Wilkinson, national director of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. “As state partners continue to join our efforts, new coalitions of doctors, teachers, environmentalists, social workers, faith leaders, housing advocates, and many others are working together to urge policymakers to address a basic need – housing. This work is critical. It is powerful for Congress to hear from national advocates, but it’s especially powerful for them to hear from their own constituents in the states they represent.”

In addition to welcoming Prosperity Indiana, the OSAH campaign has extended grants to the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, North Carolina Housing Coalition, South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, and Virginia Housing Alliance.
As Prosperity Indiana continues this partnership, the organization encourages the community to follow their housing initiatives, including OSAH, through Prosperity Indiana's website, ProsperityIndiana.org/OSAH and on social media platforms.

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About Prosperity Indiana

Prosperity Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 1986 as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. PI is a network of approximately 200 organizations and individual members committed to advancing community economic development through our values of eliminating barriers, ensuring everyone has better opportunities to pursue the American Dream and prosperity for all.

Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.

Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Release Updated Indiana Tenant Handbook

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. February 7, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), announces the release of the latest version of Renting in Indiana, a handbook for tenants that is currently available online at Housing4Hoosiers.com. The updated handbook contains a step-by-step guide and informational how-to manual for renting in Indiana.

“Many individuals and organizations across the state work with Hoosiers to find suitable housing that will meet their immediate and long-term needs,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The updated Indiana Tenant Handbook is a resource not only for renters and landlords, but for those that work daily to facilitate that crucial relationship.”

The new handbook, the first update since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, walks Hoosier tenants through every step of the rental process; from looking for the right rental property to managing a potential eviction.

There are 774,845 renter households in Indiana. “We frequently get calls from tenants throughout the state regarding their rental and/or landlord relationship. Many renters are unsure of what their lease states, what their landlord can legally do, or what their legal rights as tenants are. This has highlighted a need for additional resources and education not just for Hoosier renters, but also for landlords, service providers, and lawmakers,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director, Prosperity Indiana.

Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants is a general guide to help Hoosier renters make smart choices and make renting in Indiana a positive experience. The handbook walks a tenant through the entire rental process beginning with how to budget and determine how much monthly rent you can afford, how to make a list of needs for your rental property, and what to look for when viewing potential properties. The handbook reviews several types of leases; common leasing clauses, what to look for, and how to negotiate lease terms with a landlord. The handbook also outlines tenant responsibilities, best practices for good landlord-tenant relationships, how to communicate issues with your landlord, and what resources are available for a tenant when an issue arises. The newest addition to the handbook also includes a section focused on handling eviction. In the past year, there have been 74,727 eviction filings in Indiana.

Renting in Indiana includes additional resources such as worksheets as well as provides information on organizations that offer assistance on issues ranging from discrimination to domestic violence support.

“This was truly a collaborative effort, bringing together legal aid partners, service providers, and housing advocates to provide our Hoosier renters with the most comprehensive guide on how to be a successful tenant in Indiana,” said Marie Beason, Capacity Building Director, Prosperity Indiana.

Renters can access the Renting in Indiana handbook either here on the Housing4Hoosiers website or on Prosperity Indiana's website.

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About Prosperity Indiana

Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.

Prosperity Indiana Announces Grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:27:01 GMT

To support the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition’s efforts to increase housing affordability and stability for all Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. November 20, 2023 — Prosperity Indiana has received an inaugural grant totaling $375,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to support housing affordability and stability for all Hoosiers.

“Prosperity Indiana is proud to serve as the state’s premier convener and advocate for community economic development, including affordable housing issues,” Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Aspen Clemons said. “We are honored to partner with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to affordable and stable housing. This grant will allow us the opportunity to expand the role of the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition in educating Hoosiers and stakeholders statewide about solutions to address Indiana’s housing affordability and stability crisis. The grant will provide Prosperity Indiana with additional data capacity and educational resources to improve pathways to safe, stable, and affordable housing, and eliminate barriers to homeownership and long-term rental housing solutions. In addition, the grant will allow Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition to continue serving as a premier convener to lift up the voices of the community economic development sector on housing issues, including those of the most vulnerable Hoosiers affected by housing policy decisions.”

“Over the years, Prosperity Indiana has built a strong statewide network of organizations devoted to helping Hoosiers find and stay in housing,” said Gene D’Adamo, CEO and president of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. “We are honored to support their efforts to improve the conditions of low-income renter households and long-term housing outcomes in Indiana.”

The Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition [HHNC] was formed by members of Indiana’s housing security advocacy community in April 2020 to support advocacy and education related to housing and homelessness prevention. Staffed by Prosperity Indiana, HHNC convenes partners from across Indiana to provide education and advocacy to achieve equitable federal, state, and local policies for housing stability and affordability solutions. HHNC is guided by a Steering Committee composed of a diverse group of Indiana housing advocacy and education leaders. Click here to subscribe to Prosperity Indiana’s mailing list and join the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition.

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About Prosperity Indiana

Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @ProsperityInd on Twitter.

About the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life, primarily in Phoenix and Indianapolis. The Trust has awarded nearly $375 million in grants and student scholarships since its inception in 1997. For more information, visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.

Prosperity Indiana Welcomes Aspen Clemons as its next Executive Director

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:00:00 GMT

June 1, 2023

Media Inquiries: Steven Meyer, Prosperity Indiana Board President |smeyer@IntendIndiana.org |317-417-7976

Prosperity Indiana Welcomes
Aspen Clemons as its next Executive Director

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana today announced that its Board of Directors has selected Aspen Clemons as the organization’s next Executive Director. She will begin her new role on June 15, 2023.

Clemons’ background uniquely positions her to assume the Executive Director role, bringing with her more than 10 years of professional experience in policy, strategy, evaluation, and programs in the areas of affordable housing, social justice, poverty, and diversity. Clemons is well-suited to strategically guide the organization forward into this next phase.

“Prosperity Indiana serves as a critical engine for increasing equity, economic mobility, and access to opportunity,” said Ms. Clemons. “I am humbled to partner with our staff, members, and Board of Directors to support community and economic development efforts throughout Indiana. I am excited about returning home to help make Indiana a place where everyone who calls it home is afforded an opportunity to thrive.”

“Ms. Clemons’ vision, passion, and approach impressed the search committee,” said Steven Meyer, Prosperity Indiana Board President. “The Board is confident that Aspen will be an inspiring leader for Prosperity Indiana members and our community partners across the state.”

Ms. Clemons holds a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and an M.S. in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has an Executive Leadership Certificate from the University of Chicago. Clemons’ resume includes administrative posts working for several universities, Indiana United Ways, and the Indiana Commission for Women.

The announcement follows a search and selection process undertaken after the previous Executive Director, Jessica Love, stepped down after five years in the position.

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ABOUT PROSPERITY INDIANA

Visit the Prosperity Indiana website and follow @INCommDev on Twitter.

Prosperity Indiana Welcomes Communications & Fundraising Coordinator to Team

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 19:55:22 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2023

CONTACT: Rita O'Donohue| (317) 222-1221 x405| rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

Prosperity Indiana Welcomes Communications & Fundraising Coordinator to Team

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that Maya Painter has joined the team as the new Communications & Fundraising Coordinator. In this role, Painter will strategically message Prosperity Indiana’s mission, vision, values, programs, and benefits of membership. She will help tell the story of impact for PI and its member organizations, as well as critically support the fundraising infrastructure and delivery of convening events that marry knowledge sharing and relationship building.

Prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Painter served as the Development Coordinator to the American Lung Association in Indiana where she crafted strategic messaging for two annual fundraising events. In this role, she worked to deepen relationships and secure investment with both corporate sponsors and the community. Painter has additionally spent time with the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ Marketing Office; Representative Sean Casten in Washington, D.C.; the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s Community Transitions program; and more.

Originally from Lafayette, Painter traded her black and gold for cream and crimson. She earned her Bachelor of Public Affairs with a major of Nonprofit Management and Leadership and a minor of Law & Public Policy from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington.

Painter said, “I am passionate about strengthening Indiana’s communities and improving the lives of those around us. I eagerly look forward to assisting PI in building an Indiana where there is equitable access to social and economic opportunity for all.”

Prosperity Indiana is excited to welcome Painter as a “Piece of the PI.”

Announcing Prosperity Indiana’s 2023 Award Winners!

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 15:24:25 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 2023

Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

Announcing Prosperity Indiana’s 2023 Award Winners!

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards at the 2023 Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 1. The Summit Awards Ceremony was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. Winners were nominated by a nominating committee and chosen by a selection committee based on criteria established for each award.

"I couldn't imagine a room full of more passionate and driven people who make it their business every day to strengthen our communities. The nominees for this year's Prosperity Indiana awards were incredibly impressive," said Jessica Love, Executive Director for Prosperity Indiana. "While many individuals and programs are worthy of recognition, we are proud to celebrate a few of the top leaders and innovators in our field."

Award winners include George Guy, Bo Beaulieu, Anthony Bridgeman, and the Master It Series for Inmates at Lacasa, Inc.

The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank and co-presented with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has consistently provided excellent leadership, advocacy, support, and innovation in community economic development for many years.

Presented to: George Guy, Fort Wayne Housing Authority

Having spent the past 25 years developing solutions to improve the quality of life for families in underserved communities, George Guy oversees a portfolio of over 4,000 public housing units, vouchers, and affordable housing units and has remained steadfast in his commitment to building programs that will lift families from poverty.

Guy has helped residents overcome barriers to self-sufficiency by creating a transportation readiness employment and training program to overcome his city's public transportation limitations, developed partnerships with local school districts to offer tutoring and resources that will ensure children in the community are reading at grade level, and provided critical support for families dealing with unique needs, such as AIDS, aging out of foster care, homelessness, and victims of domestic violence.

Under Guy's innovative leadership, the housing authority partnered on a new affordable housing development, Posterity Scholar House. This development is an energy-efficient and technologically innovative, multi-family development that features an ecological and comprehensive education center of community-based programs and services for low-income and underserved single-parent families. He is also working to grow the next generation of housing leaders and activists through the creation of a Leadership Academy.

Other Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award nominees include:

Angela Graf, Hope Southern Indiana
Carma Parish, NorthPark Community Credit Union
Carolyn Kingen, UMC Housing Justice Task Force
DeAndre Wilson, Impact Evansville
Jim Musial, Citizens Concerned for the Homeless
Leon Gordon, Bloomington Housing Authority

The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

Presented to: Bo Beaulieu, Purdue University

A sociologist focused on low-income and minority populations by trade, Bo Beaulieu has spent more than 40 years developing and implementing capacity building programming in rural Indiana through Purdue Extension and Purdue Center for Regional Development.

Beaulieu created the Hometown Collaboration Initiative and has worked with Auburn and Corydon to establish key stakeholder groups within each community to work exclusively with a site coach to support growth opportunities. As a result of these growth opportunities, these communities were able to build on the strengths of their key stakeholder group to implement programs and projects to improve their rural community.

Beaulieu also created the Rural Opportunity Zone Initiative (ROZI), allowing rural communities to partner with Purdue to leverage funding to create a plan to attract private investment. Washington, Newton, and DeKalb Counties all had an economic development prospectus developed for them through ROZI to attract investment in housing, small business, and industrial sites in their communities.

Other Rural Development Leadership Award nominees include:

Michael Pavey, City of Rushville
Randall Danielson, The REES Theatre, Inc.

The Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award, sponsored by Brightpoint, recognizes the outstanding professional leadership and commitment of a staff person working for a community economic development organization.

Presented to: Anthony Bridgeman, PNC Bank

Anthony Bridgeman is passionate about real estate finance, urban planning, government relations, and event management. His career includes roles in large neighborhood improvement projects, convening coalitions, community outreach, case management, educational support services, and post-secondary education scholarships.

Having previously been a Multifamily Housing Tax Credit Analyst at IHCDA and a Loan Specialist at Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Bridgeman's current role is said to require “patience, unique insights and understanding of a broad range of community development tools like HOME, CDBG, New Market Tax Credits, Opportunity Zones, and more to serve client’s needs.”

Bridgeman serves on a variety of boards and speaks regularly on an array of topics thanks to vast expertise related to education, community development, and human services. Additionally, he was instrumental in building momentum to highlight an unsung Black American in his community, Marshall "Major" Taylor.

Other Staff Member of the Year nominees include:

Adam Johnson, Elevate Indianapolis
Andrea Davis, HAND
Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP)
Jaimie Sheth, JD Sheth Foundation
John West, Ball State University
Kelly Lundberg, City of Fort Wayne Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services
Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry

The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented community development initiative.

Presented to: Master It Series for Inmates, Lacasa, Inc.

Through partnerships with local agencies and employers, the Master It Series for Inmates connects Lacasa with people who would normally have been out of the organization's reach. The program involved collaboration between more than 25 partners to benefit nearly 200 participants over the past year. Volunteers include bankers, loan originators, realtors, and other housing and financial industry professionals.

The program provides financial education courses paired with low-barrier banking and credit-building opportunities, including free checking and savings accounts as well as credit builder loans for those who complete the coursework. While originally adapted to educate inmates in the men's ward of the local jail, three of the courses have been modified and are being taught to female inmates as well.

Other Key Award nominees include:

Garvin Lofts, ECHO Housing Corporation
HomePower, Intend Indiana
Triumph Senior Care
Special Olympics, Hamilton County
Brown Faces Green Spaces, Gary Community Partnership Corporation
Level Up Program, United Way Northwest Indiana
Housing Hub Initiative, Horizon House

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

First Financial Supports Prosperity Indiana’s Growing A&O Network

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 16:34:51 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jessica Love | 317-222-1221 | jlove@prosperityindiana.org

First Financial Supports Prosperity Indiana’s Growing A&O Network

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that First Financial Bank awarded the organization a $45,000 grant to expand the capacity and the impact of the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network. This financial support will allow Prosperity Indiana to implement the goals of the A&O Network’s strategic plan, including advancing the community economic development field by delivering programming, training, and peer-to-peer networking for asset-building practitioners.

The Indiana A&O Network aims to improve connectivity between cross-sector and asset-building professionals; increase knowledge and use of best practices through participation in professional training; advance equity by prioritizing strategies that affect Indiana’s most vulnerable populations; and support partners in alleviating barriers to wealth through education, workforce development, and other asset-building strategies.

The Asset Funders Network defines asset building as “how individuals, families, and communities gather the resources that will move them towards economic well-being, for now and for years to come.”

The Indiana A&O Network, staffed by Prosperity Indiana’s new coalition coordinator, is working with a steering committee to provide responsive leadership to a segment of the field serving low- and moderate-income households, and especially households of color, that have been significantly impacted by the economic downturn.

“Our support for Prosperity Indiana adds to our work to help our clients and communities thrive, especially in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods,” said Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial Bank. “This funding will make a positive impact in areas such as affordable housing, financial empowerment and access to bank services, each of which is key as we focus on improving financial well-being in our communities.”

First Financial Bank and the First Financial Foundation take a strong leadership role in the community and made donations of more than $4 million in 2021 alone.

“At Prosperity Indiana, we have seen firsthand the commitments that First Financial Bank and the First Financial Foundation have made to improve the quality of life for the people and places they serve,” said Jessica Love, Prosperity Indiana’s executive director. “First Financial’s support in advancing the efforts of PI and the A&O Network to provide equitable access to social and economic opportunity are critical to supporting families looking to move up the economic ladder.”

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About First Financial Bancorp.

First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $16.2 billion in assets, $9.4 billion in loans, $12.3 billion in deposits and $2.1 billion in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $3.0 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2022. The Company operated 135 full service banking centers as of June 30, 2022, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.

About the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network

The Network creates learning opportunities for community leaders, advocates on policies that affect low-to-moderate income families, and builds capacity for organizations aimed to increase financial stability. It is co-led by Prosperity Indiana which is a member organization skilled at building vibrant communities and resilient families; and the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute (ICAPI) which is a program of the Indiana Community Action Association, skilled in research, policy analysis, and advocacy. The Network is directed by a diverse steering committee to help establish program and policy focus. They meet bi-monthly to help identify funding sources, opportunities, and coalition partners.

About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Prosperity Indiana Adds Coalition Coordinator to Team to Expand Advocacy Efforts

Wed, 25 May 2022 14:13:09 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2022

CONTACT: Jessica Love | (317) 222-1221 x402| jlove@prosperityindiana.org

Prosperity Indiana Adds Coalition Coordinator to Team to Expand Advocacy Efforts

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that Hale Crumley has joined the PI team as the new Coalition Coordinator. In this role, Crumley will coordinate the operations and development for PI’s four issue-based coalitions and work to further the coalitions’ goals, which include increasing the advocacy capacity of members to address long-standing racial equity gaps and economic injustices and advancing policies that promote stable, affordable housing, consumer protections, asset-building, and economic opportunities for all Hoosiers to thrive. She will build diverse and inclusive partnerships with communities and individuals across the state to advance the strategic missions of the Indiana Assets & Opportunities Network, Hoosiers for Responsible Lending, the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition, and the Opportunity Starts at Home-Indiana Coalition.

Prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Crumley had experience in program management, economic inclusion research, and consulting in the public and nonprofit sectors including with CDFI Friendly Bloomington, Downtown Bloomington Inc., and the City of South Bend. She earned her Bachelor of Public Affairs with a major of Nonprofit Management and Leadership and her Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Community and Economic Development, both from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington.

Crumley said, “My professional background and passion lies in people-oriented community building and the importance of racial and economic equity. I am greatly looking forward to serving Prosperity Indiana members as a resource connector, convener of people, active listener, transparent communicator, best practices educator, and advocate for all Hoosiers.”

Prosperity Indiana is excited to welcome Crumley as a “Piece of the PI.”

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Announcing Prosperity Indiana’s 2022 Award Winners!

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:55:19 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2022

Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

Announcing Prosperity Indiana’s 2022 Award Winners!

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards at the 2022 Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 17. The Summit Awards Ceremony was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. Winners were nominated by their peers and chosen by a judging committee, based on criteria established for each award.

“Such critical work is being done by Prosperity Indiana members and partner organizations across the state to strengthen our communities. As a result, the list of nominees for this year's Prosperity Indiana awards was extremely impressive," said Jessica Love, Executive Director for Prosperity Indiana. "It is an absolute honor to lift up the work of the four 2022 Prosperity Indiana Award recipients. The communities served by the winners, who are based in Bartholomew, Lake, Marion, and Miami Counties, are no doubt forever changed by the work of these individuals and programs.”

Award winners include Janine Betsey, Eric A. Frey, II, Anna Schoon, and Prevent Pricks with ShipHappens.

The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, sponsored by First Financial Bank and co-presented with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, distinguishes an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development industry.

Presented to: Janine Betsey, Gene B. Glick Company

Described as a visionary leader who has convened multidimensional partnerships and led redevelopment efforts, Janine Betsey has been a stalwart leader in serving disadvantaged communities, developing dynamic affordable housing projects, and implementing economic development initiatives that have transformed neighborhoods and improved residents’ quality of life.

Known for inspiring female developers and developers of color, her motto that “There is no crying in community development” has pushed others in the field to navigate difficult projects and other career challenges to improve their trajectory going forward.

In her new role as the Director of Tax Credit Operations for Gene B. Glick Company, Betsey is working for an organization with thousands of affordable housing units in areas of high opportunity, like those her own family sought out for her as a child. In her new role managing Glick’s affordable housing efforts, she has a key opportunity to preserve and enhance these units, so that they may serve generations to come.

Other Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award nominees include:

Kyle Bach, The Annex Group
Stephen Camilleri, Center for the Homeless
Moira Carlstedt, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
Robin Hilber, City of Columbus - Department of Community Development
Denise Koebcke, The Caring Place
Marco J. Mariani, South Bend Heritage Foundation
Matt Meyers, Bartholomew County Sheriff
Richard Proctor III, Indy Gateway

The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

Presented to: Eric A. Frey, II, Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation

With more than 28 years of experience in the acquisition and administration of federal, state, and private grant programs in rural communities, Eric Frey knows the ins and outs of Community Development Block Grant program administration and how to lead industrial and economic development, housing rehabilitation, and capital improvements projects, and commercial, industrial and microenterprise lending programs.

Described as someone who is always finding creative ways to reach the end goal, Frey is said to have helping people at the heart of his leadership. And while he tries to stay in the shadows, as executive director of Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation and Administrative Resources association in Columbus, Frey is known for orchestrating the right people at the right time to reach the goal at hand.

Other Rural Development Leadership Award nominees include:

Kyle Bach, The Annex Group
Bo Beaulieu, Purdue University
G. Dean Byers, Habitat for Humanity of Marshall County
Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

Presented to: Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

Anna Schoon is an expert in Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, a Certified Community Action Professional, a Results Oriented Management and Accountability trainer, a leader of poverty simulations, creator and organizer for the Reimagine Conference focused on ACEs, and the lead staff person for a variety of programs at the Northwest Indiana Community Action agency, or NWICA. Through her role as VP of Planning & Business Development, she is known for actively planning, collaborating, and developing opportunities across NWICA’s multi-county service territory to better lives for those in the most populated and most rural areas within Indiana.

Schoon has spent more than 20 years “working with low-income and socially diverse populations to help them develop economic stability via opportunities for housing and employment. And she weaves advocacy in all of her actions, and it is her actions that make the impact,” according to her nomination.

Other Staff Member of the Year nominees include:

Erin Emerson, Perry County Development Corporation
Rob Evans, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
Nicholas Hunot, Renew Indianapolis
Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry
Natalie Powell, Hoosier Uplands EDC
Aaron Roberts, Ivy Tech-Indianapolis/Noblesville

The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented (non-construction) community development initiative.

Presented to: Prevent Pricks with ShipHappens

A volunteer-led, community-based initiative, the winning program increases health and safety while reducing stigma and discrimination. It raises public awareness and acceptance of evidence-based harm reduction principles, policies, and programs among public health and health care systems, local government, and the general public.

Prevent Pricks is designed to be equitable and inclusive of all syringe-using residents: meaning people with chronic diseases, those in need of hormone or vitamin deficiency injections, and people who use drugs.

Since launching the syringe disposal pilot program in October 2020, the program has eliminated accidental needle pricks of City and County Street Department workers in Miami County and Peru, Indiana, saving the $500-$4000 it costs to treat a single needlestick injury, and the program has seen a 29 percent decrease in improper syringe disposal calls to the Peru Police Department.

Other Key Award nominees include:

Embedded Police Social Worker Program with the Bloomington Police Department
Eviction Prevention Program with the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana
Fort Wayne Cares-Emergency Rental Assistance Program with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Legal Services, Just Neighbors, Brightpoint, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran Social Services
Permanent Supportive Housing with Horizon House

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Announcing Candidates for Prosperity Indiana’s 2022 Annual Awards!

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:27:31 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 8, 2021

Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

Announcing Candidates for Prosperity Indiana’s 2022 Annual Awards!

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Top community development leaders and programs across Indiana have been nominated for the prestigious Prosperity Indiana Awards. Winners have not been named and will be announced at the annual Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 17, 2022.

Candidates:

Kyle Bach, The Annex Group
Janine Betsey, Gene B. Glick Company
Stephen Camilleri, The Center for the Homeless
Moira Carlstedt, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
Robin Hilber, City of Columbus - Department of Community Development
Denise Koebcke, The Caring Place
Marco J. Mariani, South Bend Heritage Foundation
Matt Meyers, Bartholomew County Sheriff
Richard Proctor III, Indy Gateway

The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, presented by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

Candidates:

Kyle Bach, The Annex Group
Bo Beaulieu, Purdue University
G. Dean Byers, Habitat for Humanity of Marshall County
Eric A. Frey, II, Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation (SIHCDC)
Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

Candidates:

Erin Emerson, Perry County Development Corporation
Rob Evans, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
Nicholas Hunot, Renew Indianapolis
Pablo Malavenda, Lafayette Urban Ministry
Natalie Powell, Hoosier Uplands EDC
Aaron Roberts, Ivy Tech-Indianapolis/Noblesville
Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action

The Key Award for Supportive Services Program of the Year, presented by Merchants Bank of Indiana, honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented (non-construction) community development initiative.

Candidates:

Embedded Police Social Worker Program with the Bloomington Police Department
Eviction Prevention Program with the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana
Fort Wayne Cares-Emergency Rental Assistance Program with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Legal Services, Just Neighbors, Brightpoint, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran Social Services
Permanent Support Housing with Horizon House
Prevent Pricks with ShipHappens

The 2022 Prosperity Indiana Summit is open to the public and centered on building relationships and an equitable economy through policy, programs, performance, and philanthropic investments. If you would like to attend the virtual event on February 17, 2022, please register at prosperityindiana.org/summit.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana’s network has grown to nearly 200 organizations, representing more than 1,000 practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Prosperity Indiana Receives Grant to Strengthen Emergency Rental Assistance Programs in Indiana

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 16:09:58 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 26, 2021

Contact: Jessica Love, Executive Director, executivedirector@prosperityindiana.org

Andrew Bradley, Policy Director, abradley@prosperityindiana.org, 317-222-1221 x403

Prosperity Indiana Receives Grant to Strengthen Emergency Rental Assistance Programs in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce an award totaling $80,000 from National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) to support and strengthen emergency rental assistance programs in Indiana. Prosperity Indiana joins 27 state and local organizations selected for the NLIHC Ending Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions (ERASE) grantee cohort. The cohort will work to influence state and local emergency rental assistance (ERA) programs and ensure that ERA funds quickly reach the lowest-income and most marginalized people. The ERASE program seeks to ensure housing stability for the lowest-income renters in the short-term while building the framework for long-term sustainability.

“This opportunity to bolster efforts to get emergency rental assistance out the door and to those who need it most comes at a critical time,” said Jessica Love, executive director for Prosperity Indiana. “The temporary extension of the CDC eviction moratorium gives us a brief window to help assess where the ERA programs are experiencing challenges. Then we can come alongside these programs to share best practices to target outreach, get landlords paid, keep people housed, and prevent evictions, even after the moratorium has been lifted.”

Building off NLIHC’s ERASE call to action, grantees will work to:

Influence state and local programs to accelerate the equitable use of funding
Enable the adoption of eviction-prevention and diversion measures through policy reforms and/or judicial partnerships
Encourage transparency through tracking program data, successes, and challenges

Prosperity Indiana’s grant will add capacity for the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition to support and strengthen Indiana’s seven ERA programs. Specifically, the grant will support Prosperity Indiana’s work to implement the framework of the White House Eviction Prevention Summit’s Indianapolis working group to ensure equitable implementation of emergency rental assistance that can serve as a model to scale statewide. The participants in this working group will engage community stakeholders, including housing providers, public officials, low-income tenants, and Black, indigenous, and other people of color to implement a checklist to strengthen equitable marketing and targeting of ERA and other recovery programs to ensure outreach to the hardest hit communities. The group has prioritized reducing barriers for tenants and landlords to apply for and receive the maximum allowed amount of ERA funds in the shortest possible amount of time. The framework also includes actions to strengthen connections and coordination between court-based eviction diversion activities and the Emergency Rental Assistance program, exploring adding ERA program access points in courts during eviction proceedings to increase awareness and fast-track applications. Prosperity Indiana plans to use outcome data to ensure that the communities most at need are being served and the local effort in Indianapolis can be scaled to other ERA programs and courts statewide to help ensure no one is left out of a stronger and more equitable recovery for all Hoosiers.

Love said, “A lot is at stake here. Not only do we want to see communities maximize the short-term assistance being made available to respond to the crisis, but we also want to help state and local policymakers reimagine the policy infrastructure that is driving our broader response to housing needs. If we can help strengthen partnerships among community partners through this process, we’ll be better prepared to address any other current or future challenges our state might face.”

In addition to Prosperity Indiana, the ERASE grantees are:

Housing Network of Rhode Island
Housing Action IL
Chicago Anti Eviction Campaign
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
United Community Housing Coalition, MI
Richland Library, Columbia, SC
Dataworks NC
Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy
Nebraska Housing Developers Association
Hope Enterprise Corporation, MS
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
Byrd Barr Place Seattle
Homeless & Housing Coalition of Kentucky
CT Fair Housing Center
Hawai'i Appleseed
Texas Housers
Florida Housing Coalition
Miami Workers Center
Housing and Counseling Service of DC
Empower DC
Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc.
Minnesota Housing Partnership
Utah Housing Coalition
Alaska Coalition to End Homelessness
Housing Alliance PA
HousingLOUISIANA

Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has used its broad membership base to help Hoosiers meet their basic needs, preserve and expand affordable housing, and connect individuals and families to education, employment, and economic opportunity. The organization is known for its role as a convener and advocacy voice in Indiana’s community development landscape and has established its presence as an authority on housing and community development policy.

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About Prosperity Indiana

About the National Low Income Housing Coalition

Founded in 1974, National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) educates, organizes and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone. NLIHC’s goals are to preserve existing federally assisted homes and housing resources, expand the supply of low income housing, and establish housing stability as the primary purpose of federal low income housing policy.

National Land Bank Leader Selects Prosperity Indiana to Join First Cohort of Scholarship Winners

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:30:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 20, 2021

Contact: Andrew Bradley, Prosperity Indiana, (317) 222-1221 x403, abradley@prosperityindiana.org; Nia Bolden, Center for Community Progress, (877) 542-4842 x153, nbolden@communityprogress.org

National Land Bank Leader Selects Prosperity Indiana to Join First Cohort of Scholarship Winners

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) announced today the first cohort of competitively selected scholarship winners, including Prosperity Indiana, through their new Land Bank Incubator Scholarship Program.

The program, made possible by generous support from Arnold Ventures, provides free technical assistance, valued at up to $75,000, to local and state leaders who seek to create new land banks and pilot innovative land bank practices in the face of emerging challenges to our communities and neighborhoods triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Great Recession proved that land banks are an innovative, impactful tool for virtually any community and can play a central role in repairing our neighborhoods through equitable, inclusive development that uplifts all people,” said Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO for Community Progress.

These scholarships will help grow land banks across the country, ensuring that more communities are prepared to respond to and eliminate vacancy resulting from both historic challenges and the unprecedented pandemic. “We are excited to begin our partnership with Prosperity Indiana, working with local and state leaders that support our shared goal of utilizing land banks to advance an equitable recovery for all,” said Watkins.

“We’re fortunate in Indiana that we already have land bank enabling legislation, but our law needs some work for communities to maximize the benefits of this vital redevelopment tool. In light of the economic implications of COVID-19, we simply cannot afford to wait any longer to address the limitations in our state code,” said Jessica Love, executive director for Prosperity Indiana.

The national experts from Community Progress will work with Prosperity Indiana and stakeholders from across the state to identify and develop legislative reforms to optimize existing, but limiting, state-enabling land bank legislation so land banks can become a powerful tool to support equitable recovery efforts in communities across the great state of Indiana. The scholarship provides up to 200 hours of expert, technical support at no cost to Prosperity Indiana, as well as a small local grant for inclusive community engagement. The work will begin in July 2021 and continue through the first quarter of 2022.

“Thanks to the opportune timing of Community Progress’ technical assistance program, we’re looking forward to having recommended language ready before the General Assembly reconvenes in 2022 to address our land banking law’s various impediments,” said Love.

Prosperity Indiana has already formed a diverse and inclusive coalition of local, regional, and state leaders to ensure the proposed improvements meet the needs of urban, suburban, and rural communities across the state, one of the key reasons why the organization’s scholarship application was so competitive.

In addition to Prosperity Indiana, the first cohort of scholarship winners also includes the following:

Central Illinois Land Bank Authority
City of Montgomery, AL
Redevelopment Authority for the City of Meadville, PA

The Growing Land Bank Need in the Face of COVID-19

Since 2010, approximately 200 land banks have launched across the United States, largely as a response to the Great Recession’s destabilizing impacts to neighborhoods all across this country, which brings the total of land banks in operation across the country to nearly 250. Land banks are special entities, created by state legislation, that are granted unique legal powers to effectively tackle vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties consistent with community priorities. These governmental entities—operating across diverse geographies like Toledo, OH, Omaha, NE, Houston, TX, Huntington, WV, and rural counties in NY—have proven to be effective tools for communities facing widespread vacancy stemming from economic crises, natural disasters, or other disruptive events.

Today, another national crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, is not only threatening public health, but also disrupting real estate markets, household security, and neighborhood vitality—and doing so with a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Over the next few years, it is expected that state and local leaders will again turn to land banks to help minimize the harms of vacant, distressed properties and to assist in an equitable recovery.

The Land Bank Incubator Scholarship Program is a proactive effort to fill a critical need at a critical time.

As America’s leading organization helping communities address systemic vacancy, abandonment, and deterioration, Community Progress has led a number of initiatives to further one of the fastest growing community development tools, land banks. Those efforts include producing the seminal publications on land banks for the field of practice, collaborating to garner support for the National Land Bank Network Act, and helping develop land bank enabling legislation in 15 states.

About the Scholarships: Helping High-Need, Limited Resource Communities

The new Land Bank Incubator Scholarship Program supports growing the number of land banks across the country, driving transformative and innovative land bank practices in the face of emerging challenges to our communities and neighborhoods triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. A national, competitive program open to eligible applicants from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, the initiative’s three primary objectives are to:

Expand the number of land banks in states that already have state enabling land bank legislation;
Help local and/or state partners design and adopt new state enabling land bank legislation where no state law currently exists; and
Help local and/or state partners reform and optimize their state’s existing enabling land bank legislation.

Communities interested in launching new land banks or seeking to advance optimal statewide land bank legislation are invited to learn more at https://www.communityprogress.net/land-bank-incubator-scholarship-pages-594.php.

For interviews or more information on the Land Bank Incubator Scholarships, email info@communityprogress.org or call (877) 542-4842.

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About the Center for Community Progress

Founded in 2010, the Center for Community Progress is the national leader for building strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties are transformed into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods. Today, Community Progress has affected change in more than 48 states and 300 communities through leadership education and advancing local and state reforms to systems, policies, and practices with a focus on racial equity. Simply, we work to transform “Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places.” For more information, visit www.communityprogress.org.

About Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. We invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. We drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy.

We are a team of more than 90 subject-matter experts headquartered in Houston with offices in New York and Washington, D.C. We work in four key issue areas: Criminal Justice, Education, Health, and Public Finance. Our work is guided by Evidence-Based Policy, Research, and Advocacy. For more information, visit www.arnoldventures.org.

About Prosperity Indiana

Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to nearly 200 members from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Prosperity Indiana Receives $50k from First Financial for Capacity Building

Mon, 17 May 2021 15:30:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2021

Contact: Jessica Love | (317) 222-1221 x402 | jlove@prosperityindiana.org

Prosperity Indiana Receives $50k from First Financial for Capacity Building

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to leverage a $50,000 grant from the First Financial Foundation and First Financial Bank (Nasdaq: FFBC) to support community-based organizations seeking to expand affordable housing and services across the Hoosier state. The grant will specifically underwrite Prosperity Indiana’s capacity building work with community economic development practitioners throughout Indiana.

“Working through Prosperity Indiana gives us a channel to invest in Indiana neighborhoods in a way that will give more individuals equal access to resources and opportunity,” said Roddell McCullough, director of community development for First Financial Bank. “First Financial exists to be woven into the communities we serve, so we look forward to the impact this funding will make in those communities throughout the state.”

As Indiana’s only cross-sector network for community development organizations, Prosperity Indiana builds capacity through cutting-edge training and consulting projects that nurture problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation skills. Through grant activities, Prosperity Indiana will strengthen the capacity of a wide variety of stakeholders dedicated to improving quality of life for the people and in the places that most need it. The ultimate goal of the program is to create economic resiliency for low- to moderate-income individuals. As Indiana communities rebuild post-pandemic, Prosperity Indiana has resolved to fortify the field’s ability to provide services and affordable housing with racial equity at the core of the work. Now is the time to consider new ways to bring about true organizational resilience that will lead to improved opportunities for the individuals and communities looking to rebuild in transformative ways in 2021 and beyond.

“Resources for nonprofit capacity building are so limited, it’s always significant when we can secure funding to make training and consulting more accessible to our members and partners. But in light of the pandemic and its impact on the level of need to provide affordable housing and family resiliency services, an award of this size from First Financial feels momentous,” said Jessica Love, executive director of Prosperity Indiana.

Grant funds are currently supporting the Changing4Good webinar series, Prosperity Indiana’s first major training installment of the year. The Changing4Good series will empower individuals to develop adaptive and technical solutions to meet post-pandemic challenges facing their organization and community. With support from First Financial, Prosperity Indiana is now able to make the Changing4Good webinar series free to anyone wishing to attend. Registration is now open. The First Financial grant will also support the upcoming Prosperity Indiana Real Estate Development Academy and other training and consulting related to industry-specific technical and adaptive challenges and expertise.

“With support from leaders in the Hoosier state such as First Financial, we look forward to continuing and expanding our support to the individuals, organizations and communities doing the hard work of strengthening our communities in equitable ways.”

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About Prosperity Indiana

About First Financial Bancorp.

First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had $16.2 billion in assets, $9.9 billion in loans, $12.6 billion in deposits and $2.3 billion in shareholders' equity. The Company's subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $3.1 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2021. The Company operated 143 full service banking centers as of March 31, 2021, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.

Prosperity Indiana Grows Team to Expand Capacity Building Resources, Programs

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 21:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2021

CONTACT: Jessica Love | (317) 222-1221 x402| jlove@prosperityindiana.org

Prosperity Indiana Grows Team to Expand Capacity Building Resources, Programs

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce that Marie Beason has joined the PI team as Capacity Building Director. In this role, she will utilize her skills in training and community development to strengthen pathways to prosperity for Indiana families, communities and the organizations that serve them. Another exciting update is that Teresa Reimschisel is moving to a full-time role as Operations & Special Projects Manager.

Beason’s deep roots in community-based programming began with her work as Executive Director of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) and grew throughout her career leading philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Beason operated a consulting practice helping nonprofit clients conceptualize strategies, assess programs and implement recommended action plans to achieve organizational success. Prior to consulting, Beason served as Director of Professional Development for the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, where she led organizational development efforts on behalf of Indiana’s philanthropic sector.

Beason said, “My career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership has solidified my belief that social change is best achieved through a symbiotic relationship between policy, programs and philanthropy. Prosperity Indiana and its members serve vital roles within this triangle of change, and I am excited to help PI grow and build the capacity of its members.”

As Operations & Special Projects Manager, Reimschisel will maintain, evaluate and enhance day-to-day operational processes and organizational impact reporting. She will also support creation and expansion efforts of PI’s signature programs. With previous experience in management, classroom and individual instruction and advocacy, Reimschisel enjoys connecting organizations with resources that will multiply their impact.

Reimschisel said, “My background in higher education administration and years of community volunteerism combine to give me a profound appreciation for the work PI and our members do every day. I look forward to expanding our internal capacity and getting to know our members and partners better.”

Prosperity Indiana is excited to welcome Beason and Reimschisel as full-time “Pieces of the PI.”

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to nearly 200 members from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Prosperity Indiana and Indiana United Ways Release Shelter from the Storm

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2021

Prosperity Indiana and Indiana United Ways Release Shelter from the Storm

Today, Indiana United Ways and Prosperity Indiana are pleased to co-release Shelter from the Storm: How Avoiding a COVID-19 Eviction Crisis Helps All Hoosiers. This report is the result of a months-long roundtable of stakeholders from across the housing sector to address the public health and economic threats from pandemic-related housing instability. Participants included representatives from Indiana’s housing developers, multifamily and affordable housing providers, advocates from community economic development, antipoverty, homelessness and domestic violence prevention organizations, as well as representatives from the legal and public health sector and from Indiana’s courts, family services, and housing agencies.

Roundtable participants came together to discuss how COVID-19 housing instability affects public health and economic impacts for the state’s providers, residents, and communities. Experts from the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State, Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, and IU Public Policy Institute contributed presentations to help participants create recommendations for Indiana to take next steps. While resources, data, and presentations from the roundtable are reflected in the report, contributions do not imply organizational endorsement of any specific topics or involvement in next steps.

Throughout the roundtable, participants also contributed to a series of surveys that revealed a great deal of consensus about the threats of COVID-19 housing instability in Indiana, including:

84% percent of roundtable participants reported that the public health threat from COVID-19 evictions is a high or medium priority;
92% of participants reported that the overall financial impact of COVID-19 evictions to Indiana’s economy is a high or medium priority; and
92% of participants rated the issue of rental assistance not getting to where it is needed most as a high or medium priority for the state to address.

While agreeing that more work needs to be done, roundtable participants coalesced on three broad recommendations for Indiana to take necessary next steps to avoid a COVID-19 housing stability crisis:

Emergency next steps include making more rental assistance available and incorporating landlord and tenant input into the design and outreach of any future rental assistance.
Additional data collection is needed to assist with understanding the risk of evictions, assistance needs and filings/evictions, including learning more about the specific needs of smaller ‘mom and pop’ landlords.
More partnerships, education, and outreach is needed, and Indiana should partner with providers and community-based organizations to help rental assistance reach the renters who need the assistance most.

In addition to these broad recommendations, co-conveners Indiana United Ways and Prosperity Indiana believe the release of this report coincides with a critical opportunity for Indiana’s policymakers to take immediate steps to improve housing stability. The state of Indiana and several localities will soon receive $448 million in new federal emergency rental and utility assistance. Ensuring this new assistance reaches the residents, properties, and communities who need it most embodies the greatest areas of consensus among roundtable participants.

This report and recommendations are by no means the last word on COVID-19 evictions and housing instability in Indiana. Instead, the roundtable is intended to model the kind of robust policy conversation and guidance for Indiana’s policymakers to use to make immediate progress, even as additional discussions and work are needed.

Sincerely,

Jessica Love Maureen Noe

Executive Director President/CEO

Prosperity Indiana Indiana United Ways

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About Indiana United Ways

Indiana United Ways is the state association for United Ways in Indiana that supports thriving United Ways through capacity building, shared services, and partnering. Visit iuw.org to learn more.

About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to nearly 200 organization and individual members, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Prosperity Indiana selected as one of 8 new State Grantees to national Opportunity Starts at Home campaign

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:21:45 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2021

Contact: Natalie James | (317) 222-1221 x406 | njames@prosperityindiana.org

Prosperity Indiana selected as one of 8 new State Grantees to national Opportunity Starts at Home campaign

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that it has been selected to join a cohort of eight state-based organizations each to receive a $50,000 grant for the Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) national multisector affordable homes campaign. Prosperity Indiana will use the funding to expand the capacity of its ongoing OSAH activities and to diversify Indiana’s state housing coalition to include new partners from the health, civil rights, and economic opportunity sectors. These multi-sector partnerships will be leveraged to engage Indiana’s federal elected officials to enact policies which correct longstanding racial inequities and expand affordable housing for the nation’s lowest income people.

The grantees were selected through a highly competitive proposal process and will be formally recognized as state affiliates of the national campaign, as well as gain access to resources, multi-sector networks, and technical assistance from the national campaign. Each applicant demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing federal affordable housing solutions for the lowest income people, amplifying racial equity, and expanding partnerships to different sectors. In addition to Prosperity Indiana, the grantees are:

“Not only is it critical for Congress to hear from national advocates, but also from their own constituents in the states they represent,” said Mike Koprowski, National Director of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. “Prosperity Indiana will be a critical partner in helping the campaign achieve its goals. To be sure, the housing crisis cannot be solved without stronger federal action. And we are more likely to build the necessary political will in Congress when an array of sectors are standing shoulder-to-shoulder demanding solutions, rather than just housing advocates alone.”

In addition to this new cohort of grantees, the campaign also has previously established partnerships with Housing California, Maine Together, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, Housing Network of Rhode Island, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, Oregon Housing Alliance, and Utah Housing Coalition.

“We are proud to join this cohort of leaders in affordable housing advocacy from across the country and thankful for the resources that will accompany this designation,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. “The multi-sector strategy to engage our federal delegation embraced by Opportunity Starts at Home is a natural fit with the way we like to get things done in the Hoosier state. And so, as we move from COVID recovery to rebuilding, the timing seems right to start pulling together new partners to ensure increased options for housing stability are created for those who need it most.”

Follow Prosperity Indiana’s housing initiatives, including OSAH, through Housing4Hoosiers.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Follow the national Opportunity Starts at Home campaign on Twitter and sign up for its e-newsletter to get the latest updates about the campaign, including new partners, calls to action, events, and research.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to nearly 200 organization and individual members, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Announcing Candidates for Prosperity Indiana’s 2021 Summit Awards!

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:49:49 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 23, 2020

Contact: Rita O’Donohue | (317) 222-1221 x405 | rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org

Announcing Candidates for Prosperity Indiana’s 2021 Summit Awards!

INDIANAPOLIS – Top community development leaders and programs across Indiana have been nominated for the prestigious Prosperity Indiana Awards. Winners have not been named and will be announced at the annual Prosperity Indiana Summit on January 13-14, 2021.

The Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award, presented by First Financial Bank, distinguishes an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development industry.

Candidates:

Joe Bowling, Englewood Community Development Corporation
Timothy Eckerle, Grant County Economic Growth Council
Jennifer Layton, LTHC Homeless Services
Austin Maxheimer, Community One
Annette Phillips, PathStone Corporation

Candidates:

Anthony Bridgeman, PNC Bank
Serita Cabell, Memorial Community Development Corporation
Courtney Goodwyn, Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation
Eric Ogle, Office of Community and Rural Affairs
Travis Richards, Jay County Community Development Corporation
Emily Scott, Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Candidates:

Digital Ready Businesses Program, Purdue Center for Regional Development and Purdue Extension Community Development
The Excel Center, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana
Homelessness and Housing Resource Team, Adult & Child Health
Kendallville Restorations, Inc.
LTHC Homeless Services
Maggie Bag Project, Stability First
Project Home Indy
Second Helpings

The John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award, presented by Fifth Third Bank, is designed to celebrate outstanding leaders in the field of rural community economic development.

Candidates:

Alex Cornwell, The Waynedale News
Charyl Luth, Affordable Housing Association of Indiana
September McConnell, Community Foundation of Whitley County, Inc.

The 2021 Prosperity Indiana Summit theme is centered on racial equity and inclusion, and the event is open to the public. Register at prosperityindiana.org/summit.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to nearly 200 organization and individual members, representing thousands of practitioners statewide from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Evicted in Indiana Reading Guide and Webinar Series

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 15:57:06 GMT

Are you interested in understanding just how eviction is affecting your local community? Have you or anyone you know ever been evicted? Are you looking for ways to engage with your community about eviction and also learn more in the process?

Researchers find 248,000-313,000 Hoosier households are at risk of eviction due to COVID-19. Another recent study estimates 150,000 evictions will be filed by January 2021 and $376,000,000 - $485,000,000 will be lost in rent shortfall in Indiana, unless policy solutions are implemented. Watch the Eviction Lab’s ‘Why Eviction Matters’ video here.

Sign up for our free 'Evicted in Indiana' Reading Guide and Webinar Series for your community organization! Join the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition for three webinars tying topics from Matthew Desmond’s book Evicted to current housing stability issues in Indiana and how to avoid a COVID-19 eviction crisis.

Click here to receive the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition’s Evicted reading guide. This guide is designed for individuals and organizations who want to learn more about housing stability issues. Read by yourself or lead your own book club. Check your local library or major retailer for a copy of Evicted.

By using the reading guide and participating in the webinar series, you will gain an understanding of the factors behind evictions, the personal and community impact of housing instability, and the risk of a COVID-19 eviction crisis.

For additional questions, contact Natalie James, Coalition Builder.

Prosperity Indiana acquires Housing4Hoosiers

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 18:45:56 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2020

CONTACT: Jessica Love | (317) 222-1221 x402 | jlove@prosperityindiana.org, Michaela Wischmeier | (317) 222-1221 x409| mwischmeier@prosperityindiana.org

Prosperity Indiana acquires Housing4Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Housing4Hoosiers website and Help Desk service, formerly managed by South Central Indiana Housing Opportunities (SCIHO). SCIHO has ceased operations as of Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

“SCIHO has been a valued member of Prosperity Indiana, working to meet critical needs through affordable housing development in Monroe County, as well as creating tools and resources to address tenant needs in their service area and beyond,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana.

Prosperity Indiana will maintain Housing4Hoosiers as an affordable housing resource to promote educational information about housing options and tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities in Indiana. The goal of the program is to ensure Hoosiers have safe, affordable, and stable homes they can count on in their community. “Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants and Landlords” was created and was recently updated by SCIHO and has been housed on the Housing4Hoosiers website.

Love said, “As the new home for Housing4Hoosiers, Prosperity Indiana aims to ensure it will become a key housing asset among our community economic development programs. We look forward to offering this advocacy, research and referral resource to benefit those we serve across our statewide footprint.”

Individuals may reach out to Housing4Hoosiers for assistance and resources related to affordable housing issues. Contact Housing4Hoosiers via email at h4h@prosperityindiana.org.

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About Prosperity Indiana

Exciting Staff Updates at Prosperity Indiana

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:48:35 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce two additions to our full-time staff: Michaela Wischmeier as Research & Communications Specialist and Natalie James as Coalition Builder.

Michaela Wischmeier began a new role of Research & Communications Specialist on August 31, after serving as an AmeriCorps Fellow with Prosperity Indiana since January 2020. In her AmeriCorps role, Michaela has assisted with various projects, including communications content such as the monthly “Piece of the PI” newsletter, advocacy research, survey development and analysis, and creating and compiling resources for members. As Research & Communications Specialist, Michaela will be responsible for developing and publishing effective communications across multiple platforms for the organization. She will also perform research, training, and consulting services throughout various program areas to assist Prosperity Indiana members.

In previous roles, Michaela has experience in prevention education and direct service work with domestic violence survivors, as well as nonprofit development and fundraising. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Affairs through IUPUI. Michaela is a lifelong Hoosier from Columbus.

Natalie James will join Prosperity Indiana in the new role of Coalition Builder on September 21. Natalie will serve as the lead staff person for several of Prosperity Indiana’s issue-based coalitions. These coalitions have the common purpose of advancing policies that help meet basic needs, preserve and expand affordable housing, and connect individuals and families to education, employment, and economic opportunity for all, especially including Indiana’s most vulnerable and historically marginalized people and communities. Across each of these coalitions, Natalie will help advance Prosperity Indiana’s mission and policy priorities by engaging current members and expanding the reach and influence of these coalitions. By building diverse and inclusive partnerships with communities and individuals throughout the state, she will develop relationships and the advocacy capacity of members to achieve coalition goals.

Natalie comes to Prosperity Indiana after completing her service term as an AmeriCorps Public Ally with the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation in Indianapolis. As a Public Ally, Natalie researched guidance on mixed-income housing best practices and recruited volunteers to support community building and economic development activities in the Mid-North area of the city. A native of Indianapolis and Dorchester, MA, Natalie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies from Smith College.

We couldn’t be more excited to have Michaela and Natalie join as full-time “Pieces of the PI”. Please help us welcome them to the Prosperity Indiana team!

Prosperity Indiana Receives $50K from National Low Income Housing Coalition for COVID-19 response and recovery advocacy

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:56:07 GMT

Prosperity Indiana Receives $50K from National Low Income Housing Coalition for COVID-19 response and recovery advocacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jessica Love, Executive Director

executivedirector@prosperityindiana.org, 317-222-1221 x402

Andrew Bradley, Policy Director

abradley@prosperityindiana.org, 317-222-1221 x403

INDIANAPOLIS (April 15, 2020) – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce an award totaling $50,000 from National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) to support advocacy and education related to housing and homelessness prevention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will increase capacity for Prosperity Indiana to convene partners to advocate for short-term housing stability policy solutions and conduct longer-term education and research to achieve federal, state and local policies for an equitable response and recovery to the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically rearranged the advocacy world in Indiana, quickly turning priorities upside-down across the housing and community economic development landscape. The pandemic has had disproportionate impact on Hoosiers by demographic groups, including people of color, and many of the counties hardest hit by COVID-19 also have the highest rates of rental housing instability and homelessness.

Since the outbreak first emerged, Prosperity Indiana has worked with partners and policymakers to ensure that the most vulnerable Hoosier families and the organizations that serve them are kept as safe as possible. On March 25, Prosperity Indiana thanked Governor Holcomb for heeding our call to protect Hoosier renters from dangerous expansion of retaliatory evictions in SEA 148 and for signing an executive order pausing residential evictions during the public health emergency.

The grant from NLIHC will allow Prosperity Indiana to expand on our advocacy response to the pandemic to date. Because the pause on evictions is currently set to expire on May 5, Prosperity Indiana recommended, on behalf of a newly forming housing coalition, that Indiana take steps to go further to protect Hoosier renters by extending the moratoriums to match those on federal leases; pairing federal and state resources to work with communities to provide emergency rental assistance; and use market-based tools to reimburse landlords who do not evict tenants after the public health emergency is lifted. Prosperity Indiana looks forward to using this new grant to bring together partners from the housing and anti-homelessness community across Indiana to research and educate policymakers about effective medium- and longer-term responses to the pandemic.

“We are thankful to NLIHC for this grant that will allow us to build on our policy recommendations to prevent homelessness during the peak of this pandemic by working with partners across the state to protect housing stability and avoid a wave of evictions, once the emergency orders are lifted,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana.

“Now is the time to pair federal and state funds with community and private resources to ensure that Hoosiers are safe at home throughout the public health crisis and beyond. We want to do more than just survive this life-altering event. If we use this time to create the needed policy structures, housing stability for all Hoosiers shifts from becoming a possibility to a reality long-term,” Love said.

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About Prosperity Indiana

About the National Low Income Housing Coalition

Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana: Class Action Certified in Challenge to Predatory and Discriminatory Rent-to-Own Housing Program

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:44:02 GMT

Indiana Institute For Working Families Feature Post: Indiana Coalition for Human Services Praises First Steps, Calls for Further Action to Protect Hoosier Families

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 17:17:43 GMT

Indiana Coalition for Human Services Praises First Steps, Calls for Further Action to Protect Hoosier Families

As a member of the Indiana Coalition for Human Services, IIWF was eager to participate in the development of a coordinated, member-driven call for a strong policy response.

Now more than ever, Hoosiers need to pull together and support one another. The COVID-19 pandemic and the steps needed to end its spread will undoubtedly deepen the financial challenges many households in Indiana were already experiencing, and will cast many others into crisis. Making the right policy choices in this moment is critical. We will need our state leaders and federal delegation to advocate for solutions that allow Hoosiers to meet their basic needs, stabilize their household, and rebuild toward financial well-being.

We want to commend the Holcomb Administration for acting quickly to put many important policies in place to protect Hoosier Families. In particular, we support the decisions to:

Suspend all utility disconnects during the COVID-19 crises, including gas and electric, broadband, telecom, water and wastewater services.
Ensure Hoosier workers have access to Unemployment Insurance due to COVID-19 related job losses.
Suspend evictions and foreclosure proceedings, ensuring that at this critical time, Hoosiers do not lose their housing.
Waive premium payments for those participating in the Healthy Indiana Plan and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Waive job search requirements for those applying for or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Expand the ways in which telehealth services are being offered and paid for, including for mental health services.
Waive licensing requirements for therapists so that Hoosiers can see out-of-state therapists without requiring that therapist to be licensed in Indiana.
Delay renewal processing for Medicaid and HIP recipients.
Waive work requirements for able bodied adults without dependents on SNAP.
Make all WIC appointments by telephone and issuing three months of benefits.

While we applaud these policy changes, we know that more policy changes at both the state and federal level will be critical if we are to keep Hoosier families safe, healthy, and financially stable. The policies outlined below are the ones that are still needed if we are to help our communities and our nation cope with and recover from this crisis.

Housing

Hoosiers need to maintain safe, stable housing throughout the crisis. Indiana has multiple localities that, in normal circumstances, already lead the nation in terms of eviction. Loss of housing is always incredibly stressful, but in this moment it could also result in the spread of infection to shelters or other households.

Veto SEA 148 to prevent making law from dangerous, unvetted language that would worsen Indiana’s affordable housing, eviction and homeless crisis.
For those experiencing homelessness, provide supplemental financial assistance directly to housing authorities, housing assistance providers and homelessness service organizations. Free housing counseling services should be provided as well.
Urge OCC and FDIC to require banks and other lenders to waive fees and work with distressed borrowers who need to skip or modify mortgage payments.
Urge Congress to include emergency assistance funding to help prevent housing instability and homelessness as a result of the coronavirus outbreak to any supplemental funding bill.

Health Care

Access to healthcare is essential for screening and treatment. For our most vulnerable populations, such as those with pre-existing medical conditions and the elderly, it is also necessary that they have access to healthcare that keeps them as healthy and resilient as possible. Medicaid expansion has given millions of Americans access to healthcare but those who remain uninsured, those who elected for non-ACA compliant coverage, and those who have burdensome requirements for retaining their coverage need further protection.

Temporarily freeze CHIP redetermination compliance.
Increase CHIP eligibility threshold to 400% FPL ongoing to increase current access and mitigate future risks.
Open a nationwide Marketplace Special Enrollment Period that allows for the uninsured and those with non-ACA plans to gain access to comprehensive coverage.
Require insurance companies to allow for teletherapy, which is not automatically covered by the changes that were announced recently by CMS.
Allow teletherapy and pay for it even if it’s only by phone. Many areas of the state don’t have internet access and even in areas with service, individuals may not have internet access.

Utilities

As families attempt to navigate schooling and working from home, caring for children who are affected by daycare and school closures, or quarantining, access to communications and internet, natural gas, electricity, and running water will be even more critical.

Restore access to all utilities, including communications and water, to those households currently without service.
Provide access, through hot spots or other means, to broadband internet service for those communities and households currently lacking access.

Food

Access to nutritious foods is critical to health and well-being. Certain groups will be especially vulnerable as access to school meals and other services are shut down. Policymakers should take steps to ensure that no-one goes hungry and that Hoosiers can maintain their health through nutritious food options during the pandemic and beyond.

Offer automatic boosts in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments through waivers for temporary, emergency CR-SNAP as well as for households with children who would otherwise receive free or reduced-price meals if not for school closures.
Streamline application processes and extend renewal processes for existing SNAP caseload.
Apply for USDA and other applicable waivers to allow continued food service to children and families affected by school closures.

Other Expenses

Income matters to vulnerable families and at no time is this more true than during a public health crisis that is making going to work and work activities difficult. Hoosiers will need access to alternative sources of income as they take leave without pay, see shifts cut, or lose their jobs altogether. Hard-hit businesses will need support as well.

Expand access to unemployment insurance to workers whose employers temporarily shut down, workers who are required to self-quarantine, parents or guardians who were forced to quit or take unpaid leave due to emergency school closures, and workers who have been forced to quit or take unpaid leave to care for loved ones affected by the virus.
Enact an emergency paid sick days rule to cover workers in occupations with high public contact that often lack paid sick leave, such as leisure and hospitality, food services, child care, transportation, and home health.
Expand access to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families by:
- Suspending work requirements, placing a moratorium on sanctions and terminations.
- Considering only continuing income for eligibility and benefit amounts - we should not be taking into account lost wages as we calculate benefits and continuing eligibility.
- Providing a one-time additional payment to all TANF families to cope with added expenses, such as additional at-home meals for children, increased utility usage, and other needs related to COVID-19.
Provide direct, robust stimulus to working families, the self-employed, and small business owners. Prioritize forms of aid that will replace lost earnings, especially to those least likely to have savings, paid leave, or the ability to work from home.
Any stimulus to companies should be accompanied by expectations that they will keep workers employed and offer paid sick leave.

Civil Rights

National emergencies like the COVID-19 outbreak often lead to increases in antisemitic, xenophobic, and racist rhetoric and violence. Already, organizations like the Anti-defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center are seeing hateful messages, memes, and conspiracy theories proliferating online.

Local law enforcement agencies, to the best of their ability, should maintain regular proactive communication with communities of color, immigrant communities, and minority faith communities.
Local law enforcement should continue, to the best of their ability, to maintain the reporting and tracking of bias-motivated crimes as a priority so that national law enforcement agencies know when and where support should be provided.
Congress should continue to support programs and federal grant opportunities for non-profit organizations to better secure their facilities and be better prepared for emergencies and emergency management.

Immigration/Public Charge

It is incumbent that all individuals currently residing within the United States seek any and all medical attention that they believe they need without fear of retribution. On March 17, 2020, USCIS published guidance stating that all immigrants with symptoms that resemble COVID-19 should seek necessary medical treatment and that treatment would not negatively affect any immigrants’ future public charge determination, even if treatment that is provided is paid for by a public benefits program such as Medicaid.

All elected officials should publicly share information regarding the USCIS determination on public charge and encourage all immigrants to seek any necessary medical treatment they may need.

Consumer Protection

Now more than ever, consumers are vulnerable to price gouging, predatory lending, and scams. Delayed and delinquent bills that appear on their credit reports could also cause serious and long-lasting harm to their ability to secure access to credit, jobs, housing, and insurance.

The Attorney General and other regulators should warn consumers about scams and predatory lending, encourage them to file complaints, and direct them to alternative resources. Create a centralized hub of resources and institutions willing to offer assistance and/or low-cost loans.
Freeze negative credit reporting and require loan forbearance periods with no interest or fees.
Stop all debt collection activities, including wage garnishments and repossessions.

For the Future

This pandemic has brought into sharp relief many of the existing flaws in our public policy framework. Moving forward, leaders should look to create a policy environment that supports public health & financial stability by making housing and health care more accessible, boosting the quality of U.S. jobs, and enacting and enforcing strong civil rights and consumer protections.

We recognize that this list is by no means comprehensive, but represents some of the initial policy considerations from advocates who care about and are regularly engaged in safeguarding the physical and financial well-being of Hoosiers. We hope state officials will consider these recommendations. It is time for us to bring all available resources together and take care of each other.

View the original blog here.

Fifth Third Bank Announces Additional Hardship Relief Immediately Available for Customers Affected by the Coronavirus

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 17:09:05 GMT

Contact: Ed Loyd (MediaRelations) Edgar.Loyd@53.com | 513-534-NEWS

Chris Doll (Investor Relations) Christopher.Doll@53.com | 513-534-2345

Fifth Third Bank Announces Additional Hardship Relief Immediately Available for Customers Affected by the Coronavirus

CINCINNATI – Fifth Third Bank, National Association, today provided additional detail on immediate steps it is taking to help customers impacted by the coronavirus, augmenting its prior announcement last week to include new customer-centric provisions.

“Fifth Third’s focus on helping customers improve their lives and building stronger communities is more relevant than ever during these times of uncertainty,” said Greg D. Carmichael, Fifth Third chairman, president and CEO. “We take our role and responsibility seriously to understand and put our customers’ needs first. We are continually evaluating our programs to assist our customers. Last week, we announced several proactive measures that we are taking across our business and consumer products to help lessen the financial strain on our customers, and we are providing additional details on these programs today. Our goal is to stand with our customers to help them and our communities get back on their feet. We are here to help our customers when they need us most.”

Fifth Third is offering the following programs for our consumer and business customers facing financial hardship related to COVID-19. To participate in the programs, customers will need to contact Fifth Third.

Vehicle Payment Deferral Program: We are offering a payment deferral for up to 90 days with and no late fees during the deferral period.

Credit Card Deferral Program: We are offering a payment deferral for up to three payments and no late fees during the deferral period.

Mortgage and Home Equity Program: We are offering 90-day payment forbearance with no late fees.

Small Business Payment Deferral Program: We are offering a payment deferral program for up to 90 days, no late fees and a range of loan modification options. We are waiving all fees on our Fifth Third Fast Capital loans for 6 months.

Fee Waiver Program: We are offering to waive fees for up to 90 days for a range of consumer and small business deposit products and services.

We are suspending initiating any new repossession actions on vehicles for the next 60 days.

We are suspending all foreclosure activity on homes for the next 60 days.

Fifth Third recommends that customers continue to leverage all of the digital banking tools and resources for self-service banking and account access through mobile, online and voice banking services, as well as the Bank’s network of approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States.

Fifth Third is prepared to assist customers with their questions or concerns and has a dedicated support page available at 53.com as the first point of contact for all customers. Representatives are available at 800-972-3030 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Saturdays. For Business Banking service, please call 877-534-2264 or email bbgsupport@53.com. Due to high demand, call wait times may be longer than normal and Fifth Third thanks customers for their patience as we navigate this situation together.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of December 31, 2019, Fifth Third had $169 billion in assets and operated 1,149 full-service banking centers and 2,481 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of December 31, 2019, had $413 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $49 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses.

Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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Job Opportunities: Central Indiana Community Foundation

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:35:58 GMT

Central Indiana Community Foundation is currently seeking a Communications Manager, Donor Engagement Officer, Not-for-Profit Sustainability Officer, and Opportunity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator. Positions will remain open until they are filled.

CICF employees are encouraged to be self-directed, motivated, and creative. The work environment is fluid, as the organization is designed to respond to current and emerging community needs. It is their policy to seek and retain employees of the highest possible quality, and new employees are hired based on ability, education, experience, personal integrity, potential ability and other standards as required.

Opportunity, Equity, & Inclusion Coordinator- This full-time position requires superior organizational and workload prioritizing skills as well as project management and outstanding customer service skills. This person is responsible for managing calendars and logistics as well as serving as liaison for the Community Ambassador program, OEI Advisory Council and the internal racial equity committee. This position requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, the ability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, meet designated deadlines and interact effectively with a variety of people.

Not-for-Profit Sustainability Officer- This full-time position will work with the donor engagement team to provide exceptional customer service and with development staff to grow assets, respond to requests for proposals and make sales presentations to organizations. This position requires strong knowledge of the not-for-profit community, excellent organizational, analytical and evaluation skills as well as outstanding customer service skills.

Communications Manager- This full-time position will work with staff to identify, research, write and produce stories, press releases, articles and copy for the Foundation. This person will manage the project production schedule and provide strategy and design support. This position requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, excellent organizational and workload prioritizing skills.

Donor Engagement Officer- This full-time position will represent the Foundation with a portfolio of high-value, highly engaged donors – cultivating donor engagement and co-investment in our mission and community leadership priorities and providing world class service to our donors and advisors. This position requires outstanding communication and relationship building skills, superior customer service skills and excellent collaboration skills. Professional presence and the ability to interact effectively with a variety of people is essential.

Prosperity Indiana Announces Winners of Leadership and Program Awards

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 19:45:38 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – On February 18, Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards at its 2020 Summit. The Prosperity Indiana Summit was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. The 2020 winners came from a pool of committed community leaders and innovative programs across Indiana. Winners were nominated by their peers and chosen by a judging committee, based on criteria established for each award.

Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Jessica Love said, “Each year, we’re honored to recognize the amazing work of our members and partners across the state. In their own, innovative ways, each recipient has made a significant impact on the quality of life for the people and places they serve. We know they often do this work without much recognition. So, we’re pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2020 Prosperity Indiana awards.”

Award winners include: Food Prescription for Better Health; Albert Brownlee, Genesis Outreach, Inc.; Michelle Pitcher, Pace Community Action Agency, Inc.; and Bruce Baird, Renew Indianapolis.

Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award - Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank

Presented to Bruce Baird, Renew Indianapolis

This Leadership Award, jointly presented by Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, honors an individual who has exhibited exceptional advocacy to further support the community economic development field.

Bruce Baird has committed over 28 years to community economic development service. He has served in a variety of community development leadership positions, including roles at Eastside Community Investments, Mayor Bart Peterson’s administration, Insight Development Corporation, and Renew Indianapolis. Not only does Baird work in these neighborhoods, he lives in them. His work and leadership has brought significant change and made a positive impact on the City of Indianapolis.

Other Leadership Award nominees:

Wendy Dant Chesser, One Southern Indiana

John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award - Sponsored by First Financial Bank

Presented to Michelle Pitcher, Pace Community Action Agency, Inc.

The Rural Development Leadership Award honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in improving the quality of life, influencing policies, and fostering opportunities for growth and development for the betterment of rural Indiana.

Michelle Pitcher serves as the Clinical Services Director for Pace Community Action Agency, Inc. and has continuously worked to improve her community, her organization, and herself. She has expanded the reach of Pace’s health clinics to three additional counties, created partnerships to provide health insurance navigator services in five counties, obtained her Family Nurse Practitioner license and is currently working on a doctorate degree. Her work has helped thousands of rural Hoosiers improve their health outcomes.

Other Rural Development Leadership Award nominees:

Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry

Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award - Sponsored by Brightpoint

Presented to Albert Brownlee, Genesis Outreach, Inc.

The Staff Member of the Year Award honors an extraordinary individual who contributes to his or her organization and to the community economic development field as a whole. This person shows leadership, personal initiative, and is a public servant.

Albert Brownlee is a distinguished community servant-leader with 20 years of service to Genesis Outreach, Inc. In that time, Albert helped to change the landscape of northeast Indiana and the city of Fort Wayne through his work creating multiple new housing and community development opportunities throughout the region.

Other Staff Member of the Year Award nominees:

Joe Bowling, Englewood Community Development Corporation
Albert Brownlee, Genesis Outreach, Inc.
Willie Dearing, South Bend Mutual Homes Cooperative
Bob Goodrum, Wellspring
Jennifer Layton, LTHC Homeless Services
Wallace McLaughlin, Fathers and Families Center
Natalie Powell, Hoosier Uplands
Evan Tester, King Park Development Corporation/Renew Indianapolis
Mark Wuellner, Indiana Bond Bank

Key Award for Program of the Year - Sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana

Presented to Food Prescription for Better Health

The Program of the Year Award honors excellence and innovation in a service-oriented community development initiative. This award recognizes a unique program model that leads in the area of service provision and/or volunteerism.

The Food Prescription for Better Health program partnership included the Wabash Valley Health Center, Indiana State University, Purdue Extension, and United Way of the Wabash Valley. This collaborative effort aimed to increase healthy food consumption and improve health outcomes by increasing access to fruits and vegetables in combination with healthy living education sessions and cooking demonstrations.

Other Key Award nominees:

Crooked Creek Food Pantry
Indianapolis Community Building Initiative
Stability Builders Network
Strong Fathers Program
Trusted Mentors

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About Indiana Association for Community Economic Development D/B/A Prosperity Indiana

Prosperity Indiana is a statewide membership organization for the individuals and organizations strengthening Hoosier communities. Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to approximately 200 members from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Announcing the Nominees for the 2020 Prosperity Indiana Awards

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:21:55 GMT

Each year, Prosperity Indiana celebrates dedicated individuals and innovative programs that have improved the quality of life in Indiana communities. We would like to congratulate the following individuals and programs which have been nominated for one of our four signature awards by peers in the community economic development field. Winners will be selected by a committee of distinguished leaders in the field and will be honored during the Awards Luncheon at the Prosperity Indiana Summit on February 18, 2020.

Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award

Prosperity Indiana Receives $50,000 from The Indianapolis Foundation for Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 19:54:42 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (October 15, 2019) – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce two awards totaling $50,000 from The Indianapolis Foundation to support the Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) Indiana Campaign. A $15,000 grant was awarded by The Indianapolis Foundation, a Central Indiana Community Foundation affiliate. Another $35,000 grant is being supported through the Family Stabilization Investment Plan of The Indianapolis Foundation.

In advance of these awards, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) announced in July 2019 its endorsement of Prosperity Indiana as its official OSAH state campaign for Indiana. Through the OSAH – Indiana Campaign, Prosperity Indiana will seek to engage and unite non-housing groups alongside the housing sector to highlight the importance of adequate, affordable housing in strong neighborhoods, with a focus on expanding investment in and access to affordable housing, and spark systems change in furtherance of equitable affordable housing. The campaign will initially focus on civil rights, economic mobility and health, which are part of the NLIHC’s OSAH recognized sectors.

The goal of the Indiana OSAH campaign is to achieve increases in affordable housing through existing and new housing infrastructure; direct support to organizations supporting those who are unstably housed or experiencing homelessness; and voucher supports that fund deeply targeted housing assistance for extremely low-income (ELI) households. This includes vulnerable populations, such as youth, seniors and those with disabilities. The coalition will also seek to implement policy change to reduce federal and state barriers to housing stability.

“We are thrilled about our new role as the Indiana coalition lead for the national Opportunity Starts at Home campaign,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. “With CICF’s generous support, we’ll be launching this initiative to pull together multi-sector partners to move the needle on the availability of decent, affordable housing for the state. We can accomplish this by securing the additional resources needed to see real impact in interconnected health, education, economic mobility, racial equity and housing outcomes.”

Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has used its broad membership base to help Hoosiers meet their basic needs, preserve and expand affordable housing, and connect individuals and families to education, employment, and economic opportunity. The organization has become the premier convener and advocacy voice in Indiana’s community development landscape and has established its presence as an authority on housing and community development policy.

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About Prosperity Indiana

About the Central Indiana Community Foundation
Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) is a catalyst for progress, and a supporter of visionary ideas with the power to improve our community and the lives of its residents. CICF was established in 1997 as a partnership between The Indianapolis Foundation, serving Marion County since 1916, and Hamilton County Community Foundation, serving Hamilton County since 1991.

About the National Low Income Housing Coalition

Prosperity Indiana Receives $100,000 from Fifth Third for Capacity Building Initiative

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:55:45 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (October 11, 2019) – Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce an award of $100,000 from the Fifth Third Foundation for the Community Development Capacity Building Initiative. The Initiative will provide organizational capacity development support and training to Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Action Agencies (CAAs), and other organizations from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors across Indiana.

“We are proud to partner and support Prosperity Indiana with this Strengthening Our Communities Grant. This is a great example of Fifth Third’s commitment to create impact in our communities through inclusive lending, investments and services,” said Jadira Hoptry, Vice President of Community and Economic Development.

The goal of Prosperity Indiana’s capacity building initiative is to create, enhance and develop nonprofit capacity that expands the scale, reach, efficiency and effectiveness of the organizations’ housing activities. Approximately half of the granted amount will support the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) Moving Forward 2020 initiative. Moving Forward challenges affordable housing developers to utilize a systems approach to address multiple issues impacting residents and communities. This grant will underwrite the costs of this mandatory workshop for program participants. The balance will go toward workshops, trainings, and webinars focused on compliance, organizational development, professional certification, and leadership. Trainings and technical assistance will be offered beginning in 2020.

“Fifth Third has become a vital partner in the work of Prosperity Indiana and our members in their footprint. This award is yet another example of how we are able to do more to strengthen our communities when in concert with other organizations that are genuinely working to make a difference in the Hoosier state,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. “We look forward to supporting Fifth Third’s goal of building the capacity of our critical community development infrastructure across the state.”

Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has helped Hoosiers meet their basic needs, preserve and expand affordable housing, and connect individuals and families to education, employment, and economic opportunity by partnering with a broad membership base. The organization has become the premier convener and advocacy voice in Indiana’s community development landscape, and has established its presence as an authority on housing and community development policy.

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About Prosperity Indiana

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development d/b/a Prosperity Indiana Prosperity Indiana builds a better future for our communities by providing advocacy, leveraging resources, and engaging an empowered network of members to create inclusive opportunities that build assets and improve lives. Since its founding in 1986, Prosperity Indiana has grown to more than 150 members from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

About the Fifth Third Foundation

Founded in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation was one of the first corporate philanthropic foundations established by a financial institution. In 2018, the Foundation awarded $12.1 million in grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, civic and community, and health and human services.

Job Opportunity: Director of Lending (IN & KY), IFF

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 16:35:50 GMT

IFF improves the world by strengthening nonprofits and the communities they serve. As a mission-driven leader, real estate consultant, and developer, IFF helps communities thrive by creating opportunities for low-income communities and persons with disabilities.

The Director of Lending provides leadership and management of all regional lending activities. The significant focus of the Director will be Indianapolis, but the region includes the state of Indiana, and Louisville, KY. The Director will provide input for and execute regional business development and sales activities derived from IFF's regional marketing strategy. He/She is responsible for sourcing, underwriting and closing loans to target market borrowers and maintaining relationships with key borrowers. The Director assists the Managing Director of Lending to develop and maintain visibility and relationships with nonprofits and relevant government, association networks, and others to promote IFF.

Click here for the full position description and application instructions.

Job Opportunity: Executive Director, Center For Neighborhoods in Louisville, KY

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 12:49:25 GMT

The Center For Neighborhoods (CFN) is seeking a motivated, skilled Executive Director with experience in nonprofit administration, organizational development, and grassroots community planning and development. The Executive Director oversees the day-to-day operation of the organization working to fulfill and expand the CFN mission; directs the programs and initiatives of the organization including the core areas of Community Engagement, Education and Training, and Planning and Design; as well as manages all administrative functions including Fund Development, Donor Relations, and Human Relations. An important aspect of the position will be to implement the newly adopted three-year strategic plan, including developing and initiating new strategic work in support of grassroots community development in Louisville.

For over 45 years, CFN has supported and empowered neighborhoods to create stronger and more vibrant communities using an asset based community development philosophy. We work in relationship driven neighborhood engagement, leadership development education, and community based planning and design, along with a focus on community development, creating a sense of place, and improving the built environment. CFN envisions a Louisville community of unique neighborhoods led by engaged neighbors creating places that provide a high quality of life and equitable access to opportunity for all people.

Click here for more information on the position and how to apply.

Prosperity Indiana Endorsed as the State Partner for National Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 19:12:47 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign announced Prosperity Indiana as a new state partner. This national effort is aimed at building multi-sector partnerships to address the urgent housing needs of low-income people across the country. The Opportunity Starts at Home – Indiana Coalition (OSAH-IN) will unite housing and non-housing sector partners throughout the state to advance solutions that address the lack of quality, affordable housing in Indiana.

Robust research shows that affordable housing is central to gains in health, food security, education, and economic mobility outcomes. Despite this evidence, gaps between rent and income are growing and exacerbated by a shrinking supply of affordable housing and inadequate federal housing assistance. OSAH-IN will work to build momentum for proven solutions to end homelessness and housing instability.

“By uniting housing advocates with multi-sector partners dedicated to improving health, social justice, and economic mobility, we will build stronger communities that benefit all Hoosiers,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana. “We are excited to expand our alliance and build on the momentum of this national movement to ensure more Americans have the opportunity to prosper with access to safe, stable affordable housing."

OSAH-IN expands on Prosperity Indiana’s efforts to ensure all Hoosiers live and work in an environment that provides equitable access to economic and social opportunity. Prosperity Indiana and Housing Action Illinois join the campaign’s original state partners in California, Idaho, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Utah. Prosperity Indiana will benefit from the experiences shared in the peer learning group with other states and will gain access to additional research, national network partners, and technical assistance from the national campaign.

“We are thrilled to welcome both Housing Action Illinois and Prosperity Indiana as state partners of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign,” said Mike Koprowski, National Campaign Director. “Together, we will build a broad-based movement to end housing poverty and homelessness.”

The goal of OSAH-IN will be to achieve ambitious increases in affordable housing — through existing and new housing infrastructure; and direct support to organizations supporting those who are unstably housed or homeless. The Indiana coalition will also seek to expand voucher supports that fund deeply targeted housing assistance for extremely low-income households, including vulnerable populations, such as youth, seniors and those with disabilities. The coalition will also seek to implement policy change to reduce federal and state barriers to housing stability.

For more details about this effort, visit http://prosperityindiana.org/OSAH. To find out how to join this alliance, contact OSAH@prosperityindiana.org.

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About Indiana Association for Community Economic Development D/B/A Prosperity Indiana

Prosperity Indiana is a statewide membership organization for the individuals and organizations strengthening Hoosier communities. Prosperity Indiana believes in a society where all persons can live and work in an environment that provides equitable access to economic and social opportunity.

Prosperity Now Releases New Local Scorecard Data

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:34:10 GMT

Prosperity Now has released all-new local data in the 2019 Prosperity Now Scorecard. Check out the Prosperity Now Scorecard site to find data around Financial Assets & Income, Businesses & Jobs, Homeownership & Housing, Health Care, and Education. The interactive map allows you to search data by state, county, city, and - new this year - Congressional District. Reports are also available for download which breakdown trends in specific measures by race and disability.

New Report: Building Capacity to Measure Health Outcomes in Community Development

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 21:09:10 GMT

A new report by Enterprise Community Partners and NeighborWorks America outlines the results of an innovative pilot program - the Health Outcomes Demonstration Project. The Project was aimed at addressing the gap in standard measurement practices to evaluate shared outcomes between community development and health care providers/payers. Read the full report to see how the Project equipped twenty affordable housing and community development organizations to evaluate health outcomes across a range of programs, including neighborhood improvement and community safety initiatives, youth education and services, housing improvement, service coordination for residents in crisis, as well as housing based-services that focus on nutrition, physical activity, financial literacy, social activities, mental health and employment.

New Report: The State of the Nation's Housing

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 12:15:50 GMT

On June 25, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released its 2019 report entitled "The State of the Nation's Housing."

Although the economy has rebounded from the 2008 recession and household growth has returned to a normal rate, the number of newly constructed homes has not kept pace with the demand for housing for the past eight years. The lack of new housing is exacerbating the affordable housing prices by driving housing prices and rent higher and higher, leaving low-to-moderate income families in increasingly difficult housing situations.

To read the full report, click here.

Job Opportunities: IFF and FHCCI

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 19:38:26 GMT

Director of Lending - IFF

IFF improves the world by strengthening nonprofits and the communities they serve. As a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer, IFF helps communities thrive by creating opportunities for low-income communities and persons with disabilities.

The Director of Lending provides leadership and management of all regional lending activities. The Director will provide input for and execute regional business development and sales activities derived from IFF's regional marketing strategy. S/he is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and closing loans to target market borrowers and maintaining relationships with key borrowers. The Director assists the Managing Director of Lending to develop and maintain visibility and relationships with nonprofits and relevant government, association networks, and others to promote IFF.

Click here for the full job description.

Fair Housing Test Coordinator - Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI)

The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) is a small civil rights nonprofit working to address housing based discrimination. We are currently seeking a full-time Fair Housing Test Coordinator to manage our testing program. The FHCCI testing program employs the use of “secret shoppers” to assist the FHCCI in determining if unlawful housing discrimination is occurring.

Responsibilities include recruitment, training, and coordination of the FHCCI’s part-time testers; investigation of discrimination in housing in violation of fair housing laws; assisting in client intake; assisting in outreach and public education; and preparation of reports.

Click here for full job description.

Prosperity Indiana In the News: City's poor often have few affordable options for banking, other financial services

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 19:31:49 GMT

Although Indianapolis has experienced dramatic growth in the past few years, many low-income families are being left behind or forgotten by traditional financial institutions, worsening an already difficult situation.

“It is so expensive to be poor,” said Kathleen Lara, Prosperity Indiana Policy Director. “The barriers are multitudes. If we’re trying to address equity and building wealth for low-income individuals, we’ve got to reduce some of the barriers that drain wealth.”

Read this fantastic piece from the Indianapolis Business Journal outlining the financial burdens facing the lowest income families in our community, featuring comments from Policy Director Kathleen Lara and A&O Network Manager Logan Charlesworth.

Confronting a Hoosier Housing Crisis: Wednesday, June 5

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:52:18 GMT

CONFRONTING A HOOSIER HOUSING CRISIS

ADDITIONAL SPEAKER CONFIRMATION - NEXT WEDNESDAY @ 1PM

Prosperity Indiana and CHIP are excited to announce that Dan Emmanuel, Senior Research Analyst with the National Low Income Housing Coalition, has been confirmed as a featured speaker at next Wednesday's press conference.

New analysis released from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute shows 40 percent of evictions in Indiana occurred in Marion County in 2016, although the county only accounts for 14 percent of the state's population. Indianapolis and two other cities in Indiana are in the top 20 nationwide for eviction rankings. The time is now to analyze new findings and hear from providers and advocates about urgently needed policy solutions.

Join us! Click here to register!

What: Press conference and community conversation

When: Wednesday, June 5, 1-2 p.m.

Speakers:

Dan Emmanuel, Senior Research Analyst, National Low Income Housing Coalition (newly confirmed)

Jessica Love, Executive Director, Prosperity Indiana

Dr. Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, Executive Director, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP)

Dr. Breanca Merritt, Director, Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy at the Indiana University Public Policy Institute

Where: Horizon House, 1033 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Why: According to available data from Princeton’s Eviction Lab, Indianapolis is second only to New York City in terms of number of evictions. The press conference will feature new eviction research findings from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute and a conversation with advocates about needed reform to federal and state policies that are leaving Hoosiers behind. Prosperity Indiana and CHIP will discuss policy proposals to reduce housing instability and homelessness for Hoosier households. These include revisions to state landlord-tenant laws and the need for the enactment of a national Affordable Housing Task Force and a National Housing Stabilization Fund. This event represents an important opportunity for local affordable housing and shelter providers to discuss the scope of local challenges related to evictions impacting those they serve.

Member Spotlight: Angela Byers from First Financial Bank

Tue, 14 May 2019 19:35:02 GMT

Get to know Angela Byers, Community Development Outreach Manager at First Financial Bank!

Tell us how you first got involved with your organization? Or how did you get started in this work?

Like a lot of people, I fell into the banking industry many years ago. At the time, I hadn’t planned to have a career in banking but I really enjoyed learning how the banking system worked and how it impacts everything. I fell in love with lending and helping people become financially empowered through credit building & repair, reviewing the entire financial picture and offering suggestions to help save or make more money. That morphed into specifically working with struggling families through volunteering with community organizations to provide budget & credit classes, debt management, identifying and preventing scams and so much more. As Community Development Outreach Manager with First Financial Bank, I am afforded unique opportunities to fuel my passion for individual and family financial empowerment.

What are the three words you would use to describe your organization?

Client-Advocate, Giving, Different

Which of Prosperity Indiana’s five values: empowerment, integrity, impact, social justice or collaboration, speak the most to you and why?

It’s hard to choose only one which speaks to me the most so I won’t do that, Collaboration & Social Justice. It is important to affect positive change we must know what the issues are and work together to resolve and make an social justice impact. Everyone should be afforded the same opportunities to be successful and how much money we have or do not have should not be indicative of one’s success. Everyone should have the opportunity to be educated, have a good job, own a home, and retire comfortably.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher and in some ways though it’s not my trade I became a one.

What do you do when you aren’t working?

I enjoy volunteering for many organizations, spending time with family & friends, and working in my yard.

Opportunity Zones Workshop & Regional Member Meetings

Mon, 13 May 2019 14:16:38 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is coming to YOU!

We're bringing our annual Regional Member Meetings to SEVEN different locations around the state. Both Prosperity Indiana members and non-members are invited to join us for an Opportunity Zones Workshop - presented by attorneys from Ice Miller - about pairing opportunity zones with other funding opportunities to maximize impact, followed by lunch and our regional meeting.

Northeast - Fort Wayne, May 23

West - Terre Haute, May 29

Central - Indianapolis, May 30

East - Muncie, June 13

Southwest - Evansville, June 18

Southeast - Jeffersonville, June 20

Northwest - Hammond, June 26

New report shows where gentrification is (and, more often than not, is not) happening

Thu, 02 May 2019 15:15:24 GMT

A new report - American Neighborhood Change in the 21st Century: Gentrification and Decline - from the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity at the University of Minnesota Law School captures growth, low-income displacement, low-income concentration, and abandonment from 2000-2016 at the census tract level and depicts aggregated population and housing change in two categories of neighborhoods:

Economically expanding neighborhoods, which are those experiencing the kind of population changes associated with growth and displacement (gentrification). These are neighborhoods where the low-income share of the population has fallen since 2000 (indicating the area has grown less poor overall) and the absolute number of non-low-income residents has grown since 2000 (indicating that middle-income residents see the area as an attractive place to live).
Economically declining neighborhoods, which are those experiencing the kind of population changes associated with abandonment and poverty concentration. These are neighborhoods where the low-income share of the population has grown since 2000 (indicating that an area has grown poorer overall) and the absolute number of non-low-income residents has fallen since 2000 (indicating that middle-income residents do not see the area as an attractive place to live).

The report finds that:

The most common form of American neighborhood change, by far, is poverty concentration. About 36.5 million residents live in a tract that has undergone low-income concentration since 2000.
At the metropolitan level, low-income residents are invariably exposed to neighborhood decline more than gentrification. As of 2016, there was no metropolitan region in the nation where a low-income person was more likely to live in an economically expanding neighborhood than an economically declining neighborhood.
Low-income displacement is the predominant trend in a limited set of central cities, primarily located on the eastern and western coasts. Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. have the most widespread displacement.
On net, far fewer low-income residents are affected by displacement than concentration. Since 2000, the low-income population of economically expanding areas has fallen by 464,000, while the low-income population of economically declining areas has grown 5,369,000.
White flight corresponds strongly with neighborhood change. Between 2000 and 2016, the white population of economically expanding areas grew by 44 percent. In declining areas, white population fell by 22 percent over the same span.
Nonwhite residents are far more likely to live in economically declining areas. In 2016, nearly 35 percent of black residents lived in economically declining areas, while 9 percent lived in economically expanding areas.

Click here to access the interactive map.

The report also includes details about metro-level neighborhood change about the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas. Indianapolis ranks 45th of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas in terms of the spread of concentrated poverty and abandonment.

The report’s summary for Indianapolis says:

“Gentrification is effectively nonexistent in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, while the region – and especially the city of Indianapolis itself – suffers from widespread and ongoing poverty concentration and neighborhood abandonment.

“About 57 percent of Indianapolis city residents live in strongly declining neighborhoods, as do about 72 percent of low-income residents (defined in this report as those below 200 percent of the federal poverty line). While the overall population of these areas has fallen modestly since 2000 – about 4 percent – the low-income population has grown over 50 percent. These changes have been accompanied by racial change, as the black and Hispanic population of those neighborhoods has grown by 49,000, and the white population has dropped by nearly 80,000, indicating significant white flight.”

Click here to read the full summary for Indianapolis.

Job Opportunity: Director of Major Gifts and a Not-For-Profit Sustainability Officer

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:57:51 GMT

The Central Indiana Community Foundation is seeking applicants for a Director of Major Gifts and a Not-For-Profit Sustainability Officer. Click the links below for the full position descriptions and to learn how to apply.

Director of Major Gifts

This full-time position represents the Foundation with assigned constituencies and directs efforts to cultivate and solicit major gifts and philanthropic engagement for the dynamic new initiatives of the Foundation. This position requires outstanding communication, organization and customer service skills.

Not-For-Profit Sustainability Officer

This full-time position, will provide premier financial, relationship and endowment fund management for CICF’s not-for-profit fundholders and work closely with development staff to grow assets, respond to requests for proposals and make sales presentations to organizations. This position requires strong knowledge of the not-for-profit community, excellent organizational, analytical and evaluation skills as well as outstanding customer service skills.

Workshop: Underwriting Affordable Housing

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:54:59 GMT

Registration Is Now Open!

Underwriting a multi-family affordable housing development is complex. Add an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from FHLBank Indianapolis, and its member bank partner to the funding sources, and the alignment of underwriting standards for key stakeholders may create a more complicated financing structure.

In the Underwriting Affordable Housing Workshops, we will walk through the changes in a proposed housing development finance structure as affordable restrictions are layered into the funding source stack. Whether you are a financial institution submitting an AHP grant for a housing partner or you are an affordable housing developer/consultant, you should be confident in preparing for the underwriting portion of the funding process.

That’s why FHLBank Indianapolis is offering an Underwriting Affordable Housing Workshop.

2019 Underwriting Affordable Housing Workshop - Indianapolis, IN

LOCATION

FHLBank Indianapolis - Indianapolis, IN

6/4/19 - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

This workshop will walk through the unique attributes of affordable housing from a lender and funder’s perspective

Click Here to Register

Benefits

Understand how bankers, investors, and soft funding source providers analyze an affordable housing real estate transaction.

Who should attend

Bankers, developers (non-profit and for profit), community foundations, housing development consultants, attorney, architects, and typical development team partners.

AmeriCorps Position with Prosperity Indiana

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:46:40 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is seeking a reduced full-time (1,200 hours, eight month term) AmeriCorps member to help Indiana nonprofits fill capacity gaps and use data to tell the story of their impact.

Organization Overview: Prosperity Indiana supports a network of individuals and organizations - community-based nonprofits and government entities - by providing capacity, financial resources, expertise, and connections that make community development work in Indiana.

Duties:

Travel around the state of Indiana to build capacity with Prosperity Indiana member organizations
Conduct research to inform the capacity building process and support selected members' work
Provide information, training, support and coaching to improve organizational performance
Oversee the development and implementation of an outcomes platform to collect and analyze standardized data points across the Prosperity Indiana membership
Secure commitment from 100 nonprofit member organizations to participate in the reporting process
Collect and tell stories of members related to community impact
Brainstorm ways to improve Prosperity Indiana's capacity building offerings based on members needs
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: Candidates must possess organizational and leadership skills, verbal and written communication skills and work both independently and as a team player. They should have an interest in asset-based assessments and utilizing metrics to inform the delivery of outcomes, and preferably have experience with research methods, tool design and validation. Candidates should also have an understanding of communications strategies and storytelling to connect data with impact, as well as an understanding of community economic development and nonprofits.

For more information, please contact Carey Craig at ccraig@prosperityindiana.org, or at (317) 565-7751.

Member Spotlight: Anne Mannix, Doris Sims, and Tysha Hardy-Sellers

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 17:08:23 GMT

In this series, we're getting to know our members on a personal AND professional level! Keep reading to learn more about a few of your exceptional peers in the community economic development industry!

Anne Mannix, Neighborhood Development Associates, LLC

Tell us how you first got involved with your organization? Or how did you get started in this work?

After graduating from college, I was a case manager with an after care program for a state mental hospital. We worked with chronically mentally ill persons who were living in nursing homes and boarding homes. I could see that the people were being exploited and felt powerless to do anything. So I decided to go to a city planning program. That was a little too removed from the action for me. So I secretly transferred my internship to a public housing authority that was doing a lot of real estate development and I loved it. This meant taking a chance because I could have lost my scholarship and living stipend if the state administrators found out what I did. I worked at the housing authority and several community development organizations for about 15 years. In 1997, I wanted to do more varied projects in different cities so I started Neighborhood Development, a consulting organization.

What’s kept you there?

I like helping people by providing affordable housing. It is challenging and at the end it is exciting to see the projects get built. Occasionally I get to talk to the people that live in the developments and that is a great reminder of why we all do our work.

What are you seeing on the horizon that we’re not paying enough attention to?

The baby boomers are retiring and new leadership is emerging. We need to maintain the pioneering spirit and commitment of those who started community development. I have faith that this transition will work out.

What changes are coming to your organization over the next year?

I am planning to reduce my workload and focus on working with groups in South Bend. Christine Deutscher, a coworker is taking over and doing all work outside of South Bend.

Which of Prosperity Indiana’s five values: empowerment, integrity, impact, social justice or collaboration, speak the most to you and why?

I think collaboration is the most relevant for Prosperity. Collaboration is critical to the success of any project. Many people have taught me so much and I hope I have put some of that back out to the community.

Who/what inspires you?

Last night I went to the annual meeting of South Bend Mutual Homes, a resident housing cooperative. The residents are starting to build community and to get to know each other. One resident has a rough way of talking and another resident said “She’s not mad at you. She just talks like that.” One of the men in the group had organized a day long recreational outing for the other men who had not been active before. It was a little chaotic but people were at home and talked about things that mattered to them. Other things that inspire me are watching our Mayor Pete Buttigieg put his campaign together and watching South Bend grow from what was called a dying city to a city that is growing and grappling with issues.

What was unique about your childhood?

My family lived in several different cities including Tulsa, Houston, North Stamford CT, Bangkok and Tokyo. I learned to adapt to different environments and to be flexible. In between semesters in college, I took the bus around Bangkok exploring the city and that was a great adventure.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I didn’t really know. My family did not expect me to work and I didn’t see many people in their workplaces. When I was in high school, I worked in a hospital and I wanted to be a nurse but that would have been a disaster since I was terrible at chemistry and anatomy and physiology. The nurses I worked with told me that I should be a lawyer since I argued too much and wouldn’t get along with the doctors. I never became a lawyer but they were right.

What do you do when you aren’t working?

I like working on our old house, working in the yard, and trying to get some exercise, either biking or walking with a friend. Also I like to cook, spend time with my family and have four new grandchildren to hang out with.

What talent or superpower would you most like to have?

I would like to be one if those people who is good at accounting and is a perfectionist.

What do you collect?

I have a collection of cat statues and also a teapot collection.

What would you sing at Karaoke night?

I Am Woman of course. Also Learning to Fly with lots of audience participation. This would never happen but it is nice to think about.

Doris Sims, Housing and Neighborhood Director, City of Bloomington

Tell us how you first got involved with your organization? Or how did you get started in this work?

I have worked with the City of Bloomington for over 30 years in two departments, Human Resources and in the Housing and Neighborhood Department (HAND). I have primarily worked in the HAND Department over my career with the city. I returned as Director of the department through the appointment of Mayor John Hamilton when he became mayor in 2016.

What’s kept you there?

I love working in the field of community development and housing because it touches so many people lives in various ways. I feel that our name of Housing and Neighborhood Development speaks to the variety of activities and programs that make up the department. From housing counseling, public service agency assistance, working with Bloomington neighborhoods, historic preservation activities, and providing housing assistance to developers, not-for profits, and the local public housing authority to build, renovate, and provide housing assistance, is some of the things we do. In addition, the department runs a very active housing inspection program for the more than 21,000 rental units located within the Bloomington community.

What changes are coming to your organization over the next few years?

Like so many communities, the city is looking at ways to provide more affordable housing. One of the most exciting projects that will happen within the next 2-3 years is the redevelopment of the current hospital site which is located near our downtown area. The city acquired the 24 acre site of our current hospital which is in the process of building a new facility. A study has already been undertaken which outlined the potential redevelopment of the site into housing and office space. I am looking forward as the HAND Director to being a part of the redevelopment of the site to bring affordable housing along with other economic development to the city.

What is your favorite indulgence?

My favorite indulgence, or more like an obsession is shoes! I “LOVE” shoes. I have over 200 pairs!! In my spare time when I am not shopping for shoes, I like to scrapbook. It is so much fun to look back over different memorable events in my life through the scrapbook pages.

Tysha Hardy-Sellers, Edna Martin Christian Center

Tell us how you first got involved with your organization? Or how did you get started in this work?

It’s hard to believe that I was hired at Edna Martin Christian Center 11 years ago! After years in media, corporate, government roles, and time spent growing a business, I realized that whatever my role, an activity, initiative, or project would lead back to the near-northeastside Indianapolis community where I was born and raised—Martindale-Brightwood. I was looking for ways to directly contribute to the community and saw there was an Executive Director position open at EMCC. After researching and learning that the agency had deep roots in social justice and meeting with the board and feeling the strong support of individuals not only locally, but across the nation due to its affiliation with the American Baptist Churches, which included Martin Luther King Jr as a leader, I knew this was a place I wanted to call my professional home.

What’s kept you there?

Although great strides have been made increasing community resources, developing assets, amplifying community voice and increasing involvement, there’s more work to do. I look forward to working with a cross-section of community partners to affect change Our community goals are to address educational attainment, economic mobility, infrastructure improvements, reduced crime, increased community connectivity.

Why do you do what you do?

Access to opportunities and guidance to best leverage those opportunities are critical to success at an individual, family and community level. I was gifted with people who provided access and guidance. It’s my turn to do the same. Together, with partners who share the same values, we’ll keep working to make our vision a reality: Neighborhood where individuals and families have everything they need to learn, live, work and play in a peaceful, connected, and thriving environment.

What are the three words you would use to describe your organization?

Collaborative, Enterprising, Regenerative

What do you wish other people knew about your organization?

Since the late 1930s, EMCC has always been involved in community services and well as community development. In the past, we focused our communication on our programs and human services, but we’ve also been instrumental in project development, placemaking and enterprise launches. We are now highlighting both areas— community services (people) and community development (place) by using a collaborative model with inclusive approaches to developing thriving communities.

What are you seeing on the horizon that we’re not paying enough attention to?

More underappreciated communities are saying enough. We’ve communicated our thoughts to those who said they are here to help with no lasting results realized or results financially benefiting those with resources and not for the community. Locally, statewide, and cross the nation, more communities are committing action to getting things done on their own terms and using whatever available resources to do so. Quality of Life strategies flow through community supported projects with genuine wins for residents, businesses, and visitors.

What changes are coming to your organization over the next year?

Our agency, part of the Martindale-Brightwood Collective Impact team, is launching 7 significant community initiatives: Martindale-Brightwood Education Zone and Scholar Housing (Education options and Housing); Martindale-Brightwood Food Resource Network (Food access; Health); Community Voice News Network (communication and connectivity); 25th Street Corridor (new community development and evaluating existing community assets); the PACE Community Recovery Resource Center (mental health and safety); and the Community Solutions and Entrepreneurship Center (business ownership and increased community opportunities to solve social issues); and EMCC’s Leadership & Legacy Campus (education options, entrepreneurship programming; food access; senior services; and public recreation).

What can you imagine in 5 years if your organization is successful?

For People:

Children will meet growth development milestones
Children will be kindergarten ready
Youth will progress in school and graduate
Adults will obtain and maintain employment
Families will be safe, secure, engaged in their community

For Place:

Increased number of business attracted to the area (including resident launched enterprises)
Increased affordable housing
Increased high-quality, affordable childcare options
Increased food security
Increased community-led development

Which of Prosperity Indiana’s five values: empowerment, integrity, impact, social justice or collaboration, speak the most to you and why?

All of the five values resonate with me personally and align with the mission and vision of the agency. Our core values are leadership, equity, inclusiveness, honor, accountability, and ethics and integrity in service. We carry those out through collaboration, connectivity, and pursuit of excellence.

On what efforts would you like to collaborate?

Affordable housing
Micro-enterprise
Workforce development
Educational options
Re-entry supports

Who/what inspires you?
People who are problem solvers, visionaries, and have the moxie to move conversation to strategy and action.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I’m deaf, but my lack of hearing is actually a superpower- I’m learning to listen more.

Beach or mountains?

Why not both?

Announcing Piece of the PI Online Forums!

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:56:37 GMT

We are excited to announce that we are re-launching our Affinity Group online forums, but this time, we are connecting on Facebook! We have created Facebook groups EXCLUSIVELY for Prosperity Indiana members. These communities are meant to be places where members can share resources, ask questions, and connect with others in the field.

Interested in Management & Leadership, Affordable Housing, Individual Development Accounts, or Human Services? We have a group for that!

Groups are organized around different topics of relevance to our membership. Maybe you have expertise in a subject, or you just want to learn more - we encourage all levels of experience and knowledge to join. All you need is a willingness to learn and share!

Join a group (or multiple groups!) today and help us start the conversation!

Click here to view the full list of forums you can join!

And, if you haven’t already, make sure to like our page so you stay up-to-date on all of the latest news and events from Prosperity Indiana and the community economic development field!

Member Highlight - David Miller, CEO of Hoosier Uplands

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:02:59 GMT

Honored and excited, I drove to Mitchell, IN last month to deliver the John Niederman Rural Leadership Award to David Miller, CEO of Hoosier Uplands, a Community Action Agency, Area Agency on Aging, licensed Home Health Care and Hospice agency, and Community Housing Development Organization serving Crawford, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington Counties. David was unable to attend our 2019 Summit where we officially recognized our annual awardees, so delivery of his award was a good excuse and opportunity to learn more about one of our members. New to Prosperity Indiana and the community development industry, I was about to meet the man that John Niederman himself described at the Awards Luncheon by saying “this award could just as easily be named the David Miller Award.”

Located in the heart of Mitchell, I met David at the Hoosier Uplands office. We drove to lunch and then stopped by the Mitchell Opera House, which Hoosier Uplands restored, and then visited Serenity Now, a mental health clinic that Hoosier Uplands operates in Bedford, Ind. I learned the history, saw patients in the waiting rooms, and met the staff. And I was moved. For three hours, David and I talked about community development, life, challenges, commitment, and action, and I left that day changed for the better.

It became clear to me that day that Hoosier Uplands leads the community with integrity, high expectations, and a call to action. Their mission statement reads in part “All endeavors are pursued with the client in mind, never forgetting the value of every human being or the importance of our responsibility to the public which we serve.” And it’s obvious they do just that.

I am incredibly proud to work for Prosperity Indiana and want to learn more. This year, I am visiting member organizations every month and highlighting my experiences in this newsletter. Please let me know if you are interested (rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org), and I’ll get it on the calendar!

Rita O'Donohue
Relationships Manager

P.S. John Niederman… you were right!

Opportunity Zones Webinar Series from CDFA

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 20:41:41 GMT

Over the past several months, federal agencies have been coordinating to prioritize their own financial and programmatic resources to communities with, and projects in Opportunity Zones. Through an Executive Order, the agencies have a mandate to explore all of the ways they can support the Opportunity Zones incentive, including

the reduction of regulatory burdens for loan and grant applicants in Opportunity Zones;
the assistance of community-based applicants in identifying and applying for federal assistance;
and implementing inter-agency strategies to support comprehensive planning and advanced regional collaboration.

To advance the conversation and facilitate a greater understanding of how federal resources can be layered to support the Opportunity Zones incentive, the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is renewing its Federal Financing Webinar Series with a focus on Opportunity Zones. The CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series: Opportunity Zones is an exclusive, four-part online offering that will convene finance experts, federal agencies, and local development finance practitioners to discuss the variety of ways federal grants, loans, guarantees and credit enhancements can leverage greater investment in Opportunity Zones. The webinar series will address issues related to the following areas:

Opportunity Zones and Rural Development featuring USDA and EPA
Opportunity Zones and Affordable Housing featuring HUD and USDA
Opportunity Zones and Transportation featuring DOT and EDA
Opportunity Zones and Small Business Development featuring SBA and EDA

CDFA encourages all stakeholders to participate in the webinars and bring project questions and ideas to our expert panelists. The four-part series will be offered throughout the year, and those interested in attending can register for each webinar individually or all at once as a package deal.

>>>Learn More About the Webinar Series

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:33:04 GMT

Prosperity Indiana has been thinking a lot about the Social Determinants of Health lately. Our entire 2018 Summit was dedicated to the intersection between Health and Community Development. We have partnered with the CareSource Foundation to bring funding to our members for innovations in the social determinants of health. It is even explicitly mentioned in our new identity statement.

Why are the social determinants of health (SDOH) important?

Medical care is estimated to account for only 10-20 percent of the modifiable (i.e., not genetic) contributors to health outcomes for a population. Another 30 percent can be attributed to health behaviors such as diet, exercise, and drug use. The remaining 50-60 percent is determined by the SDOH – the conditions of the physical and social environment. (Source)

But what exactly are the SDOH?

The SDOH are the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks (Source). These conditions include both the physical attributes of a place, as well as the patterns of social engagement and sense of well-being of the people who live there.

Lists vary based on the source, but generally the SDOH fall under five key categories:

Economic Stability
- Employment
- Food insecurity
- Housing instability
- Poverty
Education
- Early childhood education
- High school graduation
- Enrollment in higher education
- Language and literacy
Social and Community Context
- Civic participation
- Discrimination
- Incarceration
- Social cohesion
- Social acceptability of risky behaviors
- Isolation and loneliness
Health and Health Care
- Access to health care
- Access to primary and preventative care
- Health literacy
Neighborhood and Built Environment
- Access to healthy food
- Crime and violence
- Environmental conditions
- Safe housing

Do you have a project that addresses one of these areas? Click here to learn how you can apply for up to $50,000 through our Empower Indiana Grant Challenge, funded by the CareSource Foundation.

2019 Prosperity Indiana Annual Awards

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 13:53:45 GMT

On January 30, Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards at its annual Summit. The Prosperity Indiana Summit was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. The 2019 winners come from a pool of committed community leaders and innovative programs across Indiana. Winners are nominated by their peers and chosen by a judging committee based on criteria established for each award.

Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Jessica Love said, “We’re so proud of the work of all of our members, who are dedicated to strengthening our communities. That’s why we take an opportunity each year to recognize a few of the people and programs that stand out for their excellence. We are proud to honor such an amazing group this year. Congrats to the 2019 winners of the Prosperity Indiana awards.”

Award winners include: Indiana Supportive Housing Institute; George Okantey, Purdue Extension Community Development; David Miller, Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation; Tom Fodor, Morning Light Inc.

Key Award for Program of the Year - Sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana

Presented to Indiana Supportive Housing Institute

IHCDA and CSH’s Institute for Supportive Housing builds the capacity of supportive housing providers to develop and implement service plans that are based on national best practices and Supportive Housing Dimensions of Quality. The program is unique in that it requires participation from service providers, developers, advocates, and other local partners from the very early stages of project concept, creating cross-collaboration and building partnerships for long-term success.

Over the last nine years, 58 teams have completed the Institute, resulting in the creation of 44 developments containing 1,035 units of supportive housing with an additional 14 developments in the pipeline for funding.

Other Key Award nominees:

Holding Hands with Our Future

Photo by Al Bracken Photography. From Left to Right: Carol Gassen of Merchants Bank of Indiana, Jessica Love of Prosperity Indiana, Lori Phillips-Steele of CSH and Matt Rayburn and Jacob Sipe, both of IHCDA.

Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award - Sponsored by Brightpoint

Presented to George Okantey, Purdue Extension Community Development

George Okantey has been a Community Development Extension Educator for 20 years. He is passionate about convening diverse audiences across the state and increasing the capacity of local people, organizations and institutions to come together for the purpose of acting on current and future opportunities and challenges. Okantey is a coveted speaker, facilitator and trainer who makes an impact wherever he goes. In 2018 alone, he traveled widely across the state delivering more than 150 hours of instruction to nearly 550 adult learners.

Other Staff Member of the Year Award Nominees:

Judith Essex, Old Southside Neighborhood Association
Leigh Riley Evans, Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation
Erin Macey, Indiana Institute for Working Families
Stephanie Roland, Old National Bank
Jeffrey Sparks, Sagamore Institute
Christal Stephenson, New Albany Housing Authority
Evan Tester, King Park Development Corporation

Photo by Al Bracken Photography. George Okantey of Purdue Extension

John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award - Sponsored by First Financial Bank

Presented to David Miller, Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation

David Miller is said to spend every day striving to drive the mission of Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation, and his commitment to innovation can be seen in the services, changes and overall impact that he and the organization continue to make every year. Under his leadership, Hoosier Uplands has been able to support other local organizations with mini grants to improve, create and sustain their services. They also assisted over 550 patients in their home health and hospice programs and over 1,400 in their Serenity Now clinic in Bedford. They continue to serve as an Area Agency on Aging, Community Action Agency, licensed Home Health Care, and a Community Housing Development Organization, as well as oversee Head Start programs.

Other Rural Development Leadership Award Nominees:

Brenda Myers, Hamilton County Tourism

Photo by Al Bracken Photography. From Left to Right: Jessica Love of Prosperity Indiana, John Niederman of Pathfinder Services (accepting on behalf of David Miller of Hoosier Uplands), Angela Byer of First Financial Bank

Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award - Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank

Presented to Tom Fodor, Morning Light Inc.

Since his hire as Executive Director and CEO of Morning Light Inc. in 2012, Tom Fodor has focused his leadership on improving staff quality and retention, increasing hospice house occupancy, developing affordable housing programming and activities, and developing partnerships with other prominent programs in the community. Fodor continues to lead in the realm of health and housing, including national recognition and awards for health system innovation and policy. Morning Light has also led successful pilot projects to expand the field’s approach to addressing terminally ill homeless individuals.

In addition to national advocacy on behalf of affordable housing, Fodor served on the Indiana CHIP Continuum of Care Planning and Investment Committee for two years. He also served as an advocate for family shelters through his leadership of two programs at the American Red Cross Chapter in Dayton, OH.

Other Leadership Award nominees:

John Franklin Hay, Near East Area Renewal
Michael Howe, Community Alliance of the Far Eastside
Sister Dorothy Rasche, The Connecting Link

Photo by Al Bracken Photography. Tom Fodor of Morning Light Inc.

Prosperity Indiana and the CareSource Foundation Announce New Empower Indiana Grant Challenge

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 17:45:25 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce the launch of the Empower Indiana Grant Challenge in partnership with the CareSource Foundation. This grant program is designed to fund innovative solutions to unique community challenges that involve the social determinants of health.

Along with nearly 200 dedicated members, Prosperity Indiana believes in a society where all persons are able to live and work in an environment that provides equitable access to economic and social opportunity. This exciting new program provides yet another opportunity to help inspire the Prosperity Indiana network to find new ways to strengthen Hoosier communities.

Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Jessica Love said, “The more we learn about the social determinants of health, the more we recognize innovative interventions and partnerships with the health community are absolutely essential to changing the quality of life for our low-income neighbors. We are absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to partner with CareSource to make positive change on health outcomes in member communities and are thankful for the Foundation’s leadership in this realm.”

CareSource was launched 30 years ago in Dayton, Ohio, as one of the only nonprofit health plans in the United States designed to address both health and life issues of low-income individuals and families. Since then, they have expanded into four other states (Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and West Virginia) providing Medicaid, Marketplace and Medicare Advantage services.

The CareSource Foundation has committed $100,000 to fund grants to nonprofit members of Prosperity Indiana in areas of greatest need, impact and innovation.

According to Cathy Ponitz, Vice President with CareSource, acknowledges great synergy between their organizations. “The CareSource Foundation is focused on working in parallel with our business mission by tackling critical health issues, strengthening the social safety net and developing relationships with great community partners. Prosperity Indiana and their exceptional member network are doing impressive work. We’re excited to launch the Empower Indiana strategy to continue moving forward with positive change for all Hoosiers.”

Interested applicants are encouraged to attend a free informational webinar being held at 10 am February 28. Proposals are due April 4, 2019, and grant recipients will be announced in May. For more information about the grant program and to register for the webinar, visit www.ProsperityIndiana.org/EmpowerIN.

Strengthen Your Community with the Arts

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 20:04:49 GMT

Looking for funds to do a community mural, support your town's concert series or kick start a downtown festival?

Then you need to check out Arts Project Support Grants from the Indiana Arts Commission - city, town and county governments are eligible and encouraged to apply!

Arts Project Support grants may be applied to any activities that support the arts including one-time events, single theatre productions, exhibitions, educational seminars, festivals, and more.

Last year we supported:

Interested in an Arts Project Support grant for your town? Here are some links to help you get started.

Download the guidelines

Start your application

Meet your Regional Arts Partner

Have questions? Contact Paige Sharp (psharp@iac.in.gov) or your Regional Arts Partner representative.

Take Advantage of ALL Your Member Benefits

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 17:15:40 GMT

Prosperity Indiana has lots of members-only resources that you can access simply by logging in on our website!

Go to ProsperityIndiana.org and click on Log in. Forgot your password? No problem! It’s easy to reset it!

Once you’ve arrived at the Member Portal, explore all of the benefits available to you! In the Resource Library you can access all kinds of resources around affordable housing, comprehensive community development, management and leadership and so much more! Search the Member Directory to connect with your peers in the Prosperity Indiana network. The Legislation Tracker gives you the latest updates on legislation related to your work. You can also get quick access to our webinar library and the most recent edition of our Piece of the PI newsletter!

If you have any questions about logging in to the Member Portal or any of your other Prosperity Indiana Member Benefits, contact our Relationships Manager, Rita O’Donohue, at rodonohue@prosperityindiana.org.

Scholarships Available for NACEDA People & Places 2019!

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 16:54:17 GMT

The National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA) has opened early bird registration for the People & Places 2019 conference. The event will take place April 15-17 in Arlington, VA.

Join people from different regions, cultures, and national networks as we share what's working to strengthen places and advance racial equality. We'll inspire each other, strengthen our skills, unite our networks, and raise our voices on behalf of the communities we serve.

NACEDA will also host a pre-conference workshop, Claim the Torch: Community Organizations Advancing Racial Equity, on the morning of April 15.

Scholarships are available for registration, hotel, and/or transportation. Those interested in a scholarship can contact Michelle Johnson at mjohnson@prosperityindiana.org.

Exciting Developments in Martindale-Brightwood

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 15:16:59 GMT

The future looks bright in Martindale-Brightwood as the neighborhood celebrates the groundbreaking of a permanent branch of the Indianapolis Public Library and new KIPP charter high school, as well as the official opening of Edna Martin's Leadership and Legacy Center.

Edna Martin Christian Center executive director Tysha Sellers said the development is a step toward fulfilling the neighborhood’s quality of life plan and “listening to residents, businesses and those who want Martindale-Brightwood to be the best place to be.”

Read the full article in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Request for Proposals: 2019 National Conference for the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 16:30:55 GMT

John Boner Neighborhood Centers is co-hosting the 2019 National Alliance for Strong Families and Communities in Indianapolis October 16-18, 2019. This conference will be held at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The conference is the Alliance's largest event and provides an opportunity to showcase practice, policy, and research that advances knowledge and action in the following areas:

A Thriving and Vibrant Nonprofit Sector: Advancing practices and policies that ensure a well-resourced and financially sustainable nonprofit sector that is resilient, able to manage risk effectively, and positioned for innovation and growth.

Health and Well-Being: Advancing an integrated, holistic, prevention-first health model that responds to the social determinants of health and achieves improved outcomes, particularly for populations experiencing disparities.

Educational Success: Advancing a continuum of educational supports from cradle-to-career to prepare children and youth to succeed in the 21st century.

Economic Opportunity: Advancing policies, programs, models, and systems that advance living wages and pathways to financial well-being that support economic mobility and reduce poverty.

Safety and Security: Advancing systems working together to ensure that children, adults, and families thrive and are safe from abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation.

Click here for more information about content focus areas, presentation formats, and submission requirements. The deadline for submissions is December 12.

Prosperity Indiana Joins Partners to Launch Opportunity Zone Portal

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 22:21:27 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is one of many partners who collaborated to launch the Opportunity Investment Consortium of Indiana and its Opportunity Zone deal matching portal. With a $100,000 investment from Fifth Third Bank for the initiative, consortium backbone organizations and training and resource partners hosted a launch event for early adopters at United Way of Central Indiana on November 16, 2018. The portal will connect investors and Opportunity Funds looking for projects with potential Opportunity Zone developers and businesses. As a training and resource partner, Prosperity Indiana will provide in-person and webinar training opportunities related to Opportunity Zones. Watch for upcoming trainings on our events page.

To learn more about joining the consortium and accessing the online portal, visit the OIC website.

For more information on the launch, see these articles:

IBJ: New consortium to promote, facilitate investments in state 'opportunity zones'
OFN: Opportunity Investment Consortium of Indiana Launches to Support Projects in Newly-Named Opportunity Zones
Inside Indiana Business: Portal to Promote 'Opportunity Zone' Investment

Prominent senators begin bipartisan push to expand Fair Housing Act

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 18:24:58 GMT

Sens. Kaine and Hatch unveil bill to protect low-income families from housing discrimination

November 15, 2018, HousingWire

Ben Lane

Two of the most notable senators on opposing sides of the political aisle are partnering to unveil a bill that would expand the Fair Housing Act to include protections for low-income families and military veterans.

This week, Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced the “Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2018,” which would prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income or veteran status.

According to Kaine and Hatch, the Fair Housing Act currently does not strictly prohibit discrimination based on those factors, meaning that landlords may deny housing opportunities to renters using housing vouchers.

But under Kaine and Hatch’s bill, the Fair Housing Act would be expanded to include source of income and veteran status among the other anti-discriminatory factors, which include race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.

This isn’t the first time that Kaine has tried to expand the protected classes under the Fair Housing Act. Last year, Kaine led the effort to introduce the “Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2017,” which would have prohibited housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The fair housing cause is one long championed by Kaine, who spent much of pre-political career as a fair housing lawyer.

“As a fair housing lawyer, I witnessed the pain experienced by families who were discriminated against as they searched for a home,” Kaine said in a statement. “Housing decisions should be made on a potential tenant’s merits, not harmful prejudices that hurt the nation’s veterans and families in-need. The Fair Housing Improvement Act will help us continue that long pursuit to protect all Americans from discrimination.”

Congress currently provides vouchers to help 2.2 million veterans and low-income households afford housing, and this bill would help ensure they actually are able to obtain the housing they need.

“Helping veterans lead lives of dignity and independence has long been among my top priorities. This bill is part and parcel to that legacy,” Hatch said in a statement.

“It will put an end to the immoral housing discrimination against veterans and others who rely on veterans’ benefits, social security disability, or other non-wage legal income,” Hatch added. “This bill will address the fact that Source of Income is not a protected class under the Federal Fair Housing Act, thereby helping to remove an unnecessary barrier facing Utah families and veterans on the path to self-reliance.”

The move comes just a few months after the Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a push to get more landlords to accept housing vouchers, citing two studies that “most” landlords do not accept housing vouchers and therefore deny affordable housing opportunities to those who need it most.

According to Kaine’s office, the bill is supported by:

American Bar Association

Housing Opportunities Made Equal Virginia

National Fair Housing Alliance

National Housing Law Project

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

National Low Income Housing Coalition

Paralyzed Veterans of America; Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals

Virginia Poverty Law Center

Prosperity Indiana Members Receive Tax Credit Awards in Six out of Nine Set-Asides

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 13:21:34 GMT

Members receive all workforce housing awards

The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority announced 19 Rental Housing Tax Credit awards on November 15, 2018.

Prosperity Indiana members received tax credit awards in the following set-aside categories: Rural, Preservation, Workforce Housing, Community Integration, Qualified Not-for-Profit, and Small City. One member award was received in each category, except Workforce Housing, which garnered two member awards.

Members who received tax credit allocations include The Englewood Group (Rural), Partners in Housing (Preservation), Herman & Kittle (Workforce), RealAmerica (Workforce), Milestone Ventures (Community Integration), HOPE of Evansville (Qualified NFP), and Crestline (Small City).

See the IHCDA website for the applicant list and full awarded and denied lists.

Interested in commenting on the Qualified Allocation Plan, which determines how tax credit projects are awarded? Prosperity Indiana is hosting events on December 6, 7 and 14 in South Bend, Evansville and Indianapolis. Members can register here.

AARP & Purdue Extension Partner to Assess Age Friendliness of Two Indiana Cities

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 19:05:41 GMT

AARP is partnering with Purdue Extension to assess the age-friendliness of Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The Livable Communities Survey, which is available online from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, is designed to determine attitudes and opinions of residents of Indianapolis, who are 45 years or older, regarding the current state of housing, outdoor spaces, transportation and streets, health and wellness, social participation, educational opportunities, volunteering and civic engagement, and job opportunities in their community. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. The information gathered in this assessment will be used to spur a conversation with community leadership regarding the possibility of becoming an AARP Age-Friendly Community and provide information to improve the quality of life for older citizens.

Indianapolis residents can complete the survey by going here. Fort Wayne residents can complete the survey online here. All responses are completely anonymous, and no information will be collected that could identify any individual.

Report: CFPB and the Military Lending Act

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 16:34:22 GMT

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) recently announced plans to end supervisory examinations of banks, lenders, and other financial institutions for violations of the Military Lending Act, a statute designed to protect military service members and their families from predatory lending. Acting Director Mick Mulvaney has expressed the belief that the CFPB lacks the statutory authority to include MLA in its supervisory work.

On November 1, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) published a comprehensive legal analysis of the CFPB's authority to include Military Lending Act compliance within its supervisory exams. The analysis concludes that the CFPB has ample legal authority for this supervision for four reasons:

Violations of the MLA render service members' loans void, thereby triggering concurrent violations of federal consumer financial laws that the CFPB must already cover within its exams.
The CFPB may use its supervisory exams to obtain information about MLA compliance because such information is pertinent to business practices already subject to CFPB enforcement.
The CFPB can cover MLA violations within its exams for the purpose of detecting and assessing risks to consumers.
The text of the MLA itself requires the CFPB to enforce the MLA in the same way that the CFPB enforces the Truth in Lending Act - which includes supervisory exams.

Click here to read the full analysis.

Indiana Arts and Culture Nonprofits: Overview and Challenges

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:20:26 GMT

The Indiana Nonprofits Project collaborated with the Indiana Arts Commission to include a special sample of Indiana arts and culture nonprofits to inform the Commission’s planning, capacity building, and training efforts.

Selected highlights:

Increased demand for services. Over half of arts and culture nonprofits say that demands for their services have increased over the last three years and very few say demands have decreased.

Dependence on volunteers. About a fourth of IAC nonprofits have no paid staff members and almost all use volunteers (other than board members).

Sources of revenue. Indiana arts and culture nonprofits are more likely to receive donations from individuals, grants from foundations, and government grants than other nonprofits.

Challenges in finance and marketing. Arts and cultural nonprofits are significantly more likely to face financial challenges than all other nonprofits; they also report more challenges managing programs, planning, and marketing.

IT and other capacities. Indiana arts and cultural organizations have significantly greater experience with a broad range of information technology resources and have more good organizational practices in place than other Indiana nonprofits.

For more details and highlights from the report, see the press release »

Download the complete report — “Indiana Arts and Culture Nonprofits: Overview and Challenges” and its other findings »

Indiana Supreme Court asked to review rent-to-buy agreements

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:18:44 GMT

Asserting the Court of Appeals’ ruling in a rent-to-own dispute will adversely impact tenants across the state, Indiana Legal Services filed a petition Monday to transfer its litigation against Rainbow Realty Group for the company’s rent-to-own practices. In its transfer petition,Indiana Legal Services argued Rainbow's rent-to-buy contract is a lease governed by the state’s Landlord-Tenant Act.

For the full story, see theindianalawyer.com.

Join Us for Opportunity Zone Financing – Practical Insights and Sample Transactions based on the Recently Proposed Regulations

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 14:52:56 GMT

Join us for a webinar on Nov 2, 2018 1:30 PM EDT.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2051930984352638220

O-Zone Reinvestment Advisors, a consulting firm launched by experienced legal and finance professionals invite you to a one-hour free webinar discussing how the Opportunity Zone program can be used to finance real estate projects and operating businesses. The webinar will focus on practical insights and discuss sample deal structures based on the recent clarifications in regulations by Treasury.

Speakers:

Gary Hobbs

Paul Jones

Special Guest(s)

Date: November 2, 2018

Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm EDT

Claudia Cummings of Conexus Indiana to lead Indiana Philanthropy Alliance

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 14:46:07 GMT

Indiana Philanthropy Alliance Announces Incoming President and CEO

Claudia Cummings of Conexus Indiana to lead Indiana Philanthropy Alliance.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.—Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) Board of Directors has named Claudia Cummings as its next president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2019. Cummings will succeed Marissa Manlove, who announced her retirement after 12 years at the organization.

“Claudia is a strategic leader with years of experience working across the state of Indiana,” said Tina Gridiron, chair of IPA Board of Directors. “She brings the right mix of strategic vision, disciplined implementation and personal passion to this role. I look forward to the many ways she will continue to support, champion and connect all members.”

Cummings currently serves as vice president of strategic development at Conexus Indiana, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) initiative positioning the Hoosier state as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to invest, employ and succeed. An Indiana native, Cummings has been the senior leader with Conexus Indiana since 2008 responsible for overseeing collaborations on workforce development and education between industry, academic, philanthropic and public sector partners.

“With over $846 million in grants awarded each year, the impact of IPA members in their communities and across the state is tremendous,” said Cummings. “I’m looking forward to working with Indiana’s vibrant philanthropic community to leverage the strength of IPA and to intensify our results.”

Cummings was selected after a competitive process conducted by the Columbus, Indiana-based search firm Smith and Syberg and coordinated by a seven-member search committee of current IPA Board of Directors and key community leaders.

“There was very high interest in the position from across the country. We spoke with many strong candidates, and I’m confident Claudia is the right leader for the next season of IPA,” shared Gridiron.

“She is a thoughtful leader with a wealth of experience building networks, supporting partnerships and sustaining collaborations,” Gridiron added. “I look forward to the energy, innovation and creative leadership that she will bring.”

Cummings has dedicated her career to public service and community impact. Prior to her work with Conexus Indiana, she was Deputy Commissioner at the Indiana Department of Administration where she focused on small business development. She has also worked in various policy advocacy, communications and leadership positions for the Mayor of Indianapolis, Speaker of the Indiana House, Marion County Clerk, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

Cummings currently chairs the Goodwill Education Initiatives Board of Directors and serves on the Leadership Council of the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council and as Vice Chair on the Distinguished Alumni Council for the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). She has also been a member of the State Workforce Innovation Council and the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank.

Cummings succeeds Manlove, who leaves the organization in a strong financial position and with more members than in the organization’s 28-year history. During her tenure, IPA has gained prominence as a key voice on behalf of philanthropy with policymakers and other community leaders across the state. Manlove has also positioned IPA as a national leader among regional associations of grantmakers.

“I am pleased to welcome Claudia to the IPA family. She knows and has worked with many members of the philanthropic sector and is well-suited to build on IPA’s strengths,” said Manlove. “I look forward to assisting her in November and December to ensure a seamless transition in leadership.”

For more on this story and the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, go here.

Indianapolis to host 2019 International Economic Development Council Conference

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 14:43:41 GMT

IEDC Call for Sessions

The International Economic Development Council will host its 2019 annual conference in Indianapolis, October 13-16. As member of the host committee, Prosperity Indiana invites members to submit session proposals for consideration.

The committee is looking for a wide variety of content related to topics impacting economic development, i.e. education, community development, transportation, etc.

Proposals will be evaluated by the IEDC staff and the Programming Subcommittee based. Proposed content will be scored on relevance, innovation, timeliness, actionability, and appropriateness. Proposed speakers will be scored on qualifications, diversity, and availability/competitivity. Proposed session formats will be scored based on appropriateness for the intended audience and innovation.

Please use this link for submitting concurrent session proposals by January 11, 2019.

Note the following: 1) proposals and the ideas therein will become the property of IEDC and 2) any component of a proposal’s content, speakers, or format may be adapted, modified, or combined with others to best fit programming needs.

For event details, see IEDC's conference page.

The Relationship Between Place & Health: Where you live influences how long you'll live

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:49:30 GMT

A new tool from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation lets you search for your life expectancy – by ZIP code.

Improving health and longevity in communities starts with ensuring access to healthy food, good schools, quality housing, and jobs that provide the necessary resources to care for ourselves and our families. These are the things that prevent us from getting sick in the first place. However, these conditions are hardly consistent across states, cities, or even from block to block. This new data from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals differences in life expectancy down to the census tract level, showing U.S. counties can vary in life expectancy by as much as twenty years. There is a fourteen-year variance across central Indiana counties alone. More and more, the community development and public health fields are working together to understand just how great an impact the place we live can have on our health.

In Indianapolis, Eli Lilly and Company has launched a community-based pilot program in partnership with the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Eskenazi Health, LISC Indianapolis, and the Marion County Public Health Department to help address the high incidence of diabetes in three local neighborhoods: the Northeast Neighborhoods, Northwest Neighborhood, and Near Westside Neighborhood. These communities were selected based on their high prevalence of diabetes (approximately 10,000 people across the three neighborhoods), socio-economic factors, and highly engaged community members and organizations. The pilot will deploy newly hired community health care workers to help identify people with diabetes and connect them with quality care. Community members will also be involved, helping to identify and propose solutions for cultural, social, environmental, economic, and policy barriers that increase the risk for diabetes, such as the lack of healthy food options and public spaces for exercise.

These cross-sector, community-focused partnerships for health are becoming more commonplace in the community development field as we continue to learn about the relationship between health and where you live. Check out the resources below to learn more on this topic.

Read about another partnership between community development and health systems

National example of programming aimed at improving health by aligning housing and health systems

Access resources from the 2018 Prosperity Indiana Summit: Intersection between Community Health and Community Development

Check out this map showing the change in U.S. life expectancies by county over time

View a variety of health data sources

You're invited to the Westside Development Summit

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:24:19 GMT

A summit focused on development in the westside of Indianapolis will be held Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

With the latest Infosys announcement to build a technology hub at the former Indianapolis International Airport terminal site, development on the west side of Indianapolis will likely increase as Infosys brings on 3,000 new jobs – 1,000 more than previously announced. Such announcements like this present opportunities for communities to begin to strategically think about future development.

The full-day session will feature key players who can help you grow and invest in Hendricks County and the westside of Indianapolis at an opportune time. Topics include: industrial development, retail and hospitality development, office development, housing development and opportunity zones. Infosys will also give the keynote speech, which is their first official public appearance since the announcement of the brand new technology hub.

Confirmed Speakers:

Drew Klacik, Senior Policy Analyst, IU Public Policy Institute

Grant Goldman, SVP of Development & Construction, Ambrose Property Group

Mark Susemichael, VP of Development, Browning Investments

David Holt, SVP of Development and Community Affairs, Holladay Properties

John Cumming, SVP of Development, Strategic Capital Partners

Jeff Pipkin, Executive Director, Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership

Mike Jones, President and CEO, Lauth Group

Will Zink, SVP of Construction and Development, SCP

Rick Cardwell, Head of Innovation and Delivery, Infosys

Jacqueline Haynes, Senior Manager, Midland Atlantic Properties

Steve Lains, CEO, Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis

John Lassaux, Development Manager, Scannell Properties

Shelby Bowen, President, Rebar Development

Greg Majewski, Business Development Specialist, Keller Development

Courtney Zaugg, Director of Economic Development, Veridus Group

Elain Bedel, President, Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Anthony Bridgeman, VP Community Development Banking, PNC

Mark Fisher, Chief Policy Officer, Indy Chamber

Schedule · Tuesday, October 23, 2018

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration, Networking, Light Breakfast

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM

Welcome

9:10 AM - 9:15 AM

Summit Introduction

9:15 AM - 9:55 AM

Hendricks County in the New Economy

9:55 AM - 10:45 AM

Industrial Development Trends and Opportunities

10:45 AM - 10:55 AM

Community Profile

10:55 AM - 11:05 AM

Break

11:05 AM - 11:45 AM

Office Development Trends and Opportunities

11:45 AM - 11:55 AM

Community Profile

11:55 AM - 1:25 PM

Lunch, Infosys as Keynote Speaker

1:25 PM - 2:25 PM

Hospitality/Retail Development Trends and Opportunities

2:25 PM - 2:35 PM

Community Profile

2:35 PM - 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 PM - 3:25 PM

Housing Development Trends and Opportunities

3:25 PM - 3:35 PM

Community Profile

3:35 PM - 4:15 PM

Opportunity Zones and Inclusivity

4:15 PM - 4:20 PM

Summit Wrap Up

4:20 PM - 6:00 PM

Networking/Drinks

Event will be held 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM at Embassy Suites Plainfield Conference Center, 6089 Clarks Creek Road, Plainfield, IN 46168.

Westside Community Development Corporation Annual Meeting

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:21:28 GMT

Westside Community Development Corporation in Indianapolis will host its annual meeting and introduce its new executive director next month.

WCDC’s 2018 Annual Meeting Event will be held on November 15, 2018 from 4-7 pm at the Biltwell Event Center located at 950 S. White River Parkway W. Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46221.

The new Executive Director Mr. Robert Hawthorne will share next steps for Westside Community Development Corporation.

Indiana Public Health Celebration and Hulman Health Achievement Awards

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:09:22 GMT

The 34th Indiana Public Health Celebration & Hulman Awards will be held October 25, 2018 and include an evening reception and dinner.

The guest speaker will be Pam Aaltonen, PhD, RN, President Elect, APHA.

Awards program includes Dr. Helen L Scheibner Life Science & Public Health Scholarship, Stephen Jay Awards for Leadership in Public Health, and Hulman Health Achievement Awards.

Special Guest: Dr. Daniel Rusyniak is the Chief Medical Officer for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration

Individual Ticket Price: $65

Student Ticket price: $35

Prosperity Indiana Seeking Session Proposals for 2019 Summit

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:06:28 GMT

The 2019 Prosperity Indiana Summit will explore diverse strategies to build individual, organizational and community wealth. Our goal is to highlight diversity and innovations in the field and build capacity to do more of the same.

Please see the following to submit a session for consideration: 2019 Prosperity Indiana Summit: Call for Session Proposals.

Karen Freeman-Wilson is slated to become the next president of NLC

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 14:02:12 GMT

This fall, during the NLC City Summit in Los Angeles, Gary Mayor and Aim 2nd Vice President Karen Freeman-Wilson is slated to become the next president of NLC. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for Karen to step into this role - representing America’s cities, towns and villages at the highest level! The Aim Board of Directors, and Karen’s fellow Aim Officers, have expressed their excitement and support for Karen during her rise among NLC’s excellent crop of local leaders.

As is customary during the City Summit, the state league of the incoming NLC president hosts an all-conference gathering the evening prior to taking office. This after-hours event is more than just a time to let your hair down. It is a time for attendees to celebrate as colleagues and as friends, and to continue networking with one another as they share valuable insights and make the most of the short time together.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lesley Mosier at lmosier@aimindiana.org.

Sincerely,

Matt Greller

CEO

Accelerate Indiana Municipalities

Know Your Rights: Hoosiers living in mobile homes at risk of losing their homes

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 15:45:43 GMT

If you live in a mobile home in Indiana – either as an owner or a renter – you could lose your home if the property taxes are behind.

Personal property taxes must be paid on mobile homes yearly. If you owe as little as $25, your mobile home is at risk of being sold at auction. Demand for payment and notice of sale should be mailed to each taxpayer, but if the title to the mobile home is not in your name, if you don’t have a recorded contract that you are buying it, or if the county does not have your address, you may not get notice.

The first sale in the state will happen later this month in Lawrence County. As of August 1, there were still 168 mobile home owners in the county behind on taxes, down from 700 in January.

Prosperity Indiana member Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) has created a brochure to help those living in mobile homes to know their rights and explain how to avoid sale.

Access it here.

Prosperity Indiana's Response: "HPI wins court decision; county plans to appeal ruling"

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 18:17:53 GMT

After a 12-year appeal process, the Indiana Board of Tax Review (IBTR) ruled in favor of the nonprofit Housing Partnerships, Inc. (HPI), determining the organization’s ownership of scattered-site housing does qualify for property tax exemption. The county assessor’s office decided to repeal the decision, potentially forcing HPI to sell 11 affordable homes to pay off debt taken out to pay the taxes. Read more about the appeal in this article from The Republic and see Thrive Alliance’s response in their press release.

Prosperity Indiana’s Executive Director, Jessica Love, responded to the decision in this letter, pointing out the assessor’s faulty logic that low-cost private landlords will be impaired by the exemptions, citing the Out of Reach data which shows that a minimum wage worker in Indiana must work 86 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rate.

“Prosperity Indiana hopes the IBTR’s decision in HPI’s case will stand and serve as a powerful precedent,” Love said. “We urge the incoming assessor to look at the whole equation when weighing how to proceed, so HPI can continue serving the community’s unmet needs.”

New Report Reveals Concerning Data on Increasing Number of ALICE Households

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:49:10 GMT

ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These households have incomes above the Federal Poverty Level but struggle to afford basic household necessities. In the words of Indiana United Ways Board Chair, Ron Turpin, “ALICE gets up each day to go to work, but still faces financial barriers – working jobs that offer no healthcare, vacation, or paid sick leave. These workers hold jobs that are critical to the success and vitality of our communities, yet they often struggle to afford food, rent, child care, and transportation, and have little left over for saving and investing.”

The 2018 ALICE report updates the cost of basic needs in the Household Survival Budget for each county in Indiana and the number of households earning below the amount needed to afford that budget (the ALICE Threshold) for the period of 2010 to 2016. It also highlights emerging trends that will affect ALICE families in the future.

Highlights from the report include:

In 2016, 39 percent of Indiana households live below the ALICE Threshold, meaning they could not afford basic needs such as housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. This is an increase of 10 percent from 2010.
The cost of basic household expenses in Indiana increased steadily to $52,836 for a family of four (two adults with one infant and one preschooler) and $19,620 for a single adult — significantly higher than the FPL of $24,300 for a family of four and $11,880 for a single adult. The cost of the family budget increased by 23 percent from 2010 to 2016.
Low-wage jobs continued to dominate the landscape in Indiana, with 65 percent of all jobs paying less than $20 per hour. Although unemployment rates fell during this period, wages remained low for many occupations. With more contract work and on-demand jobs, job instability also increased, making it difficult for ALICE workers to meet regular monthly expenses or to save.

Emerging trends include:

The Changing American Household — Shifting demographics, including the rise of the millennials, the aging of the baby boomers, and domestic and foreign migration patterns, are having an impact on who is living together in households and where and how people work. These changes, in turn, influence the demand for goods and services, ranging from the location of housing to the provision of caregiving.
Market Instability — Within a global economy, economic disruptions, natural disasters, and technological advances in other parts of the world trigger rapid change across U.S. industries and cause shifts in supply and demand. This will increasingly destabilize employment opportunities for ALICE workers.
Growing Health Inequality — With technological advances in health care outpacing the ability of many households to afford them, there will be increasing disparities in health according to income. The societal costs of having large numbers of U.S. residents in poor health will also grow.

Click here to download the full report.

Community Loan Centers: Informational Webinar with Matt Hull

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 17:27:17 GMT

Community Loan Centers (CLC) exist to provide an alternative, fairly-priced loan program to low-income families. On Wednesday, August 29, the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network hosted a free webinar featuring special guest Matt Hull, executive director of the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations, examining how CLCs are helping families in 16 markets across seven states. Topics covered include:

What is payday lending and why are alternatives needed?
What is a Community Loan Center and how does it operate?
How can you bring a Community Loan Center to your community?

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE WEBINAR.

To learn more about becoming a CLC partner or how you can be informed of upcoming Network webinars and events, contact Logan Charlesworth, Network Manager.

Meet Logan Charlesworth - Network and Resources Manager

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:38:25 GMT

First impressions are a tricky thing. The professional side of me feels like introductions should be formal and I should tell all of you something impressive about myself or spout off my work history. However, that wouldn't be "me" at all. If we were meeting in-person (which if we haven't, we'll need to change that soon), I'd more than likely tell you all about my cat who, over the past couple weeks, has already impacted the way I think about this Network and care about its mission even more than I already did - which is saying a lot.

Yes, it sounds strange, but allow me to explain.

It's probably important to say that I'm an animal person - being asked whether I'm a cat or dog person is far more stressful than being asked for my opinion on certain political issues. I've been known to nurse injured woodland creatures who wandered onto my front stoop back to health and consider being a called a crazy cat/dog/animal lady a badge of honor. I'd like to think of myself as a modern day Snow White. So, when my senior cat, Banksy, was in visible pain last Wednesday morning, I dashed to the vet without a thought of how much his visit and subsequent treatment would cost.

Fortunately, the talented veterinarians were able to diagnose his near-fatal ailment quickly. For nearly three full days, Banksy stayed in the animal hospital under their watchful eyes, charming the staff into giving him more behind-the-ear scratches and belly rubs than they bargained for.

Unfortunately, his animal hospital stays resulted in a rather large bill. We're talking three times my monthly rent payment large. Thankfully, I took my mother's advice and have been saving for a rainy day since I landed my first job at age 15, so Banksy's bills were covered. However, after reading about payday loans and the repercussions of loans made at alarmingly high interest rates for days on end during my first week at Prosperity Indiana, I asked the office staff at the animal hospital what options would be available if I were unable to cover his tab. To my surprise, the only option presented to me was a monthly payment plan with a 55 percent interest rate. Fifty-five percent.

I know my problems are minuscule in comparison to the issues facing the Hoosiers the Network serves. However, it was a call to action - many do not have a rainy day fund they can pull from when an unexpected (and extremely expensive) life event of any kind hits them. When desperate times arise, sometimes taking the high-interest route seems like the only option, even if it means financial disaster down the road. And that's exactly why the work of the Network is so important and highly personal to me.

For those of you who may be wondering, Banksy is back at home and, much to his delight, on a wet food diet for the rest of his days. Doctor's orders. As for me, I come to the Network after years of helping community-based organizations amplify their work, connect to resources, and develop meaningful partnerships to achieve ambitious goals. That is why I am excited to hear and learn from you about ways we can make our state a better, more prosperous place for everyone, even on the rainiest of days.

We have exciting, but formidable work ahead and it will take a strong Network to accomplish our goals, so if you want to find out how you can get more involved, reach out!

I look forward to working alongside each of you in the days, months, and years ahead.

All the best,

Logan
Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network Manager

New Data from the HOPE Initiative Highlights Racial Disparities in Physical & Financial Well-Being

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:09:19 GMT

The Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) Initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was launched with the belief that every person in the U.S., no matter their background or ZIP code, should have a fair and just opportunity for the best possible health and well-being. Their report, released at the end of July, provides data around a number of social determinants of health broken down by state as well as by race and ethnicity. This data highlights some of the deep-rooted racial disparities in physical and financial well-being that Prosperity Indiana members are working to address.

Here are some of the highlights for Indiana:

Indiana ranks 39^th in the country for adult health status, with 46.4% of adults reporting their health as very good or excellent. That percentage drops among blacks and Hispanics, with only 38.1% and 32.1% reporting very good or excellent health, respectively.

At 60.5%, Indiana ranks 29^th in the country for households with a livable income (greater than 250% of the federal poverty line). Again, there is a stark difference between racial and ethnic groups. The proportion of both whites and Asians with a livable income is over 60%, while the proportions of blacks and Hispanics are both closer to 40%.

One of Indiana’s biggest problem areas is the racial inequality around concentration of poverty. Concentration of poverty, for the purpose of this report, refers to the proportion of people living in neighborhoods with less than 20% of residents living in poverty. For white Hoosiers, that percentage is close to 85%. For blacks, the number goes down to 46%.

The one area Indiana fares relatively well in? Housing. Indiana ranks 9^th in the country for proportion of households spending no more than 30% of monthly household income on housing and related expenses. However, the racial divide still exists, with 76.3% of white households being affordable, while only 54.3% of black households are considered affordable. Indiana also ranks 9^th in the country for homeownership rates, with 72.1% of households living in a home they own. That percentage again drops among minority groups – 40.7% for blacks, 55% for Hispanics, and 54.8% for Asians.

As a network, Prosperity Indiana members are working to improve numbers in every one of these categories, particularly for the most disadvantaged groups. Together, we work to close these gaps so that everyone in our communities has the opportunity to live a healthy, prosperous life.

Want to learn more about how your work relates to community health? Check out these resources from the Build Healthy Places Network or dive deep into the data with the full HOPE Initiative Report.

Homeownership rates up in second quarter, but not for all racial and ethnic groups

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:46:02 GMT

Homeownership rates have increased slightly from the first quarter of 2018, but not for all racial and ethnic groups. Nationally, the homeownership rate increased to 64.3% in the second quarter, up slightly from the rate of 64.2% in the first quarter and from 63.7% one year ago, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This represents an additional 1.8 million homeowners over the past year.

In Indiana, the homeownership rate stands at 72.9% this quarter, up from 69.2% last quarter and 72.0% in the second quarter of 2017.

Despite these increases, not all racial and ethnic groups have seen a rise in homeownership rates. Nationally, the white American homeownership rate rose to 72.9% in the second quarter, up from 72.4% in the first quarter and 72.2% last year. Black and Hispanic homeownership rates, however, fell in the second quarter. The black homeownership rate stands at 41.6%, down from 42.2% in the first quarter of this year and from 42.3% at this time last year. The Hispanic homeownership rate saw a similar decline, with a rate of 46.6% in the second quarter compared to the first quarter rate of 48.4%. This rate is still up from 45.5% in the second quarter of 2017.

Which group is driving the overall homeownership rate up? Millennials. Homeownership rates for those under 35 have risen to 36.5% in the second quarter of 2018, up from 35.3% in the first quarter. This is the highest homeownership rate seen among Millennials in five years.

Click here to read the analysis from HousingWire, and here to view the data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Prosperity Indiana Announces Opportunity for Part-time or Full-time Consulting Role

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 19:58:05 GMT

Have community development experience? Want to be a Nonprofit Consultant? Prosperity Indiana may have just the opportunity for you to step into a full- or part-time consulting role.

This position is responsible for conducting training and providing technical assistance around board governance, program delivery, planning, and staff development & management. Ideal candidates will have an understanding of community economic development and experience with project management. View the full position descriptions here:

Training Manager/Consultant - Prosperity Indiana - https://charitableadvisors.hirecentric.com/jobs/142930.html

Community Development Consultant (Part-time/Contract) - Prosperity Indiana - https://charitableadvisors.hirecentric.com/jobs/142953.html

We are also hiring for a part-time administrative assistant to support Prosperity Indiana staff with tasks that build the capacity of Prosperity Indiana, its members, and its partners. Click here for the full position description and instructions on how to apply.

Senate Holds Hearing on Nomination for New CFPB Director

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:53:21 GMT

On Thursday, July 19, the Senate Banking Committee held a hearing confirmation hearing for President Trump’s nominee to become the new director of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB), Kathy Kraninger. The CFPB is responsible for overseeing consumer protections in the financial sector and has jurisdiction includes banks, credit unions, mortgage servicers, foreclosure relief companies, and debt collectors operating in the U.S. If confirmed by the Senate, Kraninger would hold significant sway over the way those companies manage mortgages, credit cards, payday loans and other financial products they offer to customers. Click here to read our coverage of the hearing.

At issue in this hearing is the fundamental disagreement the Administration has with the agency’s underlying constitutionality. The current acting director, Mick Mulvaney, has decried what he considers to be a lack of accountability in the structure of the agency. Kraninger, hand-picked by Mulvaney to take over largely shares his views and promised in the confirmation hearing to continue the more pro-business shift at the agency that started under Mulvaney’s time as Acting Director.

If confirmed, Kraninger would serve a five-year term. In laying out her priorities, Kraninger stated she would use cost-benefit analysis to measure the price tag of regulations to industries and continue to go after bad industry behavior.

When pressed on the agency’s payday loan rule and her thoughts on whether or not the agency should repeal it, Kraninger only stated, “While I will not prejudge and cannot predict every decision that will come before me as director, if confirmed, I can assure you that I will focus solely on serving the American people.”

Senate Republicans who have expressed similar concerns to Mick Mulvaney about the agency and expressed support the nominee during the hearing proceedings. Questions from the panel’s Republican members largely focused on increasing transparency and accountability within the CFPB.

Senate Democrats who back the consumer protection actions taken under the previous director, Richard Cordray, took issue with Kraninger’s lack of experience with the agency, consumer protection issues or the financial services sector. Previously, she served at the White House Office of Management and Budget and helped craft President Trump’s 2019 budget plan, which called for cutting the CFPB’s budget and restricting its enforcement oversight.

Senator Donnelly (D-Ind.) sits on the panel and questioned Kraninger about student loan debt and the agency's recent decision to eliminate student loan office focused on loan abuses, which has returned $750 million in relief since its inception, and refocusing those responsibilities on "financial education." Donnelly stated that Hoosier students graduate with an average of $29,000 in debt and underlined the importance of that office. When asked her position on this action, Kraninger pointed to the fact the that CFPB still had an ombudsman for private student loans and she would be talking to that staff on student loan issues.

Donnelly also asked if she agreed with Mick Mulvaney's previous comments in referring to the CFPB as a "joke" and she said she would not have used those words and would support Bureau's mission, "as passed by Congress."

The full Senate is expected to vote soon on this nomination and Kraninger is expected to be confirmed as Republicans hold the majority of seats.

Join Us for Our First Ever Regional Policy and Pizza Lunches!

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 15:03:18 GMT

Join us around the state at the following dates/locations:

Lafayette: Thursday, July 19, 11:30 - 12:45 EDT, click here to RSVP.
Fort Wayne: Wednesday, August 1, 12:00 - 1:15 EDT, click here to RSVP.
Indianapolis: Tuesday, August 7, 12:00 - 1:15 EDT, click here to RSVP.
South Bend: Wednesday, August 22, 12:00 - 1:15 EDT, click here to RSVP.
Evansville: Monday, August 27, 12:30 - 1:45 CDT, click here to RSVP.

Questions? Please contact Kathleen Lara at klara@prosperityindiana.org

CFPB to Host National Call on Consumer Issues Affecting Rural Communities

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 20:13:50 GMT

Please lift your voice and share key consumer issues affecting Hoosiers in rural Indiana with the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB)!

On Thursday, July 12, from 2:00-3:00 pm EDT, the CFPB invites consumer, community, and nonprofit groups to join a National Call on Rural Communities with the Bureau’s Office of Public Engagement and Community Liaison (formerly Office of Community Affairs) staff and national community leaders.

The conversation is a opportunity for the Bureau to hear about consumer finance issues affecting consumers in rural communities and share Bureau resources. The call is closed to the press, off the record. Please forward to colleagues.

Prosperity Indiana will be speaking up and we hope you will join us! Click here to RSVP!

Action Alert Update! Rescissions Package Defeated in Senate!

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 21:22:47 GMT

Thanks to advocacy pressure from you (

https://www.prosperityindiana.org/Blog/6242798) and housing and community development proponents around the country, Congress rejected the Administration's effort to rescind $15 billion in previously approved federal funding. Those cuts included $39 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Public Housing Capital Fund, $40 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rental Assistance Program, as well as $164 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI) programs.

These programs help ensure Hoosiers have access to safe, affordable housing and spur community development investments. While it passed the House on June 6, by a close vote of 210 - 206, the Senate voted down the measure by a vote of 48-50 on Wednesday. Senator Young (R-IN) voted to approve the measure and Senator Donnelly (D-IN) opposed it. To see how your Representative voted, click here.

Below is our action alert text addressing the impact this bill would have had on Prosperity Indiana' members and the Hoosiers served by them:

Dear Member,

As a Prosperity Indiana member dedicated to expanding affordable housing access and strengthening our communities, I urge you to oppose harmful rescissions contained in H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act. Contrary to the bill's title, the legislation would rescind significant resources needed to improve living conditions for low-income Hoosiers and increase investment in distressed communities.

Specifically, H.R. 3 would rescind $39 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund Program, $40 million from U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rental Assistance Program, as well as $164 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI) programs.

HUD:

The Public Housing Capital Fund enables Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to maintain safe, sanitary living conditions for residents. These resources are used for roof repairs, maintaining heating and air conditioning systems, and removing hazards such as lead paint. Unfortunately, appropriations have not kept pace with the urgent need. A 2010 HUD study estimated the backlog on deferred maintenance on public housing was $26 billion, and was expected to grow by $3.4 billion per year. That would put the current backlog at more than $50 billion. Unobligated resources in this fund do not reflect a surplus. To the contrary, these funds are unobligated because PHAs often do not receive enough in one year's allocation to make larger repairs and have to save their annual funding for several years before signing contracts which lengthens the process. Cutting these resources only serves to further jeopardize the health and safety of public housing residents across our state.

USDA:

USDA's Rental Assistance Program is critical to community stability, providing funding to help low-income households in rural areas access housing stability through public-private partnerships with landlords. Without these funds, many families would be homeless. Short-term funding via continuing resolutions made it difficult to renew contracts and the funds targeted in this bill were intended to ensure there are no shortfalls in fulfilling those existing obligations that would be harmful to housing providers and low-income Hoosiers alike.

Treasury:

Proposed rescissions also include $151 million from the Capital Magnet Fund, resources that were only made available on May 1 of this year, and $22 million from the Bank Enterprise Award Program. These programs attract private capital to support organizations that increase the availability and affordability of housing and improve access to financial services in divested communities.

When you consider that thirty-one percent of households in Indiana are renters and nearly half are cost-burdened already, it is clear we simply cannot afford to cut programs that provide critical housing assistance and incentivize investments in low-income communities. I urge you to oppose this measure.

New Housing Report Reveals Shocking Data: 14 Million New Housing Cost Burdened Households Since 1988

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 21:53:16 GMT

On June 18, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHS) released The State of the Nation’s Housing 2018. This is the 30th anniversary of the annual report which tracks trends in the national housing market.

While the full report is linked here, we have included key findings related to housing affordability, housing cost burden, and homeownership that are critical to Prosperity Indiana’s members.

The report underlines why our advocacy for strong housing and community development policies and robust funding is so critical. Want to get more involved? Contact our Policy Director, Kathleen Lara at klara@prosperityindiana.org.

JCHS' State of the Nation's Housing 2018:

Since 1988, the number of households burdened by housing costs in America has risen by nearly 14 million.
Nearly a third of U.S. households (38.1 million) paid more than 30% of their incomes for housing in 2016. More than half (20.8 million) are renters, and fully 80% of renters and 63% of owners making less than $30,000 are cost burdened.
Increases in the median sales price of existing homes have outstripped growth in median household income for six straight years. The price of a typical existing home sold in 2017 was more than four times the median income.
The homeownership rate between black and white Americans is widening. Between 1994 and 2016, black homeownership rates increased just 0.3% while white rates rose 2.2%, widening the black-white gap to 29.2%.

Some challenges identified in the first 1988 report persist today:

Homeownership rates among young adults are even lower than in 1988, and the share of cost-burdened renters is significantly higher with soaring housing costs to blame.
The national median rent rose 20 percent faster than overall inflation between 1990 and 2016 and the median home price rose 41 percent faster.
Comparing rent-to-income: Since 1960, median earnings increased 5% while rents rose 61%.
The number of low income families increased by 6 million nationally since 1988, while the number of apartments renting below $800, affordable to households making $32,000 or less, declined by more than 2.5 million between 1990 and 2016.
In 2016, only 35 available rental units were affordable for every 100 extremely low income (ELI) renter households, those earning less than the poverty level or 30% of the area median income (AMI).
There is a nationwide shortage of more than 7.2 million rental homes affordable and available to ELI renter households.
For these cost-burdened renter households, an emergency expense or unexpected loss of income could result in eviction and homelessness. After a decline of 14% between 2010 and 2016, the homeless population increased by 3,800 people in 2017.
Despite the increasing need, federal rental assistance is grossly insufficient. Only one out of every four very low income (VLI) renter households, those at or below 50% AMI, receives housing assistance.
From 1987 to 2015, the number of VLI households grew by 6 million, while the number receiving housing assistance increased by only 950,000.
The share of these households receiving assistance declined from 29% to 25%.

CONCERNING NEW DATA REVEALS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS OUT OF REACH FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS ACROSS INDIANA

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 14:30:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – Popular opinion is that Indiana has a low cost of living, but it is clear that is simply not the case for low-wage workers across the Hoosier state, according to a national report released today. In order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in Indiana, renters need to earn $15.56 per hour. The report, Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing, was jointly released by Prosperity Indiana and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), a research and advocacy organization dedicated solely to achieving affordable and decent homes for the lowest income people.

Every year, Out of Reach reports on the Housing Wage (the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a modest and safe rental home without spending more than 30% of his or her income on housing costs) for all states, counties, metropolitan areas, and ZIP codes in the country. The report highlights the gap between what renters earn and what it costs to afford a home at Fair Market Rent.

“Increasingly, data shows that even working full-time, thousands of Hoosiers cannot meet basic housing costs,” said Jessica Love, Prosperity Indiana’s Executive Director. ”The average renter wage is insufficient to afford a two-bedroom apartment in 84 of Indiana’s 92 counties. We also know that 86 households are being evicted every day in Indiana, which is further evidence that the needs are critical. It is clear we need common-sense solutions to address these challenges and support investments in affordable housing development and preservation.”

Working at the minimum wage of $7.25 in Indiana, a worker must have 1.7 full-time jobs or work 69 hours per week to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment; or have 2.1 full-time jobs or work 86 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

“The housing crisis has reached historic heights, most negatively impacting the lowest income renters,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “The struggle to afford modest rental homes is not limited to minimum wage workers; seven out of 10 of the jobs projected for the greatest growth over the next decade have wages lower that the one-bedroom Housing Wage. Too often, a low wage worker must choose between paying for rent, healthcare, childcare, and other basic necessities. Congress must invest in expanding housing solutions that provide stable homes for the lowest income people in our country.”

For additional information, visit: http://nlihc.org/oor/indiana.

Urgent Federal Housing Funding Updates

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:47:33 GMT

As we posted in May, Congress is moving forward with FY19 budget bills, including key votes in House and Senate Committees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bills that affect spending for housing and many community development programs.

House of Representatives

On May 23, the House Appropriations Committee advanced their THUD bill (details on our earlier blog post (click here)), only voting to adopt one amendment to increase funding for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program to the FY18 funding level. The FY19 funding bill provides $632 million to the program, compared to $678 million in the FY18 omnibus bill.

There were also amendments offered increase funding for several programs (homeless assistance grants, public housing capital repairs and the HOME program), as well as amendments aimed at preventing HUD from implementing the Administration’s rent increase proposal, and an effort to limits HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, but those were all defeated. The bill will now proceed to the full House for consideration.

U.S. Senate

On Thursday, June 7, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance its FY19 THUD bill. The bill is stronger for housing programs than the House bill, providing $1.8 billion in additional funding – that works out to $12 billion above the president’s FY19 request and more than $1 billion above the House proposal.

The Senate bill:

rejects any harmful rent increases
does not impose work requirements or time limits
Unlike the House bill that does not include sufficient funding to renew all vouchers, the Senate bill fully funds existing rental assistance contracts and provides new funding for 7,600 new vouchers aimed at veterans and youth aging out of foster care.

Programs that would maintain the Omnibus funding levels:

The bill would renew all Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities ($154 million)
Section 202 Housing for the Elderly ($678 million) and provides enough funding for new construction under Section 202.
HOME Investment Partnerships program ($1.36 billion)
Community Development Block Grants ($3.37 billion)

Programs receiving increases include:

Public Housing ($2.78 billion for capital repairs and $4.76 billion for operating)
Homeless Assistance Grants ($2.6 billion), Family Self-Sufficiency ($80 million),
Healthy Homes & Lead Hazard Control ($260 million),
The Office of Policy Development and Research ($100 million).

The only significant cut is to the Choice Neighborhoods program, which was cut by $50 million

We are urging Indiana’s Congressional delegation to support the Senate figures as the bills advance. Stay tuned for an action alert to join us in advocating in support of these critical programs.

For an updated chart of all of the spending bills, click here: http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/NLIHC_HUD-USDA_Budget-Chart.pdf

For questions or more information, contact our Policy Director, Kathleen Lara at klara@prosperityindiana.org.

Prosperity Indiana Responds to FHFA Proposed Changes to AHP Program

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 02:46:36 GMT

On March 6, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) proposed wide-ranging changes to the regulations governing the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The proposed amendments would allow the Banks to establish special competitive funds that target specific affordable housing needs in their districts and design and implement their own project selection scoring criteria, among many other provisions. Many affordable rental projects receive AHP gap financing to expand affordable housing. FHFA provided an advance copy of its proposed rule changes on March 6. The formal Federal Register version is yet to be posted.

There are 11 Federal Home Loan Banks whose members are local lending institutions. Both Indiana and Michigan AHP projects fall under the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. FHLBanks must annually contribute to its AHP 10% of its net income from the preceding year, subject to a minimum annual combined contribution by all of the Banks of $100 million. The current AHP regulation authorizes two programs: a mandatory Competitive Application Program and optional Homeownership Set-Aside Programs.

With this rule, the FHFA proposes to eliminate the Competitive Application Program and its required 65% minimum annual allocation to AHP. In its place, FHFA proposes a three-program scheme:

Requiring Banks to allocate at least 50% of their annual AHP obligation to a new General Fund;
Allowing Banks to annually allocate the greater of 40% or $4.5 million to Homeowner Set-Aside Programs; and
Allowing Banks to annually allocate up to 40% to a maximum of three Targeted Funds.

We have reviewed the proposed changes with members and while we agree with the goals behind these changes, we have concerns about the practical impact of these changes and believe they could negatively impact AHP projects across Indiana.

Click here to review the comments we provided to the FHFA addressing specific requirements.

Quality of Life Planning Prompts Murals Project in North Anthony Corridor

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 15:05:02 GMT

In 2015-2016, Prosperity Indiana facilitated a Quality of Life planning process for the North Anthony Corridor Group in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The North Anthony Corridor is a commercial corridor surrounded by residential neighborhoods and book-ended by educational institutions. Funding for the Quality of Life plan was provided by Prosperity Indiana member Brightpoint.

"Quality of Life plans are great tools for creating a shared community vision and understanding how the public, private, and philanthropic sectors will come alongside residents to implement the goals that will result in the vision. The plans are implemented in big and small ways every day in the neighborhoods that have engaged in Quality of Life planning," said Rose Scovel, Director of Planning Services at Prosperity Indiana.

Throughout the planning process, residents emphasized the importance of placemaking and beautification to attract people to the area. Since there were a number of bare concrete walls, residents identified murals as a strategy to realize this goal. After meeting their fundraising goal, the North Anthony Corridor Group is now ready to roll out the murals project, designed by artists Jerrod Tobias and Paul Demaree.

"Murals ... have an intangible quality that draws people together to consider and redefine their sense of place. These particular designs are meant to encourage us as viewers to nurture our connections with our urban and natural environments while offering us all a public safe space to reconcile the ongoing questions of what it means to be a community," writes Allison Demaree-Coale, North Anthony Corridor Board Member, in a Patronicity blog. North Anthony Corridor is joining communities worldwide using public art to engage residents, attract visitors, and strengthen sense of place.

"I had the pleasure of working with the North Anthony Corridor Group in 2015-2016 to facilitate a Quality of Life planning process. Placemaking and beautification were key strategies for realizing their vision of the Corridor as a 'vibrant hub connecting thriving neighborhoods, diverse businesses, exceptional schools, and nearby destinations,' and I'm thrilled to see this work coming to life as they prepare to add new murals," said Rachel Mattingly, Director of Training Services at Prosperity Indiana.

Learn more and see the mural designs here.

If your neighborhood is interested in Quality of Life planning, please contact Director of Planning Services, Rose Scovel, AICP at rscovel@prosperityindiana.org to learn more.

Job Opportunities with Westside CDC and Drug & Alcohol Consortium of Allen County

Mon, 21 May 2018 13:41:47 GMT

Executive Director – Westside Community Development Corporation

The Westside CDC has played a key role in revitalizing the Near Westside and bringing stability to its families. Since its inception in 1985, WCDC has laid the foundation for the neighborhoods of Haughville, Hawthorne, Stringtown, and We Care to prosper via housing and commercial development, property management, and community planning. Bordered by White River Parkway to the East, Lynhurst Drive to the West, and extending North to 21^st from the CSX Railroad line, the WCDC has close proximity to some of Indy’s premiere attractions including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IUPUI’s dynamic campus across the river, and 16 Tech’s 60-acre hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Further propelled by affordable housing and a 10-minute commute to Indy’s downtown, WCDC is poised for future business and economic development , and the Westside area is becoming a “First Choice” community where people want to live and developers want to invest.

The WCDC is searching for a highly engaged Executive Director who will be a change agent in transforming the Westside into a vibrant destination with quality housing, sustainable living wages and abundant lifestyle amenities. The Executive Director will identify and implement development strategies that will serve the varied economic interests of the community and optimize housing and business/workforce opportunities for all income levels and generations.

The successful candidate will exhibit a high degree of understanding and performance in areas that include economic development, job creation, personnel management, municipal operations, innovative leadership, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners. He/She must have effective outward facing communication skills with sales and/or public relations experience a plus, and experience working with governmental bodies at the local, state, and federal levels. This individual has direct oversight of five staff members. Compensation is $90,000 plus health insurance and vacation benefits. More information about WCDC at http://wcdcindy.org/. More about the role and apply at: https://charitableadvisors.hirecentric.com/jobs/138702.html.

Executive Director - Drug & Alcohol Consortium of Allen County

Are you excited about building a better Fort Wayne? Are you a committed collaborator who enjoys making connections and marshaling resources for the good of the community? This could be the perfect opportunity for you. DAC oversees and energizes a broad-based network of community leaders from the educational, law enforcement, business, healthcare, government, and justice sectors who are focused on reducing the impacts of drug and alcohol use and abuse in Allen County through both prevention and intervention strategies. The Executive Director is a difference-maker who leads a small team delivering big impact. In addition to being the public face of the organization, the Executive Director functions as a catalyst and community architect, moving Allen County toward a more positive future and advocating for the community on a regional and state level.

The ideal candidate will be a coalition builder and facilitator, adept at connecting with a variety of audiences and bringing together people with different viewpoints to achieve common goals. He or she must be a confident business manager, able to oversee DAC finances, planning and personnel matters, but also not afraid to dig in and tackle the day-to-day work of the organization. The Executive Director must also be a top-notch networker and compelling communicator, comfortable in front of audiences or in one-on-one meetings, who effectively articulates DAC’s important mission. Expertise in drug and alcohol issues is not a requirement, but a passion for learning about those issues and putting best practices to work is. More information about DAC at http://www.dacac.org/. More about the role and apply at: https://charitableadvisors.hirecentric.com/jobs/138234.html.

Action Alert: Urge Congress to Oppose Affordable Housing Rescissions

Fri, 18 May 2018 19:24:59 GMT

Greetings Kathleen,

The U.S. House may vote as early as next week on a rescissions package (H.R. 3) that would cut funds previously approved for certain vital affordable housing and community development programs. Prosperity Indiana members are urged to click on the link below to send a pre-drafted letter to your Representative urging them to oppose this measure.

H.R. 3 would cut $39 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Public Housing Capital Fund, $40 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rental Assistance Program, as well as $164 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI) programs.

These programs help ensure Hoosiers have access to safe, affordable housing and spur community development investments. Please take action today by sending your Representative a letter opposing this bill. Simply add your name, enter your address, and submit!

Prosperity Indiana in the Field: Anderson Sweet 16 QoL Plan

Wed, 16 May 2018 18:43:38 GMT

Prosperity Indiana's Rose Scovel, AICP and Rachel Mattingly recently completed a Quality of Life plan in the Sweet 16 neighborhoods of Anderson, with investment from the Vectren Foundation and backbone support from the Anderson Impact Center. In 2016, the Vectren Foundation was interested in investing in quality of life planning for an area on the near west side of Anderson and worked with Prosperity Indiana to convene a community conversation to share the need, the possibilities such plans can bring, and identify neighborhood boundaries and a local backbone organization. From that community conversation emerged the boundaries of what would become known as the Sweet 16 neighborhoods and the Anderson Impact Center, in the heart of the area, stepped up to be the backbone organization.

A local steering committee of residents and stakeholders was formed to guide the process with support from Prosperity Indiana. The committee was responsible for conducting one-on-one interviews, presenting the report of the interview findings, and tracking the plan’s progress. Following the report back a visioning session was held in the neighborhood. From that session emerged a shared vision for Sweet 16:

Anderson’s Sweet 16 neighborhood is a community of choice for people of all ages. It’s a beautiful area to live and work, with well-maintained homes and green spaces. Bike and walking paths encourage residents to enjoy the area parks, and residents and visitors feel safe and enjoy the neighborly atmosphere. Children and youth have access to educational and recreational opportunities that prepare them for their futures, and people of all ages have access to healthcare services. Education extends through job training programs, creating a prepared workforce ready to take advantage of neighborhood and surrounding jobs. Entrepreneurs and business owners in Sweet 16 also have the resources to grow and expand local businesses, particularly along the Nichol Avenue corridor, adding new restaurants, shops, and a grocery store that serve the neighborhood. Strong infrastructure and transportation options make it easy to access jobs, education, and recreation. Residents take pride in their community and work together to create a thriving Sweet 16.

Interested residents and stakeholder began meeting in working groups to develop goals and action plans. Once these were drafted, supporting data for performance measures were added by Prosperity Indiana and the draft quality of life plan was born. Anderson Impact Center Executive Director Sherry Peak-David exclaimed “the baby is being born!” when the draft report was delivered. The draft plan was refined with the assistance of key stakeholders and organizations that would be responsible for implementation. On April 7^th the plan was rolled out to the Sweet 16 neighborhood and community in a grand event at the Anderson Impact Center. The Anderson Impact Center is ready to move the plan forward to implementation with assistance from public, private, and philanthropic partners across the community.

Photos courtesy of The Herald Bulletin

U.S. House Funding Proposal for Housing Released, Maintains Most Increases from Omnibus

Wed, 16 May 2018 17:59:01 GMT

The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), released their fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget proposal that is mostly in line with budget requests Prosperity Indiana urged legislators to support, but there are some areas of concern for members to be aware of that we plan to focus advocacy on before the bill comes before the full Committee in the coming weeks.

Overall, the bill maintains the omnibus funding levels which represented a 10 percent increase in funding housing programs compared to the prior fiscal year which is an important victory for affordable housing advocates. Additionally, the bill is $11 billion above the Administration’s request and does not include the rent increases or work requirements proposed by Secretary Carson. As outlined below, many programs would receive level funding or modest increases, but this bill does have some concerns for our members.

Proposed cuts or shortfalls include $162 million less for the HOME Investment Partnerships program compared to FY18 and funding for Project-Based Rental Assistance and Housing Choice Vouchers that is not sufficient to cover contract renewals.

Programs that received level funding include Public Housing Operating and Capital Funds and Community Development Block Grants. Additionally, funding is provided for 811, Housing for People with Disabilities and 202, Housing for the Elderly, at levels to renew contracts.

There were modest increases for Housing for Persons with AIDS, Homeless Assistance Grants, HUD Policy Research and Development, and new funding for a mobility voucher demonstration for families with young children to assist in moving to areas of opportunity.

The THUD Appropriations Subcommittee will vote on the draft today without any amendments. In the next few weeks, full Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill and amendments will be considered. Stay tuned for updates! A full chart of budget updates can be found here: http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/NLIHC_HUD-USDA_Budget-Chart.pdf

2017 Home Loan Data Shows Fewer Loans for Low- and Moderate-Income Borrowers

Tue, 15 May 2018 21:48:47 GMT

On May 7, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the 2017 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, detailing mortgage lending information from nearly all lenders across the country and the trends are troubling for low- and moderate-income (LMI) borrowers. Banks have significantly reduced loan originated for low- and moderate-income borrowers and these income brackets have continued to decline as a share of all home buyers overall—a decrease of more than 10% since 2009.

As NCRC points out, “The loans that they rely on, FHA and VA lending, tend to cost more than the conventional loans banks offer to middle and upper-income buyers. Buying a home is increasingly difficult, more expensive, or impossible, for the nation’s working class. This is reflected in the nation’s homeownership rate, which is near a 50-year low.”

There are numerous causes, including wage stagnation while housing costs increase, tightening loan standards, but also larger banks are not as actively offering FHA/VA mortgages which cost them more originate than conventional mortgages. In fact, the data overall suggest that banks, to some extent, are transitioning to other credit products and away from mortgages. That explains how non-bank lenders, those financial institutions that do not take or hold deposits, have dramatically increased their share of mortgage lending, particularly for LMI borrowers. They now accounted for 56% of all origination in 2017.

Nearly half of LMI borrowers use FHA/VA loans to buy their homes, but the top three bank lenders reported an average of just 15% of their lending went to LMI borrowers, compared to 29% for the three largest non-banks. The largest non-banks use FHA/VA loans for their borrowers 35%-45% of the time.

There are also important data implications for borrowers based on race. Black and Hispanic borrowers use FHA/VA 65% and 55% of the time, respectively, meaning fewer traditional bank institutions meet their needs as fewer are offering the government-insured loan programs that have been vital to homeownership opportunities.

The CFPB report also notes, “As in past years, black, Hispanic white, and “other minority” borrowers had notably higher denial rates in 2017 than non-Hispanic white borrowers, while denial rates for Asian borrowers were more similar to those for non-Hispanic white borrowers. For example, the denial rates for conventional home-purchase loans were about 19.3 percent for black borrowers, 13.5 percent for Hispanic white borrowers, and 14.9 percent for other minority borrowers.”

In order to ensure greater access to homeownership opportunities, particularly for LMI households, Prosperity Indiana believes it is critical to examine the fair housing implications in these denial rates. We also need to explore safe, alternative mortgage products that better meet LMI household needs while incentivizing traditional banks to expand their lending to them again.

Join the Prosperity Indiana Team - Seeking a Network and Resources Manager

Tue, 15 May 2018 15:06:51 GMT

The Network and Resources Manager is the lead staff person for the Assets and Opportunity Network. The position will develop a work plan for the Indiana Assets and Opportunity Network, which will outline strategies to build Network capacity, help Network members deliver measurable asset-building outcomes, and change public policy to support asset-building strategies. The Network and Resources Manager works in partnership with the Policy Director and Asset and Opportunity Network partner agencies to build the Network and deliver on its work plan. Additional networks may be developed to build engagement and capacity across Prosperity Indiana’s membership.

The Network and Resources Manager will also support fundraising strategies that generate resources for all Prosperity Indiana programming. The position will document and communicate the Prosperity Indiana mission and programs, benefits of membership, and tell the story of impact for Prosperity Indiana member organizations to raise funds. This includes identifying and soliciting individual and corporate donors, establishing an annual giving campaign, and supporting grant writing through initial drafting.

View the full position description here: PI_Networks_and_Resources_Manager_Job_Description.pdf

Interested applicants should send a resume to Executive Director Jessica Love at jlove@prosperityindiana.org.

Special Session Includes Bill that Reduces EITC Benefits for Low-Income Hoosiers

Mon, 14 May 2018 13:35:57 GMT

As the Indiana General Assembly convenes today for a special session to address bills not completed by the sine die deadline, Prosperity Indiana is joining statewide human services advocates urging opposition to a provision in HB 1316 that reduce Earned Income Tax Credit benefits for low-income Hoosiers.

The recently passed federal tax law made changes in how cost of living adjustments are calculated, called Chained CPI, which means the adjustments grow at a rate slower than inflation. State legislators backing HB 1316 would be approving the same calculation change. From these changes, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy projects recipients will lose $12 million in federal EITC and $700,000 in state EITC returns in 2019 alone.

As a member of the Indiana Coalition for Human Services, Prosperity Indiana joined the voices raising alarm about the implications of this change, outlined below in this op-ed:

For Immediate Release

May 11, 2018

Media Contact: David Sklar, 317-501-9314, dsklar@indyjcrc.org

OP-ED: Don’t Raise Taxes on Low Income Hoosiers

The General Assembly is about to green-light a measure that will cut credits and raise taxes on low income working families by $5 million by 2027, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a widely utilized, and extremely successful, tax benefit for low income individuals that was originally created in the 1970’s and then expanded during President Ronald Reagan’s tax reform efforts of the late 1980’s. In Indiana, working families with children that have annual incomes below about $40,320 to $54,884 (depending on marital status and the number of dependent children) are eligible for both a federal and state EITC. The state credit is simply the amount equal to 9% of their federal credit. That percentage is set statutorily by the General Assembly, and while the state credit is a percentage of the federal credit, the credits themselves are not officially coupled (this is important and you’ll see why below).

The reason the EITC is so successful is that it is fully refundable. This means that the credit, which incentivizes work, can wipe out a family’s tax liability, and if any credit remains will be provided to the taxpayer in the form of a tax return. This extra money in a family’s pocket is often used for emergency expenditures, school supplies, household needs, etc., which can be the difference between making it and falling off a fiscal cliff for low income Hoosiers. Nearly one hundred percent of the dollars refunded to eligible families are pumped back into our local economy, and the program itself has been supported by leaders of both parties including President Obama and Speaker Paul Ryan who together supported an expansion of the program as part of our economic recovery from the Great Recession.

Unfortunately, Hoosiers who use the program are on the verge of seeing a huge tax increase with the recent passage of the federal tax bill, combined with the passage of House Bill 1316 during the special session of the General Assembly this week. Tucked into the federal legislation was a new way of calculating cost of living adjustments for the federal EITC. This new method, called Chained CPI, will constrain these adjustments so that they grow at a far slower rate than normal inflation. Among the various provisions of HB 1316, which was drafted in large part to protect some of Indiana’s biggest and most important companies from seeing large increases in their state tax liabilities as we reconcile our tax code with the federal legislation passed by Congress earlier this year, is a provision that will require Indiana to coincide with the use of Chained CPI. The end result of both the federal and state legislation will be a large tax increase on low income Hoosiers who claim the EITC. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) projects that in 2019 recipients will lose $12 million in federal EITC and $700,000 in state EITC returns. The burden on Hoosiers continues to grow exponentially and by 2027 they are projected to lose at least $86 million federally and $5 million more from the state EITC. Although the state and federal governments view any EITC expenditures not received by taxpayers as savings, make no mistake, it is a tax increase on low income working Hoosiers, and a big one at that. $91 million big.

But there are other options that Indiana isn’t considering. Because Indiana’s credit is not officially coupled with the federal credit, as mentioned previously, we do not have to utilize this new method of calculation for the State’s EITC. Federally, low income working Hoosiers are already projected to lose tens of millions of dollars. There is little we can do about that unless we can convince Congress to amend or repeal its most recent tax legislation. But, we can do something locally with regards to the state EITC. Another $5 million out of the pockets of low income working Hoosiers, and local economies, is real money that cannot be ignored. Unfortunately we at the Indiana Coalition for Human Services were not able to convince lawmakers to remove this provision from HB 1316, but it is our hope that we can work with them over the summer and fall to find a solution to this problem, just as Indiana’s largest employers were able to find solutions to their tax liability problems in this legislation. We believe there are a number of options that are worthy of consideration, and we look forward to the opportunity to make our case.

David Sklar is Assistant Director with the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council and Chair of the Indiana Coalition for Human Services Public Policy Committee.

The Indiana Coalition for Human Services is a nonpartisan coalition of over 25 organizations that educates decision makers and the community on fact-based human service policy which emphasizes quality outcomes for Hoosiers, and ultimately the State of Indiana. We invest in, protect, and advocate for children, people with disabilities, senior citizens and hard-working families who are trying to make a better life for themselves.

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Call for Proposals for Indiana Housing and Homeless Conference

Mon, 14 May 2018 13:22:58 GMT

The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), in partnership with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), is soliciting workshop presenters for the Indiana Housing and Homeless Conference, which will be held Friday, August 24th, 2018, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel.

This statewide conference will convene housing and service professionals to learn more about best practices on a variety of topics while offering networking opportunities. The audience comprises many sectors of the homeless housing and services fields.

CHIP and IHCDA are seeking dynamic and creative speakers to lead breakout sessions on August 24th. Proposals should address the following topics as they relate to the homeless housing and service provider industries: leadership, resource development and fundraising, marketing and communications, rural homelessness, special homeless populations, strategic collaborations (faith-based, health, criminal justice, etc.), crisis-response, permanent housing, direct service (harm reduction, housing first, income, etc.), family homelessness, substance abuse disorders, and any other topic that would enhance the housing and service providers' learning opportunities. Successful proposals will provide timely insight into the covered topic and have clear learning objectives for the attendees.

Please complete the Call for Proposals Survey by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, May 25th, to be considered for this event.

Contact Chris Lakich with any questions at clakich@chipindy.org.

Lacasa, Inc. Announces Selection of Next President/CEO

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 14:49:41 GMT

After conducting a nationwide search for Lacasa’s next President/CEO, Lacasa, Inc.’s Board of Directors is announcing today its selection of Chris Kingsley to fill that role. Mr. Kingsley is currently the Vice President of Resource Development at the agency and will assume leadership on August 6 of this year, immediately following Larry Gautsche’s retirement on August 3

Mr. Kingsley has been with the agency more than 7 years, beginning as a Financial Capabilities Instructor, later serving as the Financial Capabilities Program Manager, and currently serving in the VP Resource Development role. During that time, he has had extensive involvement in the development and expansion of Lacasa’s Financial Empowerment services, spearheading new partnerships, developing curriculum, and introducing new technologies to workflow processes. He has overseen growth in fundraising efforts and a recent agency brand refresh.

Current President Larry Gautsche states “I’m very pleased with the board’s selection of Chris Kingsley as Lacasa’s next president. Chris has years of experience working directly with Lacasa clients, has been instrumental in the design of new, innovative programs and has made a significant contribution as a member of Lacasa’s management team and VP of Development. Chris grew up in Elkhart and brings a valuable mix of professional education, multicultural experience, personal integrity and proven leadership that will serve Lacasa well.”

Lacasa has made significant efforts in the past two years to gather community input regarding its strategic planning for the next 5 years. Specific input was sought by the board to guide the selection of Mr. Gautsche’s successor. “One component of the board’s search process was seeking input from a wide variety of stakeholders across the county,” states Lacasa Board Chair Nathan Mateer Rempel. “We asked what qualities were needed in leadership for Lacasa going forward, and how Lacasa could support our community. Chris’ strengths align beautifully with what we heard from the community and we look forward to working with Chris in bringing LaCasa to a new level of service in Elkhart County.”

A new level of service in Elkhart County is exactly what is outlined in Lacasa’s strategic plan. The plan recognizes a need for more financial empowerment services, housing options, and neighborhood revitalization work throughout the county and outlines strategies for scaling Lacasa’s effective services to impact more people and neighborhoods.

Mr. Gautsche says, “Lacasa is energized by a new strategic plan, a very talented management team and staff, an engaged board of directors and exceptional community support. The organization is well-positioned to expand partnerships for even greater countywide impact. I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish and excited about Lacasa’s future contributions to our community.”

Mr. Kingsley states, “Personally, it’s a true honor to be able to serve in this capacity. I believe deeply in Lacasa’s work and I am passionate about services that give a hand up to people who are working hard to improve their circumstances. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many inspiring, hard-working people from our community who have committed to their goals and successfully created stability for their families. My commitment is to work hard to effectively serve a greater number of these people in our community who are seeking betterment and who are willing to do what it takes to get there.”

“What’s so great about Elkhart County is that there are so many who care about and give of their own resources to support hard-working people who are struggling. In the end, this is work that not only impacts families and neighborhoods directly, but also contributes to the community’s overall health and economic development. I believe in the people we serve and in the many players in this community who are working for the betterment of all. It’s what makes me eager to lead Lacasa’s next chapter.”

Mr. Gautsche will have served as Lacasa’s President/CEO for 17 years when he retires. He has overseen tremendous growth and change at Lacasa during his tenure in leadership. This growth is highlighted by an increase of 550% in net assets, an increase in Lacasa residential communities from 109 units to 327 units, more than 500 families assisted in purchasing their first homes, and over 150 home owners who could not afford needed repairs being assisted.

Says Mr. Kingsley, “I’m sure I’ve only just begun hearing of the size of the shoes I have to fill. Larry’s leadership has made an enormous impact on Lacasa and on the community. He’s set the bar high. There’s more to be done and when he hands off the baton, the only thing to do is run with it! I’ve spent my whole life in this community. Growing up, I walked to Roosevelt Elementary and then Pierre Moran Middle School every day. I love this place and will do all I can, in collaboration with others in Elkhart, Goshen, and all Elkhart County communities to ensure Lacasa is fulfilling its mission to create opportunity for personal empowerment, family stability and neighborhood vitality.”

Click here to view this post on Lacasa's website.

Administation Proposes Rent Increases, Work Requirements for HUD-Assisted, Low-Income Households

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 03:38:43 GMT

On Wednesday, April 25, the Trump Administration proposed a new plan to raise rents on millions of low-income families and individuals receiving federal housing assistance. It's a plan that jeopardizes housing stability for households who, absent this housing support, could very well become homeless as Prosperity Indiana's Policy Director, Kathleen Lara shared with Fox 59 news.

Specifics:

Just how many households would be affected in Indiana? According to research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 79,100 Hoosier households would be affected, with an average annual budget increase of $760, draining $59,445,000 from the most economically strained households throughout the state.

The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Ben Carson, told reporters that the proposal was needed because "The way we calculate the level of assistance to our families is convoluted and creates perverse consequences, such as discouraging these families from earning more income and becoming self-sufficient."

Unfortunately, the data does not support claims that these households will become more self-sufficient under this plan. The legislation crafted around this proposal would require:

most HUD-assisted households currently paying 30% of their adjusted income towards rent to instead have to pay 35% of their gross income or 35% of the amount earned by working at least 15 hours a week for four weeks at the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. That would essentially set a new minimum mandatory rent of $150 (three times higher than the current minimum that may apply to families
The bill would also increase rents for households with high medical or child care expenses by eliminating income deductions for those expenses, the impact of which would disproportionately fall on seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children.
The bill provides the HUD secretary with the authority to impose even higher rents through alternative rent structures and de facto time limits. And the proposal allows housing providers to broadly impose work requirements, without any resources to help people gain the skills they need for well-paying jobs.

This is not a plan that lifts Hoosiers in poverty, it sets them on a course for housing crisis, particularly single mothers and the disabled.

What's Next?

Advocacy.

Prosperity Indiana is proud to advocate on behalf of our member network and how this measure would impact our communities, so please contact Kathleen Lara at klara@prosperityindiana.org for questions and stories from clients who will be impacted so we can share those specifics with policymakers.

Raise your voice! Let both Senators as well as your Member of Congress know that this move would make it harder for low-income Hoosiers trying to become economically sufficient and could increase evictions and homelessness throughout our state.

To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

To look up your Member of Congress, visit our Advocacy Action Center and enter your address.

Prosperity Indiana is also proud to be the state partner for the National Low Income Housing Coalition and hope you read their resources on the Administration's proposal:

Read the full press statement at: http://nlihc.org/press/releases/10642
Learn more about the Trump proposal to cut housing benefits at: https://bit.ly/2I7Y4U6
Nearly 700 organizations on a letter opposing these harmful changes at: https://bit.ly/2GhrHh8

Governor Holcomb Announces Opportunity Zone Nominations

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 18:57:54 GMT

On Thursday, April 19, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced the 156 census tract Opportunity Zone nominations Indiana submitted to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Contained within the 2017 tax reform legislation passed last December, Opportunity Zones offer tax incentives to spark investment in low-income communities. Essentially, each state nominates census tracts that meet certain criteria, such as having a poverty rate of at least 20 percent and a median family income of no greater than 80 percent of the area median. (see this link for further details: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/resources/policy-focus-opportunity-zone-program).

The program only allows states to nominate up to 25 percent of eligible tracts, so the Governor’s Office noted that it worked several state agencies, an external advisory group and took into account thousands of tract recommendations from several hundred local officials, stakeholders and citizens in coming up with the selections.

“This new program provides one more tool to attract investment and help more of our Hoosier communities succeed,” Gov. Holcomb said.

According to the Governor’s office’s announcement, “The 156 nominated census tracts are located in 58 counties covering all or portions of 83 cities and towns throughout the state. Upon approval of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, these Opportunity Zones will cover over 1,000 square miles and the residences of over 500,000 Hoosiers. The average poverty rate in these census tracts is 31 percent.

The full list of nominated census tracts can be found here.

As this program has great potential to support and generate new community development activities in economically divested areas throughout Indiana, Prosperity Indiana submitted the following feedback during the input process to help inform our state’s approach in determining which tracts to nominate.

On behalf of our members working hard to revitalize and strengthen communities statewide, we are pleased the state has decided to capitalize on this important tool that could have a catalytic impact on low-income neighborhoods throughout Indiana. We recognize it is a significant challenge to identify which census tracts should ultimately receive the designation as our state can only nominate up to 25 percent of eligible tracts. In order to maximize the impact of the opportunity zone investment and its ability to improve lives and boost local economies, we offer the following suggestions for evaluation criteria.

1) Local context and conversations are key. In states that have selected tracts already, selection appears – in some instances – to be based on data only, ignoring local context. For example, some areas meet low-income eligibility thresholds due to student populations; however, investors are already capitalizing companies, commercial developments, or housing projects in those areas, and no incentive is needed. The context, in those cases, was not considered, and the impact of investing there would be to the detriment of communities that truly need the establishment of zones to spark investment. Data, while essential in helping evaluate need, is not a complete picture in and of itself. Conversations, community plans and resident engagement is key to achieving social and economic inclusion, as well as investments that yield long-term economic prosperity.

2) We urge the state to apply the New Market Tax Credit’s definition for “severe economic distress” in selecting zones to drive resources to the areas of highest need. Then, once that criteria is applied, we suggest evaluating additional factors, such as an area’s capacity to capitalize on new investments, taking into account strong anchor institutions and support for small business.

3) We believe designated zones should show a preference for geographic diversity with a balance of rural and urban neighborhoods to diversify investment activity. This will ensure urban cores are thriving, while rural markets that have lost significant jobs and population are also revitalized.

4) We encourage Indiana to take advantage of a tool created by Enterprise Community Partners, called Opportunity360, that allows states to see how eligible tracts relate to other federal programs and designations. Importantly, the tool allows users to filter tracts using the Opportunity360 Outcome Indices to see how people living in these tracts are faring across five outcome dimensions, including housing stability, education, health and wellbeing, economic security, and mobility. The tool can be accessed here: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/opportunity360/opportunity-zone-eligibility-tool

We appreciate the opportunity to discuss the importance of community engagement, strategic evaluation of needs and opportunities, and geographic diversity to achieve the catalytic community economic development results the program aims to accomplish.

Business Diversity Contributes to a Neighborhood's Economic Health

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 13:12:50 GMT

Last week, The Wall Street Journal published an article about the miraculous economic recovery in Elkhart, Indiana. In March 2009, the unemployment rate in Elkhart was 20 percent, the highest in the nation; in January 2018, the unemployment rate was 2 percent, half the national average. (Moody’s Analytics ranked Elkhart’s local jobs rebound as the largest among 403 metro areas analyzed.) The recovery is largely attributed to the region’s concentration of RV manufacturing jobs, which offer great pay and benefits. In 2016, the average annual salary for a worker was $68,000 and pay continues to rise. Other job perks resemble those provided by firms in Silicon Valley, such as “dream managers”—counselors who help workers plan vacations or handle family problems.

The RV industry sets wages and standards to a level few competitors can match; yet, the picture of Elkhart’s economic recovery is not as rosy as first appears. WSJ describes Elkhart’s economy as “a Kuwait in the cornfields”—that is, operating like an oil economy, sensitive to booms and busts. And although some residents remain frugal during booms to weather the busts, systemic issues arise from lack of business diversity.

The prospect of a factory job with great pay and benefits deters young people from attaining higher education or entering other industries. These trends cause two problems: workers’ skill levels remain low (they are not qualified for advanced jobs) and industries with comparatively lower pay (i.e. food service) cannot attract and retain employees, creating a mismatch between supply and demand. Case in point: "A McDonald’s failed to open for lunch last fall because managers couldn’t corral enough hands at $8 an hour to serve the lines waiting at the doors."

Elkhart illustrates the importance of business diversity in terms of economic robustness, especially during economic downturns, and attending to the daily needs of neighborhood residents. Studies show that retail diversity—the availability of a wide array of necessary goods and services at a variety of price points—contributes significantly to a neighborhood’s economic health and that of its residents. In addition, retail diversity contributes to a neighborhood’s unique character (i.e. the cultural value of independent retailers as compared to chain stores).

Yet the government’s role in preserving and encouraging retail diversity, affordability, and access is marked by “a history of fits and starts” when compared to the housing sector, for example, where government has consistently maintained a significant role. Historically, planning for neighborhood retail was often overlooked and/or outsourced to local organizations through Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). In an era when the public sector was in retreat, BIDs assumed the responsibility to stabilize physical conditions on important retail strips. Although the public sector can employ a number of strategies to preserve and encourage retail diversity (i.e. formula retail zoning), private funders also have a role to play.

For example, funders may explore starting a neighborhood commercial development fund, a retail diversity fund, or incubator and entrepreneurship programs. A neighborhood commercial development fund would provide funding for local community developers to redevelop vacant or underutilized commercial spaces. Community development financial institutions in Indiana already fund similar types of projects. For example, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) operates the Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Program, which provides matching grants to property owners willing to renovate storefronts, such as adding new signage, windows, or painting.

A retail diversity fund would establish a new competitive grant program targeted specifically at the objective of neighborhood retail diversity. The fund could be granted to a local organization to administer a participatory community process to determine a specific type of retail use that is needed in the neighborhood. The community organization could then use the rest of the grant to help identify and subsidize the location of such a business.

Another approach is to develop and fund incubator and entrepreneurship programs. Recommended interventions include helping program graduates find affordable storefront space by subsidizing a short-term initial lease or offering low-interest loans. These programs can also be effective at diversifying local business markets. Marcus Owens, President and CEO at Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) in Minneapolis, MN, said there is saturation in the market of certain types of businesses—for example, beauty parlors and comfort food restaurants in NEON’s service area. NEON provides training and funding opportunities to diversify aspiring entrepreneurs’ skills sets thereby diversifying local business markets.

Supporting retail diversity through innovative funding strategies isn’t the silver bullet to addressing problems associated with the concentration of particular jobs, but it is part of a comprehensive solution to build workers’ skills sets, increase a region’s economic robustness, make neighborhoods desirable places to live and work, and attend to residents’ daily needs.

Crouch announces 2018 Stellar Communities Program finalists

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:37:12 GMT

STATEHOUSE (April 19, 2018) – Today, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced six regions as finalists for the 2018 Stellar Communities Program.

Launched in 2011, the Stellar Communities Program is a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment initiative led by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which is overseen by Crouch. The program works with communities to develop their strategic community investment plans, promote local and regional partnerships and implement comprehensive solutions to challenges facing Indiana’s rural communities.

"The Stellar Communities Program has helped so many areas across our state, and I am inspired by the collaborative efforts of these six regions," Crouch said. "Working together, and heading towards a common goal will allow for a better, stronger Indiana."

Representatives from the Stellar partner state agencies began examining the letters of intent following the April 6 deadline.

After a thorough review, the following regions have been chosen as finalists:

A Region Plus — comprised of the cities of Vincennes and Bicknell and Knox County;
Health and Heritage Region —comprised of the city of Greenfield and the town of Fortville;
Eastern Indiana — comprised of the cities of Richmond, Rushville and Union City, and Randolph County;
Marshall County Crossroads – comprised of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Marshall County leaders and leadership from the towns of Argos, Bremen, Bourbon, Culver, LaPaz and Plymouth;
Mt. Comfort Road Corridor – comprised of the towns of Cumberland, McCordsville and New Palestine; and
New Allen Alliance – comprised of Allen County, the town of Grabill, Leo-Cedarville and Monroeville and the cities of New Haven and Woodburn.

“The responses we received demonstrates that our communities understand our vision for the program and the importance of regionalism,” said Jodi Golden, Executive Director of OCRA. “Communities are stronger when they partner with one another in planning for the future, determining economic development investments and improving the quality of life for residents.”

As finalists, regions will receive a planning grant to build upon their regional plans. Each region will begin working with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute to discuss project alignment and continued planning efforts. Final designees are selected at the end of the year.

Through the annual designation, the Stellar Communities program provides resources for transformative quality of place community improvements by utilizing previous planning efforts, leveraging existing assets, fostering regional investments and stimulating continued growth. Visit in.gov/ocra/stellar for more information.

Three Indiana Cities within Top 20 Nationwide for Eviction Rankings According to New Database

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 20:10:08 GMT

Princeton University launched a new database, Eviction Lab (evictionlab.org), which highlights alarming rates of individuals and families that are housing unstable due to evictions across the country. From the collection of 83 million records, the Lab has found that 2.3 million evictions were filed in 2016.

The Lab results show that three Indiana cities rank in the top 20 large city of eviction filings in the United States for 2016, the latest data available. According to the data, Indianapolis had 11,570 evictions in 2016, which amounts to 31.7 households evicted every day and 7.27 in 100 renter homes evicted over the year. Further, data shows Indiana's eviction rate of 4.07% in 2016 is 1.73% higher than the national average. (See end of post for Indiana eviction ratings by city size).

The Lab is led by Sociologist Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, who cites roughly 20 years of flat income levels while housing costs have increased as a primary source of these issues. Desmond, speaking to Terry Gross, discussed the effects eviction has on individuals, “Eviction comes with a mark that goes on your record, and that can bar you from moving into a good house in a safe neighborhood, but could also prevent you from moving into public housing, because we often count that as a mark against your application. So we push families who get evicted into slum housing and dangerous neighborhoods.” He goes on to say that they have studies linking eviction to job loss due to stress and the mental and physical health impacts related to the event.

"Eviction isn't just a condition of poverty; it's

a cause of poverty," Desmond says in the interview. "Eviction is a direct cause of homelessness, but it also is a cause of residential instability, school instability [and] community instability."

For more: see this New York Times piece on the release of the database (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/04/07/upshot/millions-of-eviction-records-a-sweeping-new-look-at-housing-in-america.html) and this NPR Fresh Air interview with Desmond (https://www.npr.org/2018/04/12/601783346/first-ever-evictions-database-shows-were-in-the-middle-of-a-housing-crisis)

Large Cities in Indiana:

1. Fort Wayne 7.39%
2. Indianapolis 7.27%
3. South Bend 6.71%
4. Evansville 0.5%

Mid-Size Cities in Indiana:

1. Marion 8.52%
2. Elkhart 8.5%
3. Kokomo 7.95%
4. Lawrence 7.81%
5. Lafayette 6.86%
6. Gary 6.3%
7. Goshen 5.38%
8. Merrillville 4.7%
9. Hammond 3.8%
10. Michigan City 3.62%

Small Cities and Rural Areas in Indiana:

1. Waterloo 24.4%
2. Cromwell 13.79%
3. Grabill 13.73%
4. New Chicago 13.69%
5. Bryant 12.5%
6. Griffith 11.27%
7. Howe 10.76%
8. Cumberland 10.49%
9. Speedway 9.79%
10. Garrett 9.01%

Grant Opportunities from AARP and OCRA

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:15:18 GMT

Apply for the AARP Community Challenge Grant

The AARP Community Challenge funds projects that build momentum for local change to improve livability for all residents. In 2017, the AARP Community Challenge awarded 88 grants. These grants support actions that can spark longer-term progress. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand for larger projects.

Community Challenge grants can be used to create vibrant public places, physical improvement in the community or innovative programming or services. View last year's winning examples here.

The program is open to nonprofits, government entities, and other types of organizations, considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications must be submitted online by May 16 at 5 p.m. (ET).

The timeline is as follows:

March 21: Launch of the 2018 AARP Community Challenge
May 16: Applications are due by 5 p.m. (ET)
June 25: Winning applicants will be notified
November 5: All projects must be completed
December 3: After Action Reports due

Lots of resources and guides are available to walk you through the application process. Visit this website to learn more.

OCRA accepting Quick Impact Placebased Grant Applications

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has announced that the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program (QuIP), a matching grant program designed to fund placemaking and transformational projects that spark community-wide conversations and creativity, is open for applications.

The project funding range is $2,500 to $5,000 and for every dollar in grant funds utilized, 50 cents must be matched, via cash or in-kind, by the applicant. Eligible applicants can include community or civic organizations, local units of government, or schools.

“Expensive, labor-intensive initiatives are not the only way to revitalize our rural cities and towns,” said Executive Director of OCRA, Jodi Golden. “QuIP is an opportunity for communities to be innovative and creative with ideas on how to transform a local gathering place or bring energy back into an underutilized community asset.”

Golden said that eligible projects should be transformational and have a positive impact for the community, and existing and underutilized assets should include a new or additional use. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to:

alley activation;
pocket parks;
creative projects to showcase community identity;
enhancement of existing or underutilized public assets into a new or usable space;
interactive life-size games or public game sheds;
transformation or decoration of vacant store fronts; and
unique signage or identifiers, excluding standard electric signage or non-unique gateway signage.

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs encourages these projects to be unique to each community and locally inspired. Successful applications will demonstrate community collaboration, partnership capacity and meaningful community benefits.

An informational video will be released on Wednesday, April 25 that further explains the program and application process. Digital applications must be received by 4 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2018 to info@ocra.in.gov. Applications received after 4 p.m., or paper copies will not be accepted. For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/quipgrant.htm.

Join us Thursday, April 19, for Payday Documentary Screening/Panel Discussion in Indianapolis

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:09:22 GMT

Please click here to join us this Thursday, April 19, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. EST at the Indiana Community Action Association for a screening of The Ordinance, a documentary that examines the payday and auto title industry while following a small Texas town fighting for change. After the screening, members of a coalition of consumer advocates will lead a discussion about the film and answer attendees' questions about the payday industry in Indiana.

This event is being hosted by the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network, which creates learning opportunities for community leaders, advocates on policies that affect low-to-moderate income families, and builds capacity for organizations aimed to increase financial stability. It is co-led by Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Institute for Working Families.

Register here in order to receive email updates about the event. Please download and share this flyer with colleagues who might be interested in joining!

Anderson event showcases plans for west side improvements

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 12:55:14 GMT

Anderson’s Sweet 16 group, comprised of 17 community leaders in five groups, has spent the last 18 months working on a plan to revitalize the 46016 ZIP code. The group presented their plan at the “For the Love of Neighborhoods” event on Saturday, April 7. They introduced their goals for transportation and infrastructure, housing, health and safety, business development, and education and job training.

Prosperity Indiana’s own Rose Scovel coordinated the effort. She told The Herald Bulletin, “Residents know what is best for their community, but they may not have access or be aware of the programs and things that are available to them.”

Click here to read the full article and learn about the plan’s goals.

Regional Member Meetings are Underway!

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:15:16 GMT

Prosperity Indiana works to connect its members – to resources and to one another. One of the best ways to connect with Prosperity Indiana and other members in the network is to attend a Regional Member Meeting.

Regional Member Meetings will be held at multiple locations across the state. Join us at a meeting near you to network with community development peers, share ideas, get the latest updates on what Prosperity Indiana is doing for you, and let us know how we can do better!

The first regional member meeting is coming up on April 17, 2018 in Evansville. Meetings in the Northeast, Southeast, South Central, and Northwest regions will follow in the coming months. We encourage you to attend and engage to ensure you are getting the most out of your Prosperity Indiana membership!

2017 Northeast and South Central Regional Member Meetings

Bill Taft Named Senior Vice-President for Economic Development for National LISC - Indianapolis office seeking candidates for Executive Director role

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:30:55 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, March 29, 2018 – Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis Executive Director William (Bill) Taft was recently promoted to Senior Vice-President for Economic Development for LISC National. His role will include leading the expansion of LISC’s economic and workforce development efforts nationally.

A search committee has been formed led by members of the LISC Indianapolis Local Advisory Board to conduct an internal and external search to fill this role. Taft will remain Executive Director of the Indianapolis office until a new director is named.

“I look forward to continuing this important work in this new role,” said Taft. “Indianapolis has been a leader in economic and workforce development and I am excited and committed to expanding these efforts into neighborhoods nationwide.”

Since becoming a national LISC Program Vice-President in 2014, Taft had also overseen programs in Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Duluth Minnesota, and has led efforts to expand LISC’s economic development efforts nationally. In this new role, he will continue to work from the Indianapolis office and be engaged in expanding economic development work locally, as well as across the country.

Taft was hired as the Indianapolis Executive Director for LISC in 2005. Since its inception in 1992, LISC Indianapolis has invested more than $260 Million to leverage almost $958 Million dollars of investment in the core urban neighborhoods of Indianapolis. These investments in comprehensive community development include affordable housing, small businesses, community facilities, charter schools, commercial corridor revitalization, and green spaces. These occurred through LISC leadership in the Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiative, Fostering Commercial Urban Strategies, Centers for Working Families, and Great Places 2020.

He served as the president of Southeast Neighborhood Development, Inc. (SEND) from 1991-2005. Under his leadership SEND invested more than $35 Million into the early phases of revitalizing the Fountain Square Area of Indianapolis, created its cultural district, founded the SENSE Charter School, and formed partnerships with the University of Indianapolis. Before SEND, Bill was the Executive Director of Main Street Richmond, and he also served with the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, Senator Richard Lugar, and the National Park Service.

For those interested in applying for the open position of Executive Director of LISC Indianapolis, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/603502640/. The role provides the strategic direction and guidance for all aspects of LISC’s program in Indianapolis. The Executive Director is responsible for raising capital and resources locally that are leveraged by National LISC’s support. The position requires a strong commitment to the role of community-based non-profit organizations as agents of positive community change as well as an understanding of and appreciation for other key public and private partners who can offer additional resources to the work of community development in Indianapolis.

Ready to Get Things Done this Summer? Let AmeriCorps Help

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:22:10 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is pleased to release the following service site application to place eight (8) quarter-time Members in nonprofit organizations or local governments this summer.

Members will serve 450 hours (approximately 40 hours per week) beginning May 21st through August 10th. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) pays almost two-thirds of the costs associated with hosting a Member.

For more information, please contact: Carey W Craig at (317) 454.8538, or at ccraig@prosperityindiana.org.

Service Site Application QT 2017-2018.docx

Omnibus Bill: Substantial Wins for Community Development Programs

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 21:51:02 GMT

Last night, Congressional leaders released the draft of their $1.3 trillion omnibus spending package for FY18. Prosperity Indiana engaged Congressional offices in our delegation to advocate for robust community development program appropriations and program updates and we are pleased to share the following summary of the progress made towards those goals in this bill:

What is an omnibus bill?

Previous to this deal, the government has been funded under a series of continuing resolutions, or CR’s. The difference between a CR and an omnibus agreement is that under a CR, existing programs receive static funding and it is intended to fund programs for a short period of time. With an omnibus bill, the budget bills from each of the Appropriations Committees are combined into one bill and legislators may adjust programs and funding levels as they see fit. Upon passage, this bill will fund programs through the end of FY18 (Sept. 30).

Key Prosperity Indiana Member wins:

Overall, the bill contains nearly $700 billion defense spending and $591 billion for nondefense budgets. The legislation provides a 10% increase for HUD funding overall for this year- $4.6 billion above FY17 levels and significantly higher than any of the budget proposals from Congress or the Administration. The bill also includes key program improvements for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Rental Assistance Demonstration program.

The bill contains funding to renew all Housing Choice Vouchers and provides new vouchers to veterans and people with disabilities. It provides nearly $1 billion in additional funding to repair and operate public housing, and significantly increases funding for Homeless Assistance Grants, Community Development Block Grants and the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME). Additionally, the bill does not the HUD tenant rental increases proposed in the Administration’s budget request. Within Treasury, the bill rejected the Administration’s proposal to eliminate Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund grant funds, another critical win for Prosperity Indiana Members.

There were some setbacks, such as language pertaining to fair housing rules and a decrease in USDA rental assistance (described below), but overall, this is a package with great wins for our advocacy goals. Please contact Kathleen Lara at klara@prosperityindiana.org with any questions.

Program	Funding Level/Key Changes
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program	Prosperity Indiana advocated for the inclusion of reforms to strengthen the LIHTC program contained within H.R. 1661/S. 548 (Click here for bill summaries) in the omnibus What was included in this bill: · a 12.5% increase in the Credit allocation for four years (2018-2021) · Income averaging, on a permanent basis after enactment of this bill, which would allow the 60 percent AMI ceiling to apply to the average of all apartments in a project rather than each individual apartment. That increases the ability of the tax credit to reach the lowest income households. The bill, unfortunately, does not include a fixed 4% rate or some of the other improvements we sought to include, but getting the improvements we did is significant progress. As it stands, the revisions included should help offset the impact of the lowered corporate tax rate which reduces the value of Housing Credits to corporate investors.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)	$3.24 billion (7.8% increase)
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)	1.36 billion (43.4% increase) The highest funding level in seven years!
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants	$2.51 billion (5.5% increase) This includes a $2.11 billion set-aside for the CoC and rural housing stability assistance programs, and $270 million for ESG.
Public Housing Operating Fund	$4.55 billion (3% increase)
Public Housing Capital Fund	$2.75 billion (41.6% increase)
Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)	Under RAD, public housing agencies are able to leverage public and private debt and equity to fix public housing stock. The bill increases the unit authorization cap to 455,000, extends program authorization to 2024, and authorizes RAD conversions of the approximately 120,000 units in Section 202 properties (low-income senior housing) with Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRAC). Unfortunately, it does not provide any incremental funding to facilitate such conversions.
Tenant Based Rental Assistance	$22.015 billion for tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) (5.3% increase), $19.6 billion of which is to renew previous contracts.
Project-Based Rental Housing	$11.515 billion to renew project-based rental assistance contracts for calendar year 2018
Fair Housing	While the bill does not change the budget for HUD’s office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, it does include unhelpful rider language prohibiting HUD from directing local governments to change their zoning laws under the agency’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule or with the AFFH assessment tool.
USDA 521 Rental Assistance	$1.345 billion (4.3% DECREASE) Unfortunately, this program dropped in funding from FY17 level of 1.405 billion
USDA Multifamily Preservation & Revitalization	47 million (14.63% increase)
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative	$150 million (9.1% increase)
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund	Within Treasury, $250 million (.08% increase). This includes $160 million for financial awards and technical assistance as well as $500 million in guarantee authorization level for the CDFI Bond Guarantee program level with FY 2017.
More housing program funding details:	See the “FY 2018 Final” column of this chart for the National Low Income Housing Coalition for a longer list of key housing program funding levels within HUD and USDA, such as 202, 811, HOPWA, etc.:

INDIANA FINANCIAL CAPABILITY CORPS

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:15:33 GMT

The Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC) is a statewide partnership joining Prosperity Indiana and local nonprofit agencies like Community Action, United Way, development corporations, and others, including local governments. The IFCC utilizes AmeriCorps, a national service program, to bridge the gap between low-wealth residents and available financial capability resources through education and empowerment.

IFCC AmeriCorps Members help create economic opportunity focused on the financial well-being for disadvantaged individuals and families. Not only do AmeriCorps Members give back through direct service, they are leading change in the communities and organizations they serve. Members add value to collaborating host sites by bringing their diverse backgrounds to bear in their assignments, leaving an indelible mark on beneficiaries and groups with whom they interact. Host site organizations gain AmeriCorps places the needs of local communities first, strengthens public-private partnerships, build sustainable alliances Use our programs to build stronger, more efficient, and more sustainable community alliances and networks capable of mobilizing resources.

Members serve from three months to one year in part- or full-time positions while earning a living allowance and an end of service education award all while gaining valuable professional development and skills.

Host sites gain a new generation of leaders focused on putting the needs of local communities first, strengthening public-private partnerships, building stronger, more efficient, and more sustainable community alliances and networks capable of mobilizing volunteers, and assisting rural and economically distressed communities obtain access to public and private resources.

The IFCC is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency whose mission is to “improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement”, and Serve Indiana, a state bureau whose aim is to “advance service and volunteerism by informing, connecting, and promoting opportunities and resources that enrich the lives of Hoosiers,”

AmeriCorps VISTAs: Working to Build Prosperity Indiana’s Capacity to Serve Our Members

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:09:46 GMT

The AmeriCorps VISTA mission is to build the capacity of organizations that work to alleviate poverty. For Prosperity Indiana VISTA members, this takes the form of helping the organization better serve its members through managing networks, providing technical assistance, and supporting member communications. Prosperity Indiana is currently recruiting four VISTA positions: two will replace current VISTA members Allegra Maldonado, Assets & Opportunity Network VISTA, and Kaytlin Eastes, Member Capacity Builder VISTA, while two more (Resource Development VISTA and Communications & Events VISTA) will build Prosperity Indiana’s capacity in new ways.

When asked what drew her to AmeriCorps VISTA, Kaytlin said, “After college, I knew I wanted to work in the nonprofit sector, but I wasn’t exactly sure where. This VISTA position with Prosperity Indiana has allowed me to explore many different facets of not only the organization itself, but also of the broader community development field.” Allegra shared a similar motivation, saying, “I was drawn to AmeriCorps VISTA because I wanted to gain experience in a public service career. Specifically, I was drawn to the Assets & Opportunity Network because I was concerned with how the inter-related issues of income and wealth inequality constrain choice and opportunity for low- and moderate-income families.”

Much of Kaytlin’s work has focused on building the capacity of not only Prosperity Indiana, but also of its members. In addition to providing internal communications, member services, and Outcomes Platform support, she provides free, short-term technical assistance to Prosperity Indiana members. “One thing I have loved about this position is the variety in my work,” Kaytlin said. “Not only have I learned about the operations and management of Prosperity Indiana, but I’ve also learned about affordable housing, payday loan alternatives, and measuring organizational impact.”

Allegra’s work centers on the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network. The Network was created to increase asset acquisition for low-wealth Hoosiers and strengthen local economies through policy advocacy and capacity building in partnership with organizations and coalitions. Allegra has spent time raising awareness in communities about the negative financial effects of taking out a payday loan and consumer protections that exist to support consumers as they navigate the marketplace of financial products and services. Additionally, she has explored new initiatives to help Hoosiers build wealth, including programs related to retirement savings, the racial wealth gap, and culturally competent approaches to financial coaching.

Prosperity Indiana’s VISTAs have not only built capacity within the organization over the past months, they’ve also developed their own capacities as professionals. Allegra said, “During my service term, I’ve learned about technical aspects of community development, asset building, and nonprofits, as well as more about the diverse communities living in Indiana. I have had many ‘firsts,’ including writing my first grant, facilitating my first meeting, and attending my first staff/board retreat. These experiences allowed me to develop certain skills universally valued in the workplace, such as concise and polished writing and confidence networking with individuals in diverse sectors. “

If you, or someone you know, would be a good fit for AmeriCorps VISTA, please review Prosperity Indiana’s VISTA positions listed below. Interested applicants can contact Executive Director Jessica Love (jlove@prosperityindiana.org) for more information. If you have questions about VISTA service in general, contact Kaytlin (keastes@prosperityindiana.org) or Allegra (amaldonado@prosperityindiana.org).

Assets & Opportunity Network VISTA – manages the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network.

Capacity Builder & Impact VISTA – provides technical assistance to Prosperity Indiana members on short-term projects.

Communications & Events VISTA – leads Prosperity Indiana’s communications, marketing, and event planning efforts.

Resource Development VISTA – leverages financial and other support for Prosperity Indiana programs.

AMERICORPS...DEVELOPING A GENERATION OF LEADERS

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:20:11 GMT

Since 1994, AmeriCorps Members have served our country and our communities with commitment and spirit.

Not only do AmeriCorps Members give back through direct service, they are leading change in the communities and organizations they serve. Programs like the Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC) give Hoosiers the opportunity to transform lives and improve neighborhoods through education and empowerment – and the chance to grow as leaders. Members add value to host sites by bringing their diverse backgrounds to bear in their assignments, leaving an indelible mark on beneficiaries and groups with whom they interact.

AmeriCorps Members serve from three months to one year in part- or full-time positions while earning a living allowance and an end of service education award all while gaining valuable professional development and skills.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency which funds AmeriCorps, eighty-two percent (82%) of host sites surveyed hired at least one Member since 2012. Forty-two percent (42%) of alumni employed within six months found a job through a connection made during their term of service. Eight out of ten alumni say that AmeriCorps benefited their career path. And, most importantly, Members have higher rates of civic engagement than their contemporaries who chose other non-national service paths.

Want to know more about how your nonprofit organization or government agency can host a next generation leader? Contact Carey W Craig at ccraig@prosperityindiana.org or [317] 454.8538.

AMERICORPS...ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:24:11 GMT

Published annually, the Corporation for Enterprise Development's (CFED) Assets and Opportunity Scorecard offers the most comprehensive look at Americans' ability to save and build wealth, stay out of poverty, and create a more prosperous future. The 2016 Scorecard assessed all fifty states and the District of Columbia on sixty-one outcome measures spanning five issue areas: Financial Assets and Income, Businesses and Jobs, Housing and Homeownership, Health Care, and Education. The research found that state policies are doing little to improve Hoosiers' financial security. Indiana received a "C" in all five outcome categories and ranked 30th overall. Indiana came in at 32nd place in the Financial Assets and Income category. Indeed, forty-three percent of Indiana's households are locked into a "new normal" of perpetual financial insecurity; unable to build the savings needed to last three months in the event of an emergency, and fourteen percent of households' total income is below the poverty threshold.

Statistics like these are just one of the reasons Prosperity Indiana partnered with AmeriCorps, a national service program funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and Serve Indiana.

AmeriCorps is dedicated to creating economic opportunity focused on financial well-being for disadvantaged individuals and families. Community organizations across the country are learning about specific interventions to address the housing, financial literacy, and employment needs of low-income populations.

For more than fifty years, national service has proven to be a catalyst when combined with community-based economic opportunity resources. Our programs boost initiatives that provide financial education, tax preparation services, consumer counseling, connection with community services or benefits, housing construction and repair, and job training and placement programs.

Stay tuned to find out how your organization can utilize AmeriCorps to get things done to build financial security and economic opportunity in your community!

LOOKING TO GET THINGS DONE INSIDE YOUR ORGANIZATION?

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 18:09:45 GMT

Is your organization looking for opportunities to get things done to fulfill its mission and objectives? If so, then the Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC) is the right fit.

The IFCC is one of hundreds of AmeriCorps programs throughout the nation where more than 75,000 individuals serve their country and strengthen their communities in an effort to make Americans safer, stronger, and healthier. For example, AmeriCorps Members help families obtain affordable housing, mentor students toward on-time graduation, and respond to natural disasters.

Check our blog every day this week to see how your organization can benefit from this exciting opportunity!

New AmeriCorps Program Manager Encourages Program Participation

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:21:54 GMT

My name is Carey Craig, and I’m excited to serve as Prosperity Indiana’s AmeriCorps Program Manager.

While Prosperity Indiana isn’t completely new to accommodating AmeriCorps Members, this is the first time our organization has led a statewide program funded by Serve Indiana and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC) partners with Prosperity Indiana member organizations like Community Action Agencies, Community Development Corporations, local governments, and others to serve low-to-moderate income families and individuals, and who are interested in integrating financial capability into their existing programs. IFCC AmeriCorps Members assigned to participating host sites develop a strategic design for successful integration using a variety of resources to assist organizations in deciding on the best approach to maximize their impact while educating their clients. AmeriCorps members will provide a variety of necessary resources to help their service organization create community assessments, work flow charts, logic models, and action plans. Ultimately, the member will lead the organization to decide which approach to integration is best for their clients. Prosperity Indiana is still looking for host sites. If your organization is interested, please contact me at ccraig@prosperityindiana.org.

Commonly known as the domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a national service program governed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (a federal agency) and administered by Serve Indiana (a state agency). AmeriCorps strengthens communities by involving people in service to meet local challenges.

Founded in 1993, AmeriCorps functions as a network of local, state, and national service programs that engages Americans in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, the environment, and human needs. AmeriCorps members serve with nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations.

Much of my career has been spent in the public and nonprofit spheres and, in particular, the national and community service movement. After a stint in consulting, I’m pleased to be returning to the nonprofit sector to lead the Indiana Financial Capability Corps.

New Training for Housing Counselors

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:47:05 GMT

Looking for professional development and training opportunities? See below for a number of training opportunities for Housing Counselors on a wide range of topics, including both on site classes and online webinars.

NeighborWorks Training:

NeighborWorks Training Institutes offer a selection of more than 100 courses, a one-day symposium on a pressing topic, free after-course workshops on innovative tools and methods, and abundant peer networking opportunities. Upcoming NTI dates include:

May 7-11, 2018 - Kansas City, MO
August 20-24, 2018 Louisville, KY (save the date)

NeighborWorks also offers Self-guided Courses which allow you to gain new information and skills whenever it fits into your schedule. Click here to view the extensive list of courses and to register. Inquire with NeighborWorks about scholarship opportunities for both in-person and online trainings.

RCAC Training for Housing Counselors:

Rural Community Assistance Corp. (RCAC) offers high quality training for housing counselors nationwide. Trainings are offered both On Site and as Webinars. Courses include Core Competencies for HUD Certification, Developing Effective Program Manager Skills, and Improving Your Counseling Program Through Financial Capability, among many others. View the Training Calendar for the full list of topics and training opportunities.

NCRC Training Academy:

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition Training Academy offers training and technical assistance both online via webinars and on site courses. Their mission is to provide a comprehensive training program that meets the needs of organizations committed to increasing access to credit in communities. Visit NCRC’s website at https://training.ncrc.org to view upcoming opportunities.

The Counselor’s Corner:

The Counselor’s Corner trainings, membership and all webinars are free. Webinar topics include Alternatives to Foreclosure: The Decision Tree, Sustainability for Nonprofits, Demystifying Student Loan Counseling, and Scam Prevention & Reporting. To see all webinars, go to the TCC master webinar calendar.

TCC also offers a webinar series on Housing Counselor Certification to prepare for the HUD certification exam, and hosts the Impacts & Innovations Housing Professionals Training and Recognition Conference.

Other Training and Events of Interest to Housing Counselors:
March 28, 2018 - Webinar: Training for HECM Counselors - This webinar has been designed to cover fair housing topics such as: History of Housing Discrimination, Protected Classes, Prohibited Practices, Exemptions, and Filing a Fair Housing Discrimination Complaint. We will also consider how Fair Housing intersects with HECM counseling. This information will help counselors pass the HUD Housing Counselor Certification exam, as well as provide required Continuing Education for the HECM Roster.

FHA Servicing & Loss Mitigation Training: Webinar series. For additional information, please e-mail:Stacey.a.brown@hud.gov.

USDA Training: For questions regarding the regulation, training, or UL please contact Tammy Repine of the USDA RD Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division at: (360) 753-7677 or at:tammy.repine@wdc.usda.gov

Housing Action Illinois: Training for Housing counselors. For more information please contact HAI via email or visit their training calendar.

Hope Now Events: Military Housing Podcast: This Podcast is an entertaining and educational series of conversations focused on military off-base housing.

Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) YouTube Training for Housing Counselors: VHDA has posted training videos for non-profit agencies and consumers. Visit their YouTube channel to view all their current training offerings.

OCC Financial Literacy Update: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)'s Financial Literacy Update is a bimonthly e-newsletter that reports financial literacy events, initiatives, resources and events and training.

IRS Training: Virtual Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Workshops Available for Educational Institutions. This training will help non-profit apply for and maintain their 501(c)(3) status.

National Endowment for Financial Education: Free self-paced online housing course. Learn about calculating housing costs, credit scores, mortgages, shopping for a lender, homeowner’s insurance, researching neighborhoods, foreclosure, housing costs and developing a housing plan.

Duty to Serve Program Information: Recently, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) presented a Duty to Serve Overview Video. Watch an archival version of the video.

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI): FEMA offers self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. All are offered free-of-charge to those who qualify for enrollment.

Fair Housing Center of Northern Alabama: Visit FHCNA for registration and more information on these upcoming events:

April 05, 2018 - Birmingham, AL: Fair Housing Annual Seminar.
June 14, 2018 - Birmingham, AL: The 25TH Anniversary of the FHCNA.

Prosperity Indiana Names Love New Executive Director

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:00:00 GMT

NDIANAPOLIS – The Prosperity Indiana Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Jessica Love will be the organization’s next Executive Director. She will fill the position currently held by Andy Fraizer, who announced in December he would be leaving to become the Executive Director for the Community Foundation of South Jersey.

“Jessica has demonstrated excellent leadership skills, strong business acumen and strong communication skills during her eight years with Prosperity Indiana,” said Nate Lichti, Board Vice President and Transition Committee Chair. “The Board is very excited about Jessica’s ability to help Prosperity Indiana members impact communities and to carry out strategic initiatives.”

Love, a native of Alabama, has served in the role of Associate Executive Director for Prosperity Indiana since 2013 and was previously the organization’s Senior Program Manager, providing technical assistance primarily around federal grant programs. Immediately prior to joining Prosperity Indiana, Love was the Program Manager for Community & Economic Development with the South Central Alabama Development Commission in Montgomery, Ala.

Love said, “I can look back over my life and see where my future at Prosperity Indiana got its start – volunteering in soup kitchens, rehabbing migrant worker housing, and tutoring at-risk youth while still in high school. Leading a service organization during that time, I learned who I was as a leader – a servant first, seeking to listen with humility, empower others to create change and recognize achievements along the way.”

Before entering the nonprofit sector, Love was the managing editor for The Selma Times-Journal, a daily newspaper in Selma, Ala. She received her BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from Taylor University in Upland, Ind. Love’s combined background in management, fundraising and communications made her an excellent match for this role.

“Jessica has an aptitude to learn, build consensus and work as a team. The organization is blessed with a staff with tremendous capabilities and a passion for the mission, and we’ll be looking to provide additional support in the near-term. We think she’s the perfect leader to build collaborations, empower members and maintain integrity to have impact in Indiana communities,” Lichti said.

Love said she’s learned a great deal from working with Fraizer throughout her tenure at Prosperity Indiana and hopes to capitalize on the momentum that has been created under his direction. Lichti added that Prosperity Indiana is grateful for Fraizer’s 10 years of service and appreciates his thoughtful leadership.

He said, “Andy’s successful tenure led to a huge expansion of services and the implementation of comprehensive community development initiatives across the state. His leadership in Indiana will be missed.”

Board President Steve Hoffman likewise recognizes what Fraizer has meant to the field over the past decade.

“Andy has meant a lot to this organization over his time here. He has meant a lot to other organizations and individuals as well. We will miss him and wish him the best,” Hoffman said. “We are likewise excited to welcome Jessica into the leadership role. We are extremely fortunate to have someone of her knowledge, skills and abilities ready to take on the Executive Director role. Jessica has been an integral part of our success in recent years, and our future success is secure under her leadership as well.”

Leveraging a succession plan that has been in place since 2015, the board and its Search and Transition Committee vetted Love through a rigorous process that included four rounds of interviews and a presentation of her 100-day plan.

Of the board’s selection and process, Fraizer said, “Jessica is the right choice to lead Prosperity Indiana into the future. Her passion for service, management experience and openness to ideas provide a critical skill set for exercising leadership. During her tenure as the Associate Executive Director, she has brought crucial operational grounding to meet the mission and deliver high quality service to members. I am elated with the Board's decision and appreciative of the thorough process they undertook to understand Jessica's capabilities."

Love is working with Fraizer to ensure the transition is as effective and seamless as possible. She assumes her new role on March 2.

Love said, “I’m thrilled by this opportunity to serve Prosperity Indiana’s members and Hoosier communities in a new way. We have a great team and a strong board that are committed to delivering on our mission. With their help, I plan to give everything I’ve got – building on a legacy of great leadership – to improve lives across the state.”

LARA: Payday loan bill would drown Hoosiers in debt

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 21:30:00 GMT

Policy Director Kathleen Lara was asked by the Indianapolis Business Journal, regarding House Bill 1319: Should lawmakers allow payday lenders to expand their offerings?

Her response in the February 23, 2018 edition of the IBJ:

Indiana is ground zero in a push by payday lenders, testing whether states will allow predatory-lending expansion. But a large coalition of faith leaders, veterans and community-development advocates are standing with Hoosier consumers to push back against this effort to offer new loans that will further destabilize divested neighborhoods and devastate low-income borrowers.

House Bill 1319 would allow payday lenders to continue offering small, two-week payday loans of up to $605, carrying annual interest rates of up to 391 percent. It also expands the payday lenders’ exemption from Indiana’s 72 percent loan-sharking cap, allowing for larger, longer-term loans at rates up to 222 percent. This is the third session that payday lenders have sought a new exemption, claiming it will help credit-impaired borrowers weather financial emergencies.

Payday lenders assert that the volume of loans speaks to the need. But their model relies on a cycle of debt—on average, eight to 10 payday loans long, speaking to the predatory nature of the model versus the need. They also argue that failure to pass this bill forces consumers into unregulated online loans. To the contrary, Pew Charitable Trusts found that borrowers in states with strong regulations, like a rate cap, do not head online. Instead, they dramatically reduce their usage of online and storefront payday lenders.

Lenders want to distract legislators from the reality on the ground. Organizations around the state provide food and utility assistance, affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities, home repair loans, financial counseling, and innovative payday loan alternatives, such as the Community Loan Center program—all to address the root causes of financial instability. But too frequently, consumers seek their assistance only after payday loan debt has exacerbated their financial crises.

The Center for Responsible Lending finds that payday borrowers are more likely to default on credit cards, lose their bank accounts, delay medical care, rely on food-assistance programs and fall behind on housing payments. We have seen payday loans contribute to more bankruptcies and foreclosures in our state. Currently, Indiana has the seventh-highest bankruptcy rate nationwide.

Is it any surprise that 15 states now cap all loans at 36 percent? Bellwether Research polled Hoosier voters on this approach: 88 percent said they support a 36 percent cap. Unfortunately, a bill by Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, to cap rates never got a hearing. Instead, HB 1319 is moving Indiana in the opposite direction.

HB 1319 would allow a minimum-wage worker earning $15,000 a year to qualify for a $1,500, 12-month loan. That borrower would pay $1,598 in fees alone—more than the original loan total. Twenty percent of the borrower’s already-meager income would be diverted from buying essentials to paying exorbitant fees. That is not a lifeline. It is an anchor further drowning Hoosiers in debt.

Simply put, when it comes down to dollars and cents, these payday dollars make absolutely no sense for struggling consumers. We strongly encourage discussion on ways to meet the needs of underserved consumers. HB 1319 is not the answer.

General Assembly Mid-Session Update

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 22:37:17 GMT

It has been a whirlwind first half of 2018 session of the General Assembly. We have made strong progress on key priorities, but have also critical alerts to share with our members as well that warrant immediate action.

As we laid out at the start of session, Prosperity Indiana pursued an ambitious state policy agenda to advance key priorities to empower our member network.

Property Tax Exemption for Non-profits

1) One such goal was to introduce and advance legislation on a topic we have worked hard to address for numerous years- ensuring fair tax treatment for non-profit owned affordable rental housing for low-income families. Senator Eckerty again took the lead in sponsoring legislation, SB 213, that would do just that. Currently, non-profits statewide wholly own properties and use them to provide safe, affordable housing options for low-income renters help meet this critical need and reduce reliance on emergency shelters. Unfortunately, they have no way of knowing from county to county whether or not their clearly charitable purpose will be recognized for property tax exemption due to vague language in state code. SB 213 establishes a narrow, clear definition, preserving these critical housing options for vulnerable Hoosiers.

Update (2/27): We unfortunately have to share that the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee did not give this legislation a vote.

Update (2/22): We are pleased that the Senate Tax and Fiscal Committee held a hearing on this bill and Prosperity Indiana members Mark Lindenlaub with Thrive Alliance and Steven Meyer with King Park Community Development Corporation testified in support of the measure on January 30. The Committee voted to approve the measure 11-1. The bill then was approved by the full Senate on February 6 with a vote of 45-3. Just this week, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the measure as Mark Lindenlaub and Nate Lichti, a Prosperity Indiana Board Member, joined representatives from the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Leading Age, and the Indiana Community Action Association in support of the measure. We are presently working to get the Committee to hold a vote on the measure.

Stopping the Expansion of Predatory Lending

2) Another key issue for 2018 network priorities is cutting down on predatory lending in the state. In that interest, we supported SB 325, a bill to cap payday loans at 36% and cut down on debt traps for low-income consumers. These predatory loans, offered at triple digit interest rates, destabilize Hoosier families and communities because this debt trap can lead to bankruptcy and housing instability.

Update (2/22): Unfortunately, this bill did not receive a hearing, despite 8 Senate co-sponsors of the measure.

Worse still, a bill Prosperity Indiana has worked hard to oppose is still moving forward. HB 1319 would authorize a new, longer-term installment loan product from payday lenders that would carry interest rates rate exceeding 200% APR. These rates are significantly higher than other installment loans already offered in Indiana and would hurt vulnerable consumers, trapping them in a cycle of debt and increasing their dependency on food stamps and delaying on medical care and rent, and increasing their likelihood of bankruptcy.

Specifically, the bill:

• Adds a new three-18 month installment loan product, called an “unsecured consumer loan,” to be offered by payday lenders that conservatively would produce loans at around 200 percent APR, but could reach higher depending on how fees and interest are applied;

• Allows all consumer loans up to $54,600 charge up to a 36 percent interest rate. Currently only loans of $2000 or less can charge 36 percent;

• Exempts the finance charge on installment loans from the current felony criminal loan sharking standard of 72 percent APR to allow these loans to reach triple-digit APRs.

Update (2/27): We are thrilled to share that this payday expansion bill has died as Senator Mark Messmer, Chair of Commerce and Technology, where the bill was assigned, decided not to take up consideration of the measure, citing a lack of support in his caucus. Thank you for your advocacy!

Update (2/22): Despite testimony from coalition of faith leaders, Prosperity Indiana members, and other consumer advocates, the bill passed out the House Financial Institutions Committee on January 24 and passed by a thin margin of 53-41 on January 31. Prosperity Indiana member response to our calls to action along with those of other coalition partners have been VERY effective and Senators are expressing to us that they are very hesitant to support the measure because of constituent feedback, so please keep calling your Senators! The Senate Commerce and Technology is set to hear the bill on Thursday at 9 a.m.

Resources for Combating Blight and Abandonment

3) In order to combat the scourge of abandoned properties that threaten the safety and stability of Hoosier communities, Prosperity Indiana worked with members and Senator Becker to introduce SB 422, a bill that would empower community redevelopment through acquisition, disposition, and adequate funding for neighborhood revitalization strategies. This legislation is based on national best practices and would help improve processes for land banks and/or redevelopment commissions to help them more effectively acquire properties and fund efforts to combat blight.

Update (2/22): The bill received a hearing in the Senate Local Government Committee on January 17, but was not voted on. Conversations will continue over the summer to try and address fiscal impact concerns in preparation re-introduction for the next session.

More Updates:

Check back here on Friday, March 2 for key updates on other critical bills we are engaged on, such as SB 11, addressing SNAP benefits and HB 1314, addressing educational outcomes for foster and homeless youth, and HB 1278, bill that would make it harder to establish Economic Improvement Districts.

Statehouse Day:

Thank you to the more than 50 members and partners who participated in our Statehouse Day, Prosperity IN Action, on January 23. Participants representing a spectrum of services, interests and communities across the state, spoke to legislators about their individual concerns as well as the network’s 2018 priorities. We were grateful for all the members who joined as they were exceptionally effective in sharing examples of impact each of these priorities has on Hoosier communities and the clients our members serve.

Providing Technical Assistance in Rural Indiana

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana has recently begun working with the City of Rushville and Ginn Farms on two different, and exciting, technical assistance projects. The work on both projects is financially supported by the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) using US Department of Housing and Urban Development Rural Technical Assistance grants.

The City of Rushville participated in a creative placemaking workshop in June 2017 hosted by the Indiana Arts Commission and other partners including Prosperity Indiana and member Harrison Center for the Arts. Municipalities that participated in the workshop were eligible to apply for an arts consultancy through the Indiana Arts Commission, and Rushville applied for assistance in developing an Arts Council and an Arts Master Plan to facilitate arts as a community economic development strategy. The community, already a Stellar Community, is ready for such a project and would benefit from technical assistance, but it was a more intense project than the arts consultancy was intended to address. That's where the NALCAB HUD Rural TA program stepped in, funding Prosperity Indiana to work with the city on development of the Arts Council and the Arts Master Plan. The work includes key stakeholder interviews, focus groups, leadership development workshops, a community visioning session, and supporting working groups as they develop SMAART goals and action plans for achieving the vision. It also includes development of resource guides for the Arts Council as it begins work in the community. The project began in January and will continue through August.

Founded in 2015, GinnFarms is a small Agricultural Education Nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation seeking to expand its programs into other rural Indiana counties. The organization’s missions is to protect the honey bee by encouraging new farmers to engage in self-reliant and natural farming practices. With one staff person, 3 board members, 12 volunteers, a variety of supporting partnerships, and recent grant awards from the US Department of Agriculture and the United Way, GinnFarms is in a prime position to receive capacity building services for sustainable growth and effective program impact.

Prosperity Indiana will work with GinnFarms to assess their organizational capacity through the CapMap tool during the first quarter of 2018. The tool will provide GinnFarms with an organizational baseline, identify areas of improvements, and provide strategies for the organization to build its capacity.

Prosperity Indiana will also assist GinnFarms in a strategic planning process that incorporating feedback from interviews with staff board members, and other potential community stakeholders and results in follow-up guidance and support.

After the assessment and strategic planning work, Prosperity Indiana will support Ginn Farms with needed capacity building in the areas of resource development, program development, leadership development, partnership and coalition building, community and stakeholder development, grant management, outcome measurement, and real estate acquisition.

Are you serving a rural area in Indiana? Are there projects where you could use technical assistance to advance your work? You could be eligible for participation in the HUD Rural TA program through NALCAB and Prosperity Indiana. Contact Director of Planning Services Rose Scovel (rscovel@prosperityindiana.org) or Director of Sustainability Allyson Mitchell (amitchell@prosperityindiana.org) for more information.

Member Service Highlight - Advocacy

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:07:43 GMT

At Prosperity Indiana, we recognize that the success of our members’ work requires the vision and leadership of policymakers and administrators who understand housing, education, human services, workforce and business development, transportation, and health to advance strategies that address community needs.

Prosperity Indiana has more than 30 years of experience successfully working with policymakers and advocating for strong, innovative policies that support the work of our members. Prosperity Indiana members influence our policy priorities and play an important role in our advocacy work. Prosperity Indiana's advocacy priorities are outlined in our State, Federal, and Administrative Policy Agendas.

Here are some more ways Prosperity Indiana makes it easy for members to engage:

Get access to the online advocacy resources and Action Center to learn how you and your organization can get involved.
Receive regular policy updates and Action Alerts to stay informed and engaged.
Prosperity Indiana members get exclusive access to our Legislation Tracker, an exhaustive list of all introduced legislation that pertains to member issue areas.
Prosperity Indiana’s Priority Bill Tracker is a member-exclusive resource which lists bills likely to proceed at the State House or are of greatest concern to Prosperity Indiana’s policy team.
Not sure who your representatives are? Use our online tool to find your government officials.

If you have questions or would like to know more about how Prosperity Indiana’s advocacy supports your work, contact Kathleen Lara, Policy Director, at klara@prosperityindiana.org.

IFCC AmeriCorps Service Opportunity

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 21:04:36 GMT

Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) is seeking an AmeriCorps Financial Empowerment member to perform activities that will stabilize and enhance MFCDC’s capacity to deliver financial education services for individuals seeking resident development services including MFCDC and Mapleton Properties rental residents, MFCDC Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) participants and other interested residents living in the Mid-North community.

Qualified applicants will have a high school diploma, have strong communication skills, be dedicated to completing the full six (6) months of service, and have experience interacting with diverse communities and the ability to integrate into an existing community. View the full position description here.

Interested applicants can contact MFCDC's Housing Director Courtney Goodwyn at courtney@mfcdc.org or (317) 800-6609.

Prosperity Indiana Announces Winners of Leadership and Program Awards

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:00:00 GMT

On January 24, Prosperity Indiana announced the winners of its annual leadership and program awards. The Prosperity Indiana Summit, held on January 24, 2018, was an occasion to celebrate the leaders and innovators in the community economic development field. The 2018 award winners come from a pool of committed community leaders and innovative programs across Indiana.

Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Andy Fraizer said, “It is my honor to congratulate the 2018 award winners and thank them for their work to strengthen Indiana’s communities.”

“Community economic development is executed and supported by nonprofit, private and public organizations. Impactful work is only possible because of the energy, passion and leadership of practitioners and local neighbors. It is their civic service that makes Indiana prosper.”

Award winners include: Building Better Neighborhoods, Muncie; Mark Gould, 1^st Source Bank, South Bend; Larry Gautsche, LaCasa, Goshen; Pat Gamble-Moore, PNC Bank, Indianapolis.

Key Award for Program of the Year
Sponsored by Ice Miller, LLP
Presented to Building Better Neighborhoods, Muncie

Building Better Neighborhoods, a program of Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement, works to empower Muncie residents to identify and solve community challenges. The program acts as a bridge between the resources of Ball State University and the needs of Muncie neighborhood associations.

Over the past four years, the program has resulted in multiple immersive learning partnerships, customized training programs for neighborhood leaders, an online resource guide and an annual conference tailored to neighborhood associations. In the last academic year, Building Better Neighborhoods supported nine projects in seven neighborhoods, impacting over 12,000 residents and engaging 99 university students.

Other Key Award Nominees:

12 Steps to Financial Success, Old National Bank, Evansville
Bankable, Anderson
CreatINg Places, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
Felege Hiywot Center, Indianapolis
Indy Reads Community Classrooms
Kids Matter Camp, Norwood Neighborhood Association, Indianapolis
Miller Spotlight, Gary
Vincent Village, Fort Wayne

Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award
Sponsored by Brightpoint
Presented to Mark Gould, 1st Source Bank, South Bend

Mark Gould has spent more than 20 years supporting community organizations and initiatives. He has been active and committed to numerous civic and professional organizations in Indiana where his experience and leadership have earned him the respect of many across the state. His extensive relationships with community economic development and nonprofit organizations throughout Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, along with his passion and deep knowledge of the area, have raised the bar and set an example for his colleagues. Gould’s passion and tenacity for the field of economic development are apparent in his leadership of community development efforts.

Other Staff Member of the Year Award Nominees:

Jacquelyn Dodyk, Affordable Housing Corporation of Marion
Craig Graybeal, ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Andrew Hoffman, NeighborLink Fort Wayne
Stephanie Roland, Old National Bank, Evansville
Jennifer Sandlin, Ohio Valley Opportunities, Madison
Stephanie TenBarge, ECHO Housing Corporation, Evansville

John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award
Sponsored by Merchants Bank of Indiana
Presented to Larry Gautsche, LaCasa, Inc., Goshen

The Rural Development Leadership Award honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in improving the quality of life, influencing the policies, and fostering opportunities for growth and development for the betterment of rural Indiana.

Larry Gautsche has spent his career serving the needs of disadvantaged and disabled individuals and families. During his tenure at LaCasa, the agency has grown exponentially from a small, local agency that primarily focused on improving one property at a time to a highly respected, financially resilient community development corporation that operates 324 units of affordable housing. Gautsche will retire in August, leaving behind a lasting legacy of economic vitality and hope in the communities where he has provided dedicated service.

Other Rural Development Leadership Award Nominees:

Dale Bliss, Advantage Housing, Inc.
Sharon Reed Colbert, Esther’s Boutique
Natalie Westbrook, God’s Grace Community Church

Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award
Sponsored by PNC Bank
Presented to Pat Gamble-Moore, PNC Bank

Over the course of the last 30 years, Gamble-Moore has become known for her professionalism, wide range of skills, dedication to quality, commitment to excellence, and, above all, commitment to communities and to the people she serves. With her broad experience ranging from corporate to nonprofit sectors, she displays the strengths of dynamic leadership with an exceptional ability to adapt to changing and challenging circumstances. She brings thoughtful and insightful contributions to any endeavor she joins, and her enthusiasm and expertise are highly valued.

Fraizer said, “Pat’s leadership distinguishes a commitment to community-led revitalization efforts across Indiana. Her advocacy for community economic development and understanding of adaptive change and transactional expertise are distinguishing factors for her award.”

Other Leadership Award Nominees:

Ben Joergens, Old National Bank, Evansville
Janet Katz, Northeast Indiana Local Food Network
Nathan Kring, Tipton Main Street
Mayor Christopher McBarnes, City of Frankfort

FHLBI Announces New Grant Program

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:31:23 GMT

Small businesses are an integral part of a vibrant community. These local shops, restaurants, and service providers contribute to the character of a place, turning it into a community. Recognizing this, FHLBank Indianapolis has announced a new grant program specifically designed to support these small businesses.

This grant will provide FHLBI members' customers with the tools they need to succeed and create economic opportunities that may not have existed before.

To learn more about how this and other FHLBI programs can help your community, plan on attending one of the Affordable Housing and Community Investment Program Workshops this spring.

March 7 – Evansville, IN

March 8 – Indianapolis, IN

March 15 – South Bend, IN

Know an outstanding individual working in affordable housing and community economic development? FHLBank Indianapolis is seeking nominations for the Community Spirit Award! Nominees must be employed by an FHLBI member financial institution and work in a community lending, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), or other housing or economic development capacity within the institution.

Deadline for Indiana nominations is June 1, 2018.

Click here for more information

The Indiana Financial Capability Corps is Recruiting New Service Sites! New Term Lengths Now Available

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 20:18:02 GMT

Do you serve low-income residents? Are you looking for strategies to improve your clients’ financial success? Consider joining the Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC)!

Through the IFCC, Prosperity Indiana will place AmeriCorps members with organizations around the state to strengthen their capacity for improving the financial capability of their clients. Members will assist their sites with assessing clients’ current financial capacity and assessing the capacity of the organization and its partners to meet client needs. These assessments will allow the member and service site staff to identify gaps in programming and opportunities for improving intake, referrals, and other operational practices to connect residents with appropriate services.

Current IFCC members are assisting their organizations with a wide range of activities, including

Organizing classes for affordable housing residents to learn financial literacy skills
Developing referrals and resources for VITA site participants
Surveying housing authority residents to identify their financial capacity needs and priorities
Coordinating partners in a new collective impact initiative to align resources for clients and collectively track outcomes

Your organization does not have to offer financial services to participate in the IFCC. If you serve low-income clients and are interested in connecting them with resources to improve their financial literacy and capacity, you can benefit from this program!

The IFCC is now recruiting service sites interested in hosting AmeriCorps members completing 24 weeks of service before August 10. Looking for a shorter-term member placement? Contact Rachel Mattingly at rmattingly@prosperityindiana.org to discuss your program goals, as shorter terms may be available. Interested organizations should fill our our service site application form.

Key General Assembly Priorities Take Shape, HELP RAISE YOUR VOICE ON URGENT ISSUES

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 23:20:19 GMT

As session filing deadlines passed and bill lists completed, Prosperity Indiana’s Policy Team has been hard at work tracking legislation and pushing forward key bills on behalf of our members and in line with our 2018 State Priorities. Please review the key bills and updates highlighted below and take action where indicated. Also, please visit our member legislation tracker page for full priority bill lists.

Ask your Senator to Co-sponsor/Support SB 213, to protect access to affordable rental housing for low-income individuals and families (Sponsored by Senator Doug Eckerty)

Prosperity Indiana worked again to introduce this measure to provide clarity for non-profit organizations with Senator Eckerty. The bill has been referred to the Senate Tax and Fiscal Committee and we urgently need your help trying to secure a hearing! Please contact Chairman Holdman and share details of why you support the measure and ask him to hear the bill.

Background: Currently in Indiana, we have a significant lack of affordable rental housing options for low-income individuals and families. Non-profits statewide that wholly own properties and use them to provide safe, affordable housing options for low-income renters help meet this critical need and reduce reliance on emergency shelters. Unfortunately, they have no way of knowing from county to county whether or not their clearly charitable purpose will be recognized for property tax exemption due to vague language in state code. SB 213 establishes a narrow, clear definition, preserving these critical housing options for vulnerable Hoosiers.

Ask your SEnator to co-sponsor/support SB 325 TO PUT A 36% CAP ON PAYDAY LOANS AND CUT DOWN ON PREDATORY LENDING THAT TRAPS LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS IN DEBT (Sponsored by Senator Greg walker)

In recent years, Prosperity Indiana and numerous other advocacy organizations have pushed back against legislative efforts to expand payday lending products, but we had not had legislation we could support to cut down on these predatory products that devastate our communities. This year, we worked to find a legislator willing to introduce a bill to empower low-income borrowers by cutting down on the predatory rates lenders can charge on short-term loans and Senator Greg Walker introduced SB 325. So far, we have had difficulties trying to secure a hearing date, so please help us build support and tell Chairman Perfect why you think it is critical to hear the bill and move this legislation forward.

Background: Predatory loans, offered at triple digit interest rates, destabilize Hoosier families and communities because this debt trap can lead to bankruptcy and housing instability. SB 325 would cap these loans at 36 percent interest, which is the most effective way to stop the cycle of high-cost debt intentionally created by payday lenders. This is the rate the U.S. Department of Defense secured to protect active duty military members and 15 other states have implemented caps of 36 percent or less to protect borrowers. It is a rate that allows wide access to credit without creating an incentive for a lender to seek out distressed borrowers who are unable to repay. Additionally, a new poll shows 88 percent of Hoosiers support a 36 percent rate cap on annual interest for payday loans and seventy-five percent indicated they would be more likely to vote for a legislative candidate who favors lowering the rate to 36 percent.

Ask your Representative to oppose HB 1319 A BILL THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE INSTALLMENT LOANS AT EXTREMELY HIGH INTEREST RATES

(Sponsored by representative martin carbaugh)

Please help us oppose the following measure by finding your State Representative and asking him/her to oppose this bill that will likely be heard in Committee on Wendesday, January 24.

This proposal would authorize a new, longer-term installment loan product from payday lenders that would carry interest rates rate exceeding 200% APR. These rates are significantly higher than other installment loans already offered in Indiana and would hurt vulnerable consumers, trapping them in a cycle of debt and increasing their dependency on food stamps and delaying on medical care and rent, and increasing their likelihood of bankruptcy.

Specifically, the bill:

· Adds a new three-18 month installment loan product, called an “unsecured consumer loan,” to be offered by payday lenders that conservatively would produce loans at around 200 percent APR, but could reach higher depending on how fees and interest are applied;

· Allows all consumer loans up to $54,600 charge up to a 36 percent interest rate. Currently only loans of $2000 or less can charge 36 percent;

· Exempts the finance charge on installment loans from the current felony criminal loan sharking standard of 72 percent APR to allow these loans to reach triple-digit APRs.

Ask Your SEnator to co-sponsor/support SB 422 TO EXPAND RESOURCES AND TOOLS FOR COMMUNITIES TO COMBAT BLIGHT (Sponsored by SEnator Vaneta Becker)

Abandoned properties threaten the safety and stability of Hoosier communities. While the Indiana General Assembly has made significant incremental legislative progress to empower local responses over the past few years, existing tools and resources are unfortunately not equal to the challenges that continue to exist. That is why we seek legislative changes to further empower community redevelopment through acquisition, disposition, and adequate funding for neighborhood revitalization strategies. SB 422, authored by Senator Becker, is based on national best practices and would help improve processes for land banks and/or redevelopment commissions to help them more effectively acquire properties and fund efforts to combat blight.

2018 Session of the General Assembly Convenes

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:26:48 GMT

On Wednesday, January 3, the General Assembly convened for the first day of the 2018 session. Prosperity Indiana’s policy team continued working with legislators to introduce measures that support community development efforts in Indiana, as outlined in our 2018 State Policy Priorities below. Additionally, we are tracking and analyzing bill filings to review measures we will advocate for or against on behalf of our members in this legislative session.

While it is a short session, our network is pushing for some ambitious priorities and we hope our members will join our advocacy efforts by attending our Statehouse Day on Tuesday, January 23. For more information and to RSVP, click here. Stay posted to our blog as we will post our bill tracker lists and details next week.

PROSPERITY INDIANA'S 2018 STATE POLICY PRIORITIES

Prosperity Indiana works diligently to collaborate with state legislators in developing policies that respond to urgent human needs, help expand economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in communities of all sizes throughout the state. Further, our network supports inclusive communities that allow all Hoosiers prosper, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin or ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender. In 2018, our state policy advocacy will be focused on four critical areas in support of resilient families and vibrant communities.

1. Clarifying Charitable Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption

Enacting legislation to provide clarity and certainty around tax exemption for 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that own and operate affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families is essential to preserving and expanding quality affordable housing options, which our state currently lacks. Prosperity Indiana will work to establish a uniform, objective standard to ensure that these non-profit organizations receive property tax exemption throughout all of Indiana’s 92 counties.

2. Defending Key Programs that Spur Economic Opportunity

Prosperity Indiana remains committed to ensuring that incentive credit reform proposals do not adversely affect the opportunities for economic success of individuals and families.

3. developing new resources to support community development work

In 2018, Prosperity Indiana will work to build support for sustainable funding sources for community development work. This will include promoting affordable housing production through local affordable housing local housing trust funds, working to establish new partnerships among nonprofit, public and private entities to improve economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income households, such as a community investment tax credit program, as well as identifying resources for communities to effectively combat blight and abandoned property.

4. Protecting consumers, Promoting economic stability

Prosperity Indiana will continue active advocacy to encourage asset building for low-wealth individuals and families, such as working to curtail predatory lending products and practices that disproportionately impact low-income consumers, including payday lending, debt garnishment, and attempts to undermine the judicial foreclosure process in place in Indiana.

Additionally, as we share our key priorities, it is important to highlight for our members key legislative and administrative priorities for the year.

Top General Assembly Priorities from Legislative Leaders

House Agenda:
On Thursday, January 4, Speaker Brian Bosma has outlined the following priorities as the key areas of focus for House leadership:

· supporting a funding boost for K-12 schools

· strengthening Indiana’s workforce

· attacking the opioid epidemic

· increasing government efficiency.

Click here to read more.

Senate Agenda:
On Monday, January 8, members of the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus will announce their 2018 legislative agenda. For more details on the unveiling, click here.

Top Administrative Priorities

On November 8, Governor Eric Holcomb released his Next Level Agenda for 2018. Click here for the agenda handout. The proposals are mirrored in some the House leadership priorities for this session and include:

· Cultivating a strong and diverse economy (attracting new talent, supporting the tech sector, preparing for next generation technologies and opportunities, and encouraging sustainable regional development)

· Maintaining and build the state’s infrastructure (better managing the state’s water resources, expanding Indiana’s global economic presence with a fourth port, and improving broadband access, speed and affordability)

· Developing a 21st Century skilled and ready workforce (providing every Hoosier child an effective baseline education infused with skills and attributes that prepare them for life after high school, ensure students graduate from high school set on a pathway that prepares them for college, career training or a quality job, and connecting working-age adults to education and training that leads them directly to employment aligned with industry needs)

City of Rushville Arts Master Plan and Capacity Building

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:00:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce that we have partnered with the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) to provide technical assistance to the City of Rushville using a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rural Technical Assistance grant. Prosperity Indiana will work closely with Brian Sheehan, Director of Special Projects and Mayor Mike Pavey on the project to provide capacity building, leadership development, and facilitate development of an arts council & arts master plan.

“This is a great opportunity for our community. The opportunity to partner with experts in the field of art and leadership development to build greater capacity in our community is something I am very excited to be a part of.” – Brian Sheehan

This technical assistance grant pairs with the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) consultancy the City of Rushville received through the IAC’s program “Open Scene”, available to those that attended their summer creative placemaking workshop. When the City of Rushville applied for an arts consultancy through the Indiana Arts Commission they dreamed big and applied for assistance with an arts master plan for their community. Lewis Ricci, Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission said “It’s been really exciting to work with Rushville’s energetic and innovative leaders. This match with Prosperity Indiana will give Rushville more tools to keep building quality of place while celebrating their community’s creativity.” The city wants to build on the Stellar Communities program success and look toward arts as a means of advancing community economic development in their area.

Prosperity Indiana Director of Planning Services, Rose Scovel, was on the consultant team for the Indiana Arts Commission and believed that what Rushville was seeking was a good potential match for the HUD Rural Technical Assistance Program that Prosperity Indiana is connected to through their partner, NALCAB. She encouraged the City of Rushville to apply for technical assistance for an arts master plan, capacity building for a new arts council, and leadership development.

The project work began in early January and will continue through June. The project has four components that will engage residents of the Rushville community: 1) creation of an arts commission and capacity building for the arts commission; 2) leadership development workshops; 3) a resource guide for the arts council; and, 4) an arts master plan. Early in the year Prosperity Indiana will begin interviewing key stakeholders connected to the arts in Rushville and conduct focus groups to advise the development of an arts council. Once an arts council has been appointed, Prosperity Indiana will provide board training. The leadership development component will include workshops on community organizing and civic engagement, and conclude with a community resource fair. Residents are encouraged to attend these workshops, which will be held in February, March, and April.

The process for the arts master plan will include a community survey, focus groups, a visioning workshop, working groups to develop the action plans, and a public rollout of the plan. Residents will be welcome (and encouraged) to participate in all aspects of developing the master plan.

For this project the arts are being construed broadly, including visual arts, performing arts, writing and storytelling, and culinary arts.

For more information about the project contact Rose Scovel, Director of Planning Services at rscovel@prosperityindiana.org or Brian Sheehan bsheehan@cityofrushville.in.gov, Director of Special Projects at the City of Rushville.

Meet Prosperity Indiana's New AmeriCorps Program Manager!

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 20:29:43 GMT

A message from Prosperity Indiana's newest staff member:

"Hello, my name is Tierra Jones, and I am the AmeriCorps Program Manager with Prosperity Indiana. I recently graduated from IWU with a Masters in Organizational Leadership. I have experience in the social services field, training and leadership development, recruitment, skills development, and diversity and inclusion. I am an AmeriCorps Alum which truly excites me about the role I am in at Prosperity Indiana. As the AmeriCorps Program Manager, I will oversee AmeriCorps program activities, ensure compliance, manage AmeriCorps members and services, assist in supervision and performance evaluation and much more. I have a wonderful husband, (Jason) and two little girls, Xaniyah (7) Olivia (1)."

We are excited to welcome Tierra to the Prosperity Indiana team! You can contact her at tjones@prosperityindiana.org.

Board of Directors Announces Fraizer's Departure and Executive Director Transition

Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:00:00 GMT

On December 26, the Prosperity Indiana Board of Directors announced my departure as Executive Director. I announced my resignation to the Board of Directors on December 14, 2017 and depart March 2, 2018 to serve as Executive Director of the Community Foundation of South Jersey.

I am excited about this new opportunity but sad to leave a great team and wonderful members making an impact everyday in Hoosiers' lives and their local communities. I am grateful for my decade of service alongside the dedicated professionals on the staff, Board of Directors and at member organizations across the state.

We have accomplished a lot together… stopped predatory financial legislation, created new safeguards in the law for Hoosiers in foreclosure, ensured funding for affordable housing development, created access to fair credit products, funded sustainable energy and program innovation in financial access with members, delivered high quality consulting and training to empower neighbors and practitioners, and connected the diversity of local organizations and industries that encompass the state’s community economic development field.

Prosperity Indiana has an annually updated succession plan for senior staff. The Board has put the plan into effect. Board Vice President Nate Lichti with member IFF leads the Transition Committee. The Committee’s first meeting was December 21, 2017 and work is underway to identify a successor.

Our Board President Steve Hoffman with member Brightpoint, said in the press release: “Prosperity Indiana’s work to empower strong member organizations, champion social justice and economic opportunity, and mobilize neighbors, coalitions, and policymakers for economic opportunity continues unabated. There is tremendous momentum with the organization following last year’s successful rebranding. The Board of Directors will work closely with the staff to continue programs and strategy until a successor is announced.”

I hope to see each of you at the upcoming Prosperity Indiana Summit, January 23 and 24, 2018 in Indianapolis. This annual convening of members, partners, and interested professionals will explore strategies for community health, community development, and human service organizations to work collaboratively in local communities.

New Staff at Prosperity Indiana: Membership and Administrative Coordinator Kay Glenn

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:15:26 GMT

My name is Kay Glenn, and my position with Prosperity Indiana is Membership and Administrative Coordinator. I came to Prosperity Indiana from IPS. I was in A/P in the Food Service Dept. I have experience in customer service, data entry, finances, receptionist, payroll, A/P & A/R, just to name a few. When I decided to leave IPS, I wanted to look for an organization that did great things to aid our community. Some friends suggested I look in the non-profit world for a position. At Prosperity Indiana, I will help in the management of member and donor investment, as well as support the Prosperity Indiana staff with tasks that build the capacity of the organization, its members, and its partners. I will also be responsible for aiding in the annual membership campaign and annual fundraising events.

I am married and I have three rescue pets: two dogs and one cat. I love to cook for my family and friends. I am a member and Vice-President of the Beech Grove Fraternal of Order of Eagles. We are a nonprofit organization. I have helped organize and participated in many fundraising events. I also help plan anywhere from kid's holiday parties to canned food drives for small food panties and sock drives for Wheeler Mission.

I have a long road of learning in my future, but hope to become a valuable and respected staff member of Prosperity Indiana.

Job Opportunity: Legacy Foundation is Hiring an Acting Director for a Community Development Corp. in Lake County

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 21:39:42 GMT

Recently, the Legacy Foundation announced support from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation to launch a new community development corporation (CDC) for Lake County, Indiana. The Legacy Foundation is seeking an Acting Director [job description] who will start up and manage a newly-formed Community Development Corporation (CDC).

This CDC will take a creative neighborhood based approach to community engagement, planning, and place-making projects. This Community Development Corporation will be managed by and located within the Legacy Foundation during an initial incubation period until it can become an independent organization. At that point, pending on the job success, the Acting Director will transition to becoming Executive Director of an independent 501c3 CDC.

“We appreciate the support from JPMorgan Chase for Legacy Foundation to develop and launch the Lake County CDC. We see this as an opportunity to provide much-needed community development support to area neighborhoods,” said Legacy Foundation President Carolyn Saxton.

Through Neighborhood Spotlight and a Choice Neighborhood program, community groups were trained to engage residents and leaders, develop a community plan, and implement projects. FAITH Farms, a project of Gary, Indiana’s Emerson neighborhood, for example, turned a vacant lot into an urban garden with greenhouses and a steady group of volunteers who grow fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. Gary’s Miller neighborhood leveraged the Spotlight program to secure funding for a bike-sharing program.

After working with five northwest Indiana neighborhoods – the Emerson, Miller, and University Park East communities of Gary, Griffith, and northwest Hobart – Legacy and partners determined that a county-wide community development corporation could help deepen resident engagement and move to greater implementation in existing neighborhoods.

New Tools for Evaluating Health Outcomes from NeighborWorks America

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:20:14 GMT

In recognition of the need to apply health outcomes research to the affordable housing and community development fields, NeighborWorks America supported the research and development of the new Success Measures Health Outcome Tools. These tools are intended to help community development practitioners design projects and partnerships that address health disparities through the integration of affordable housing, community development, and health.

Any organization or community interested in how their work relates to health outcomes can benefit from the Success Measures Health Outcome Tools, including: housing and community development organizations, cross-sector community health initiatives, public health researchers, and health care institutions. The tools utilize primary data collected from residents, as well as from existing public data sources and program records. The tools are available in both English and Spanish.

The Success Measures Health Outcome Tools include surveys of:

Individual and Community Health Status
Individual Health Beliefs and Attitudes
Individual Health Behaviors
Individual Factors and Influences Related to Health
Community Environmental Factors Related to Health
Community Demographics and Social Factors Related to Health
Availability, Quality, and Cultural Sensitivity of Health Care Services
Cross-Sector Collaborations and Partnerships

Click here to read the full publication and view the tools.

Interested in learning more about the intersection of community development and community health? Join us at the 2018 Prosperity Indiana Summit on January 24^th to hear experts from around the state and the country discuss strategies, partnerships, and other tools for addressing health disparities in your community. Summit sessions will include:

Access to Food Choices in Food Deserts
Transit and Community Health
Active Living Workshops 101
Perspectives on Building Healthy Places
Your House is Making You Sick
Using Community Health Needs Assessments to Engage Nonprofit Hospitals
Vacant Property Legal Assistance to Stabilize Neighborhoods
Treating the Opioid Crisis at eh Neighborhood Level
Leveraging Affordable Housing Policy for Healthy Communities

Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO of Eskenazi Health, will present the opening plenary remarks in the morning. David Erickson, Director of the Center for Community Development Finance at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will present the lunch keynote address.

Click here to register for the 2018 Prosperity Indiana Summit.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Adds Representatives to the Affordable Housing Advisory Council and Elects New Leadership

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 21:00:00 GMT

For the last several years, it has been my pleasure to serve as the chairperson of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI) Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC). The Council recently elected new leadership and added representatives from several Prosperity Indiana member organizations.

The AHAC is comprised of housing and community development leaders throughout Michigan and Indiana. The Council helps the Bank meet its mission related to access to decent, stable, affordable housing and community investment.

Vincent Tilford and Tony Lentych were recently elected as the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Council effective January 1, 2018. Tilford is Executive Director of the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation in Detroit, Michigan and Lentych is Executive Director of the Traverse City Housing Commission in Traverse City, Michigan. Lentych also worked in Indianapolis, Indiana for a number of years including as the Executive Director of the Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development.

In addition, the FHLBI Board of Directors selected the following Indiana representatives to three-year terms on AHAC:

Sherry Early-Aden, Vice President of Operations, Brightpoint in Fort Wayne
Eric Frey, II, Executive Director, Administrative Resource Association and Southern Indiana Housing CDC in Columbus

The AHAC is comprised of 12 community and not-for-profit leaders actively involved in providing or promoting low- and moderate-income housing and community lending in Indiana and Michigan. "The advisory council provides specialized knowledge of affordable housing and of the unique needs of our district," said Cindy L. Konich, FHLBI President and CEO. "The council's understanding and experience with affordable housing finance, community economic development, and local lending needs truly enriches our ability to meet our affordable housing mission through our member financial institutions."

Award Nominees for Community Economic Development Excellence

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 18:00:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce the nominees for the 2018 Prosperity Indiana Awards! We had an outstanding pool of candidates from all over the state. While only one person or program will be selected for each category, we want to take a moment to recognize and honor all who were nominated. Join us at the 2018 Prosperity Indiana Summit luncheon for our awards celebration when recipients are announced!

Key Award for Services Program of the Year

12 Steps to Financial Success, Old National Bank
Bankable
Building Better Neighborhoods, Ball State University
CreatINg Places, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
Felege Hiywot Center
Indy Reads Community Classrooms
Kids Matter Camp, Norwood Neighborhood Association
Miller Spotlight
Vincent Village

Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award

Jacquelyn Dodyk, Affordable Housing Corporation of Marion
Mark Gould, 1st Source Bank
Craig Graybeal, ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
Andrew Hoffman, NeighborLink Fort Wayne
Stephanie Roland, Old National Bank
Jennifer Sandlin, Ohio Valley Opportunities
Stephanie TenBarge, ECHO Housing Corporation

John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award

Dale Bliss, Advantage Housing, Inc.
Sharon Reed Colbert, Esther's Boutique
Larry Gautsche, La Casa
Natalie Westbrook, God's Grace Community Church

Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award

Pat Gamble-Moore, PNC Bank
Ben Joergens, Old National Bank
Janet Katz, Northeast Indiana Local Food Network
Nathan Kring, Tipton Main Street
Mayor Christopher McBarnes, City of Frankfort

Congratulations on your nomination to all candidates, and thank you for your service to Indiana

Highlights from the 2017 I’M HOME Conference: Manufactured housing could be one solution to the affordable housing shortage

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:22:59 GMT

Homeownership is the primary form of wealth for low-income and minority households. However, factors such as tight lending standards that continue to limit mortgage access for households with lower credit scores, more households feeling the burden of large amounts of student debt, and the stock of affordable housing continuing to shrink mean fewer people are able to access the wealth creation opportunities homeownership provides.

The affordable housing advocates who gathered at Prosperity Now’s 2017 I’M HOME Conference last month believe manufactured homes could be part of the affordable housing solution.

Manufactured homes and the people who live in them are often associated with negative perceptions perpetuated by stereotypes in popular culture. But since the enactment of the Federal Manufactured Housing and Construction Standards (also known as the HUD Code) in 1976, the prototypical low quality mobile homes with little insulation and an unstable foundations are no longer being constructed. The HUD Code established requirements for the design, performance, installation, and energy efficiency of manufactured homes, making today’s manufactured homes an attractive affordable housing option.

Manufactured housing is the largest unsubsidized housing stock in the United States. In 2015, about 18 million Americans lived in manufactured homes, and the manufactured housing industry is adding nearly 90,000 homes to that count annually. The factory setting construction process eliminates the risk of weather delays, reduces the incidence of unexpected cost increases associated with construction, requires less construction management, and allows for faster move-in. The average sale price of a new manufactured home is $68,000 compared to the average sale price of $360,000 for site built homes. When done right, manufactured housing can provide affordable housing opportunities to make homeownership and financial stability a reality for all families.

This year’s I’M HOME Conference focused on innovations in financing, preservation, and partnerships around affordable and manufactured housing through presentation of compelling data and powerful personal stories. Speakers included: Dr. Chris Herbert, Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University; Dr. Esther Sullivan, professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado-Denver; and Andrea Levere, President of Prosperity Now. Click here to read more about the I’M HOME Conference, and access presentations and materials distributed at the Conference here.

Updated: Congress Moves Forward on Tax Reform

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:17:13 GMT

UPDATE: Congress Passes Tax Reform Measure that Threatens Safety Net Programs, Increases Inequality

While we are grateful to member engagement and advocacy around key priorities in the tax reform bill as several were successfully addressed in the final legislation approved this week, Prosperity Indiana spent the past month urging lawmakers to oppose this bill as it failed to include the kinds of equitable reforms we sought to increase economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income households.

Here are some of the critical highlights for Prosperity Indiana's member interests:

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit was retained with no modifications
The bill also fully retains private activity bonds, including multifamily housing bonds
The bill retained the 2018 and 2019 new markets tax credit (NMTC) allocation application rounds
The bill retained the Historic Tax Credit, but revised the credit. Now, investors will claim the HTC over five years instead of at placed in service which had been the law
The bill lowered the amount of a mortgage eligible for the mortgage interest deduction (MID) from $1 million to $750,000 for newly purchased homes, but, unfortunately, used the savings to pay for tax cuts that benefit corporations and wealthy individuals instead of using the savings to invest in expanding the availability of urgently needed affordable housing stock
By lowering the top corporate tax rate from 35 to 21 percent, effective January 1, this bill will only serve to increase income inequality. The lowered rate also reduces the value of the Housing Credit, which will decrease the number of affordable homes produced.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the tax cuts will increase the national debt by over $1 trillion over a decade, which would likely trigger automatic funding cuts to federal programs, including critical community development programs within HUD, USDA and the Housing Trust Fund. That would jeopardize funding for the Housing Trust Fund. Additionally, Speaker Ryan (R-WI) has already announced plans for entitlement reform legislation in 2018 to shrink the budgets for Medicare, Medicaid, and other critical safety net programs in order to reduce the federal debt implications.

Prosperity Indiana’s advocacy will continue as we fight to protect critical safety net and community development programs moving forward.

Congress is currently debating tax reform proposals that will have dramatic implications for community development programs and incentives, such as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, New Markets Tax Credit, Private Activity Bonds, Child Tax Credit, and Mortgage Interest Deduction.

Prosperity Indiana members are urged to click today on the link below to send a pre-drafted letter to your senators and member of Congress. The letter urges them to enact equitable tax reform that increases economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income households and helps promote community prosperity.

Simply add your name and any examples applicable to your work to illustrate why these actions are important to you, enter your address, and submit! Your letter will be automatically sent to Senator Young, Senator Donnelly, and your Representative.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

Full text of the letter is included below:

"As your constituent and an advocate for strong Hoosier communities, I urge you to stand up for equitable tax reform that empowers low-and middle-income households and promotes job growth and economic prosperity throughout our state.

Congress is debating tax reform proposals that will have enduring policy implications. This reform will shape how individuals access economic opportunity and how local communities respond to the needs of its citizens. As such, I urge you to ensure the following provisions are included in tax reform legislation.

Reform the Mortgage Interest Deduction: Congress must reform the mortgage interest deduction (MID) by lowering the amount of a mortgage on which a deduction can be claimed from $1 million to $500,000 and eliminate the deduction eligibility for second homes. In Indiana, only .8% of mortgages are higher than $500,000. Savings from the MID are better directed at housing supports for Hoosiers in need of access to quality affordable rental housing. In times of scarce federal resources to support the lowest income Hoosiers, the MID savings should be dedicated to addressing the urgent lack of affordable and stable housing through increased investments in the National Housing Trust Fund, rental assistance, and proven solutions to end homelessness. While housing appears affordable in our state, the reality is that renters earning minimum wage in Indiana have to work 67 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent and 84 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom, which introduces significant barriers to low-income families.

Preserve Private Activity Bonds: Tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds (PABs) are a crucial financing tool that spurs local economic development in vital housing, infrastructure, and public facilities. Multifamily and single-family mortgage revenue private activity bonds help ensure there is an adequate supply of affordable housing. Roughly half of all low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) developments utilize PABs and 4% tax credits. Any effort to eliminate PABs would mean communities throughout Indiana would have a more difficult time financing these projects; and local governments would have to borrow at higher interest rates, resulting in a drastic cut in the production and preservation of affordable housing in our state.

Protect the Low Income Housing Tax Credit: In addition to preserving PABs, I urge you to support ongoing investments in affordable housing production by implementing reforms to the LIHTC program and offsetting proposed cuts in the corporate tax rate. From 1987 through 2015, LIHTCs have financed 7,224 affordable apartments in Indiana and generated $6.13 in billion local income. In 2015 alone, they helped to finance 13 affordable housing developments with 2,023 apartments in our state. However, reductions in the corporate tax rate negatively affect the amount of LIHTC equity that can be raised. I ask you to help increase the amount of allocable LIHTCs and modernize the formula by which the annual LIHTC percentage is determined to ensure these developments remain financially feasible.

Maintain the Historic Tax Credit: The Historic Credit encourages private investment in the rehabilitation of historic buildings, attracting over $131 billion in private capital nationwide since its inception. These investments help finance the gap between development costs and what banks will lend to rehabilitate historic buildings that are often abandoned to return them to productive use.

Include a permanent extension of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC): The NMTC program incentivizes private investors to pursue businesses or economic development projects located in distressed, low-income communities. Between 2003 and 2014, $385.7 million in NMTC investments leveraged an additional $109.6 million from other sources for a total of $495.3 million in project financing to 44 projects and businesses in Indiana. There are no other federal tax incentives dedicated to promoting economic revitalization in distressed communities.

Ensure that the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit help low-income families: I ask that you work to ensure the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit programs, and any expansions or adjustments to refundability, are targeted to help boost the incomes of low- and moderate-income families. Doing so will enable them to pay for childcare, engage in the workforce, and better achieve financial stability.

Lastly, I ask that you ensure any cuts in corporate tax rates are not offset by budget cuts to critical social safety net programs that would destabilize our communities. Thank you for your consideration of these proposals to help align scarce federal resources with policies that empower individual households and promote prosperity."

World Town Planning Day

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 13:10:11 GMT

November 8 is World Town Planning Day. World Town Planning Day was initiated in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires to advance public and professional interest in planning, both locally and abroad. In the meantime the World Town Planning Day is celebrated in 30 countries on four continents each November 8. It is a special day to give special recognition to the ideals of community planning which bring professional planners and the general public together. World Town Planning Day presents an opportunity to look at planning from a global perspective.

In the United States, National Planning Month is celebrated in October. During this time the American Planning Association (APA) celebrates great places in the country and hosts/participated in activities to raise awareness of the impact planning policies and decisions have on every day life. Information about the 2017 National Planning Month are available here. Prosperity Indiana has been involved in the Planners4Health initiative throughout 2017 that connects the planning and public health professions in ways that advance health in all plans and strengthen the connection between the built environment and health. More information about P4H is available here.

Did you know Prosperity Indiana has a professional, certified planner on staff to help you with a variety of planning initiatives?

Rose Scovel, AICP is an alumna of the urban planning and public administration programs at Ball State University and has nearly 20 years professional experience working with communities in Indiana and around the country. She has worked in community economic development for half her career, and spent eight years as a private planning consultant in large multidisciplinary and small planning specialty firms. She has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 2002. As Director of Planning Services for Prosperity Indiana, Rose works with members on a fee-for-service basis to develop housing needs assessments, HUD required plans, neighborhood/QoL plans, and a variety of other plans. She also provides training on planning related topics.

Recent projects include:

Lake County Assessment of Fair Housing
Housing Toolkit for the Indiana Economic Development Association
Michigan City Eastport Neighborhood Plan
Facilitating a strategic planning retreat for the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
Indianapolis Housing Tax Increment Finance District assessment

How can Prosperity Indiana connect you to the planning work in your community or work with you to develop a plan for your organization, neighborhood, or community? Email Rose for more information.

Job Opportunity: Fair Housing Test Coordinator

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:29:35 GMT

The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) seeks a full-time Fair Housing Test Coordinator. Responsibilities include recruitment, training, and coordination of FHCCI part-time testers; investigation of discrimination in housing in violation of fair housing laws; outreach and public education; and preparation of reports.

Attention to detail, accuracy, and organization skills a must. Must have ability to work successfully with others. Must be able to work independently as well as know when to seek guidance. Must be able to complete detailed report analysis and provide positive mentoring to fair housing testers. Must have the capacity to speak in public to conduct effective trainings for testers. Spanish speaking a plus. Must have reliable transportation. Due to federal grant requirements, this position requires a criminal background check and assurance of no conflicts related to litigation based needs.

To learn more about the position, view the detailed job description [PDF].

To apply for this position:

Submit a cover letter of no more than one page explaining your interest and any other information not included elsewhere.
Submit a detailed resume of current and past positions, time worked, and duties thereof.
Submit a writing sample of one page describing what fair housing means to you.
Submit contact information for three professional references.
Documents submitted should be in pdf format.

Applications will ONLY be considered if all the above items are received. Email your completed application with the subject title "Fair Housing Test Coordinator" to the attention of Amy Nelson, Executive Director, at anelson@fhcci.org.

Community Development Outlook Survey

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:46:39 GMT

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis needs the expertise and perspectives of Prosperity Indiana members and partners to help shape the 2017 edition of the Community Development Outlook Survey of low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities.

The Bank is looking for a strong response from Indiana to ensure good data representing our state. Prosperity Indiana members and partners are on the frontline working with low and moderate income communities. Your expertise is necessary for perspective. Please share 5-10 minutes to help enrich the data for this online survey?

The information you provide will help inform the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank and its branches in Little Rock, Louisville and Memphis about the current conditions of LMI communities across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. In addition, survey results are shared with other community development practitioners and stakeholders like yourself, as well as policymakers in your communities and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.

Individual or organizational identification will be scrubbed for anonymity. Collectively, responses will be published as data for the entire Bank district, state-level data, sector-level data, and sample/abbreviated answers to open-ended responses. Results will be posted online at the St. Louis Fed's Community Development website and shared in communities across the region. To view the 2016 report, click here.

Take the survey now.

Job Opportunity: Greencastle City Planning Director

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:19:04 GMT

The City of Greencastle is seeking a City Planning Director to serve as staff person to the Greencastle Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Technical Review Committee; code enforcement official for the City of Greencastle in regards to property maintenance complaints and unsafe buildings; liaison between developers/contractors/design professionals and the City of Greencastle in matters of site development and building; and representative of the City Planning Department at various board meetings.

A bachelor’s degree in urban planning, engineering, geography, public policy or related field is required and a minimum 3-5 years of experience in urban planning is preferred. Experience in preparing and presenting reports and proposals as well as administering public meetings is also desirable.

See the full job description and qualifications here: https://www.indianaplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Planner-JobDesc.-lrh-102017.doc

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Mayor William A. Dory, Jr., City of Greencastle, P.O. Box 607, Greencastle, IN, 46135; or email to Linda Huber at lhuber@cityofgreencastle.com or fax to 765-653-8707

Applications due no later than Friday, November 3, 2017.

CFPB Aims to Crack Down on Predatory Lending Practices

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 19:54:07 GMT

Update 10/9/2017:

Prosperity Indiana's policy team joined faith-based, veterans and consumer advocates as well as a former payday lending client for a press call on the release of the new CFPB rule. Representatives spoke in favor of the rule, but noted that the CFPB did not have the authority to change the cost of payday loans. They called on Indiana lawmakers to take further action to lower the interest rate.

10/6/2017: On October 5, 2017 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a finalized new rule aimed at reducing predatory lending through regulations that protect consumers from payday debt traps. The CFPB came to its decision after five years of research and outreach to organizations across the country. The rule was first proposed in June of 2016 and Prosperity Indiana subsequently submitted comments to the CFPB after receiving feedback from state and national partners.

The new rule seeks to put in place protections that cover payday, auto title, and balloon pay-day loans. These loans are typically for two to four weeks, and endanger the financial well-being of consumers because of their high interest rates and tendency to be lent to individuals who are not able to pay back the loan in the allotted time. Prosperity Indiana commented in 2016 that:

“Payday lenders already charge Hoosiers rates as high as 382% on a $300, two-week loan. This is especially problematic for low-income households, amongst whom these loans have become pervasive in their use in Indiana. Nationally, the payday lending usage rate is 5.5%, compared to Indiana, which has a significantly higher usage rate of 9%.”

The rule issued by the CFPB includes the following provisions:

Full - payment test: Requirement that lenders must determine if the consumer can afford the loan. Prosperity Indiana commented in 2016 that the full-payment test is the most crucial component of the rule, especially the cooling-off period. The new rule will cap the amount of subsequent loans at 3. Prosperity Indiana previously noted that over 80% of payday loans are followed by repeat loans, and 15% of payday loans are a part of a sequence of loans that is at least ten loans long.

Principal payoff option for short term loans: Allows consumers to take out a loan of up to $500 without the full payment test if the loan allows the borrower to get out of debt in a more efficient way. Debt traps are prevented under this provision by not allowing loans to be distributed to borrowers with outstanding recent short-term loans or balloon payment-loans. The cooling off period still applies.

Debit attempt cutoff: Prosperity Indiana commented in 2016 that withdrawal limits and notification requirements are essential to protect consumers. A debit cutoff will be implemented for loans with an annual percentage rate of over 36 percent. Lenders must give consumers notice before making a debit attempt at an irregular interval or amount after two unsuccessful attempts. This provision will protect consumers from unanticipated payments, or fees incurred from returned payments for insufficient funds.

The new CFPB rule will take effect 21 months after it is published in the Federal Register. Although the current rule does not address all of Prosperity Indiana’s concerns, it is a step in the right direction which will mitigate the burden that predatory loans have on Hoosiers, including the reduction of the $70.6 million in interest payments on payday lending spent in 2011 alone.

If you are interested in viewing Prosperity Indiana’s comments on the then proposed CFPB rule in 2016 please visit: http://iaced.sitepotion.com/2016/10/iaced-submits-comments-on-cfpb-proposed-payday-lending-rule, and https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-finalizes-rule-stop-payday-debt-traps/ to view the CFPB’s ruling.

Job Opportunity: Prosperity Indiana Seeking Two New Staff

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:14:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is seeking to fill two positions: an AmeriCorps Program Coordinator and a part-time Administrative Assistant.

The AmeriCorps Program Coordinator is responsible for managing all of the program components necessary for carrying out the objectives, policies and procedures of the Indiana Financial Capability Corps program and working with the Training Director to facilitate professional development opportunities for the AmeriCorps members. The position requires statewide travel and reports to the Associate Executive Director.

The position of Administrative Assistant also reports to the Associate Executive Director and supports the Prosperity Indiana staff with tasks that build the capacity of Prosperity Indiana, its members, and partners. The position will provide administrative support for the organization and Prosperity Indiana’s training program. The successful candidate will be customer service-oriented, write well and communicate effectively, and understand bookkeeping. Attention to detail and accuracy are a must in order to successfully juggle and accomplish multiple tasks.

For more details, click to see the full job descriptions:

AMERICORPS PROGRAM COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Interested in joining our team?

E-mail and/or mail resume, cover letter, and references to:

Jessica Love, Associate Executive Director, jlove@prosperityindiana.org
Prosperity Indiana
202 East Market Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Wealth Creation & Retention: A Topic to Ponder at the Midwest Asset Building Conference

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 20:53:04 GMT

On October 5 and 6, Indianapolis will host the Midwest Asset Building Conference. The Conference will convene asset building coalitions from five states in the Midwest—Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio—to learn about the challenges present in the asset building field and work toward identifying viable solutions. Fundamental to each challenge, from the small business credit gap to the pervasiveness of predatory financial practices to the racial wealth divide, is the objective to create and retain wealth.

Wealth creation refers to the process of accumulating assets while wealth retention refers to the ability to maintain ownership of existing assets. Wealth creation and retention are both an individual phenomenon, e.g., an investor purchasing stock, as well as a community phenomenon, e.g., a major employer divesting itself from a community.

A community-level example that has recently gained prominence in political discourse is the loss of manufacturing jobs in the rust-belt. Communities that were once vibrant manufacturing towns have felt the impact of employer divestment. The opioid crisis, which disproportionately affects rust-belt manufacturing communities, is one example of how loss of wealth destabilizes the economic well-being of families, as well as communities’ very social fabric.

The Conference will discuss these structural problems—three of which are the small business credit gap, predatory financial products and practices, and the racial wealth divide.

Small businesses, which feel market swings more acutely than big businesses, are denied credit at a much higher rate. The credit gap is especially pronounced for minority-, women-, and rural-owned businesses—consequently, decreasing their opportunity to build wealth.

Predatory financial products and practices—from student loans to debt collection to payday loans—continue to strip wealth from families, and particularly from communities of color. Sixty percent of payday loan borrowers in Indiana take out a new loan the day they pay off the old loan, which pushes borrowers into a debt trap that impacts the entire state’s economy. In Indiana, payday loans drain an estimated $70 million from the economy each year.

In America, the typical white family holds 16 times more wealth than the typical black family. The racial wealth divide is a consequence of wealth-building policies that were designed to disadvantage people of color. As America moves toward becoming a majority-minority nation, the racial wealth divide worsens the political and economic outcomes for the entire country.

So what’s a community development practitioner to do?

Attend the Midwest Asset Building Conference to find out! We’ll be discussing solutions—both universal and unique to the diverse communities in which we work, including:

· The benefits of the cooperative business model

· Consumer protections and innovations in payday loan alternatives

· Solutions to rectify the inequities implicit in past wealth-building policies

Prosperity Indiana Sponsors 2017 Indiana Food Summit

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 13:29:57 GMT

Is your community interested in local food as a tool for prosperity and resilience? Prosperity Indiana is proud to partner with Purdue Extension to sponsor the upcoming Indiana Food Summit on September 25-26 in Indianapolis. This event provides learning, networking and sharing opportunities for the people, communities and organizations working to create an Indiana food system that is more resilient, economically vibrant and diverse.

Prosperity Indiana staff will be participating on two different panel discussions. Kathleen Lara, Policy Director, will be a panelist on Engaging Your Elected Officials: How to tell your story and make it meaningful for our representatives, and Allyson Mitchell, Director of Sustainability, will be participating on the panel entitled Sustainability, Quality of Place, Economic Development and….Local Food?

We hope Prosperity Indiana members will attend this event to learn more about how local food and community economic development are complementary. Register for the event by September 19 at this link.

Hello from Matt Watkins, Prosperity Indiana's Policy Intern

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 16:26:06 GMT

Hello Members,

My name is Matt Watkins, and I recently began my policy internship with Prosperity Indiana. I am currently a Junior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) studying Civic Leadership and Policy Studies within the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). I pursued an internship with Prosperity Indiana because I share the organizations fundamental belief in the importance of community and I want to contribute to the advancement of policies that promote economic development and upward social mobility. After graduation, I plan to pursue further education and a subsequent career that focuses on public service work that promotes strong communities, as communities are the foundation of our society at large. I am thrilled to work with you and on your behalf alongside Prosperity Indiana staff.

A week into my internship, I had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting for the Indiana Coalition for Human Services (ICHS). Prosperity Indiana is one of 28 ICHS member organizations utilizing the power of their collective impact to empower Hoosiers striving to reach their full potential. I wanted to share a few key updates from that meeting that are particularly important to Prosperity Indiana’s members.

Two speakers were featured at the event. Tamara Fucile, the Director for Government Affairs for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, focused on federal budget updates and MaryBeth Musumeci, the Associate Director at the Program on Medicaid, and the Uninsured for the Kaiser Family Foundation, gave a federal Medicaid update.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Key Points of Discussion

If the debt ceiling is not raised by September 29^th, there is a potential for default. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, however, is calling for a “clean increase” – which means that there are not any additional provisions such as cuts to entitlement programs attached to the raise. Ms. Fucile expressed that this move could help mitigate the potential for government default
It is expected that Congress will attempt to use the budget resolution process as a mechanism to pass tax reform, just as members of Congress attempted to do with the Affordable Care Act
Non-Defense discretionary spending is falling to relative historic lows

Kaiser Family Foundation: Key Points of Discussion

Medicaid accounts for 57% of federal revenue for states, and reductions would have large budget implications
The uninsured rate has decreased everywhere, but especially in Medicaid expansion states
“All eyes are on Indiana” regarding state Medicaid waivers
Between 2005 and 2015, national opioid death rate increased from 5.1 to 10.4 per 100,000 people

In addition to the presentations, ICHS leaders outlined coalition successes from the past year and previewed the work that lies ahead for 2018. Over the course of the past year, ICHS advanced legislation addressing suicide prevention and increased the number of social workers in Indiana by reforming social work licensing requirements. Additionally, ICHS members, including Prosperity Indiana, were able to prevent a bill that expanded payday lending in Indiana. Legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session include firearms regulation, defense for parents with children within the Department of Child Services system, nonprofit property tax exemption, and food deserts.

The ICHS annual meeting was a great way for me to become more familiar with the work that Prosperity Indiana and our partners carry out. I was able to see how ICHS leveraged the power of their members to advance policy goals and legislation to improve the lives of Hoosiers throughout the state. I am looking forward to assisting Prosperity Indiana members and our policy team to do just that over the next three months. Please feel free to reach out to me at mwatkins@prosperityindiana.org.

New Report Lays out Strategies to Revitalize Smaller Legacy Cities

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 18:00:00 GMT

Smaller post-industrial cities are taking strategic steps to regenerate by building on downtowns, capitalizing on a unique sense of place, and focusing on workforce development, according to a new report published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in partnership with the Greater Ohio Policy Center.

The report, Revitalizing America’s Smaller Legacy Cities: Strategies for Postindustrial Success from Gary to Lowell, emphasizes how America’s smaller legacy cities – cities located primarily in the Midwest and Northeast with 30,000 to 200,000 residents and traditional economies built around manufacturing – have long been central to building American middle class prosperity.

The Indiana cities of Gary, South Bend, and Muncie are highlighted for their strategies and the opportunities they are pursuing. This report lays out eight strategies that are helping to revitalize small and midsize legacy cities around the country.

These eight strategies include initiatives that organize neighbors and leadership, decide collectively on strategy, and build the capacity to execute. Regular blog readers familiar with the comprehensive community development strategies Prosperity Indiana advocates will recognize key themes in the reports strategies:

Build Civic Capacity and Talent
Encourage a Shared Vision
Expand Opportunities for Low-Income Workers
Build on an Authentic Sense of Place
Focus Regional Efforts on Rebuilding a Strong Downtown
Engage in Community and Strategic Planning
Stabilize Distressed Neighborhoods
Strategically Leverage State Policies

Aug 29: Free Webinar on Ways to Address Opioid Crisis

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:52:53 GMT

Because the opioid crisis has become such an epidemic that it must be tackled from multiple angles by a variety of stakeholders, InsightFormation is conducting a free webinar and tour of its online Opioid Coalition Resource Hub (OCRH), to which it is now providing free access. The OCRH was built using a cloud-based comprehensive strategy map to outline goals, strategies, action steps, and recommended measures for tackling what has now been deemed a national emergency. For more information on the OCRH system and the upcoming webinar being held at 11 am EDT, Tuesday, August 29, click here.

Prosperity Indiana Partnering with Climate Leadership Summit

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:50:35 GMT

As part of an expanded focus on sustainability initiatives, Prosperity Indiana is a sponsor of the 2nd Annual Climate Leadership S ummit, hosted by Earth Charter Indiana on September 13 at the Garfield Park Arts Center in Indianapolis. The full-day event brings together mayors, town managers, and local leadership from across the state to focus on cooperative and independent work towards making Hoosier cities leaders on climate action.

Allyson Mitchell, Director of Sustainability for Prosperity Indiana, will be moderating a panel discussion, titled “Local Energy Solutions for Climate Resilience,” which will highlight energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for local governments and their residents. We encourage Prosperity Indiana members to invite their local government officials to attend and bring a delegation of leaders to engage in a day of learning and collaboration about climate solutions.

Prosperity Indiana is also partnering with Earth Charter Indiana in their Resilient Indiana Communities campaign to inspire local action towards climate resiliency. The campaign is a collaborative project with and between Indiana communities ready to take on the challenge of climate change and see it as an opportunity for green-sector jobs, infrastructure innovation, local food and energy production, community building, and climate readiness. Allyson is a member of the Resilient Indiana Communities Resource Panel, a collection of Indiana professionals working together to help local communities develop their own unique response to the challenges and opportunities of climate change. If you have questions about the Resource Panel or want to get your community involved in the campaign, email Allyson at amitchell@prosperityindiana.org.

Financial capability integration tool helping nonprofits boost lasting impact

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:17:50 GMT

“If their income stops, 44 percent of all households -- and 25 percent of middle-class households -- have less than three months of savings to draw upon without falling into poverty.”

This statistic and other eye-opening facts about the current state of family assets can be found in Strategic Philanthropy - Integrating Investments in Asset Building: A Framework for Impact.

With figures like these, even those who are gainfully employed could find themselves needing nonprofit services or resources in the aftermath of a serious life event, such as a job loss or health crisis. And this number doesn’t even include those already living below the poverty line.

At Prosperity Indiana, through our work managing the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network, we have found that lack of access to financial planning resources is a major obstacle to achieving financial stability. As such, addressing clients’ financial capabilities – knowledge + skills + resources – and helping them build assets are critical aspects of preventing long-term or future dependence on the services nonprofits provide.

That means: Even organizations that don’t normally discuss asset-building as part of their interactions with clients are seeking out ways to do so – to better address the root causes of their clients’ needs.

Based on this need and with funding received from the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Prosperity Indiana launched a one-year pilot program in Indianapolis. It is a learning cluster of organizations focused on integrating financial capability into their client services. Participants include Coburn Place, Indiana Connected by 25, Dress for Success Indianapolis and Families First.

As part of this pilot program, we are using the model outlined in Prosperity Now’s (formerly CFED) Building Financial Capability: A Planning Guide for Integrating Services. This guide was created to help organizations assess their current programs and available community resources to build clients’ financial capability.

Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC)

The success of the Financial Capability Learning Cluster initiative has sparked the creation of a new and expanded Network program to place AmeriCorps members with organizations interested in integrating financial capability services into their work.

To expand the program in Indianapolis and statewide, Prosperity Indiana is now launching the Indiana Financial Capability Corps (IFCC). Through an AmeriCorps program funded by Serve Indiana, Prosperity Indiana will place 15 full-time IFCC AmeriCorps members with nonprofit organizations for a 10-month term.

Applications for organizations interested in hosting an IFCC member are currently available. The term of service begins Oct. 2 and runs through August of 2018. Interested organizations should download the host-site application here; and to learn more about the expectations for IFCC members, click here.

For questions, please contact Kelsey Clayton at AmeriCorps@prosperityindiana.org or at 317-454-8540.

Whether they already provided some financial education or none prior to joining the cluster, participants have reported that having assistance from Prosperity Indiana to walk through The Guide’s process has changed how they do their work. It has also created new optimism for the financial futures of those they serve. Lora Henderson, Education Coordinator for Families First, said the program has been valuable to broaden her knowledge of financial products and resources available to her clients and enabling her to network with other organizations who provide financial capability services.

“Financial literacy education will help our dads learn that their attitudes and behaviors around money and finances are learned behaviors wrapped in emotional spending,” Henderson said. “Having this opportunity with Prosperity Indiana will allow our dads to learn how to effectively manage their financial obligations, which will strengthen. This supports our mission to create healthier communities by strengthening families and individuals through life challenges and changes.”

Candice Brisson, Program Manager for Dress for Success Indianapolis’ Professional Women’s Group, said the integration process is increasing her organization’s internal capacity to help clients address financial stability, which ultimately impacts their career success.

“As a result of analyzing financial capability services and providers with the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network learning cluster, Dress for Success Indianapolis is able to expand the in-house resources it will be able to offer clients and to expand its network of partner agencies,” Brisson said.

“A need for increased financial capability and education are consistently identified as the top two factors holding back our clients from achieving upward economic mobility. Financial stability is also a huge factor in employment stability. Being able to provide better resources to women taking our financial literacy class and those seeking individual financial coaching, counseling, and products will increase their chances of achieving the self-sufficiency they seek.”

Jessica Love is the associate executive director for Prosperity Indiana and works with the executive director to provide team leadership for staff. She is responsible for developing and managing organizational systems for Prosperity Indiana to ensure effective management and control. She also provides one-on-one technical assistance to Prosperity Indiana members, informed by her media and grants management background. With 15 years experience in the nonprofit sector, Love’s consulting work focuses primarily on resource development and creating processes and tools for effective management and program compliance.

September Looms Large for Key Budget Negotiations (Budget Chart)

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 22:46:25 GMT

This summer saw key budget bills moving through the appropriations process in the House and the Senate. The House Appropriations Committee has moved forward bills pertaining to the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Treasury and the Small Business Administration, and Labor and Health and Human Services. Similarly, the Senate has started moving bills, including their proposal for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

We have previously covered the Administration’s budget proposals, initial House and Senate hearings, and what they mean for critical community development programs on our blog. Those posts can be found by clicking the links below:

· President's Budget Proposal Would Eliminate Funding for Critical Community Programs

· Here We Go Again ... President's Budget Begins Fiscal Year 2018 Federal Funding Process

· Sec. Carson Defends Administration’s Deep Cuts to Housing Programs in Testimony

Now we are focused on the steps ahead. Prosperity Indiana’s policy team has examined agency budget justifications and these congressional proposals to highlight programs that are critical to our members to help inform our advocacy response. The comprehensive budget chart will be updated as figures are released.

What lies ahead?

Following the August recess, Congress will reconvene and have to move forward with a continuing resolution, or a stop-gap funding measure, to prevent a federal budget shutdown before the Sept. 30 deadline. That will merely extend current funding levels, so they will also continue to work on passing their broad FY18 proposals or budget resolution. Given that there is currently no agreement on spending caps, getting both chambers to come to an agreement on these proposals appears to be a tall order.

If/when they can pass that resolution, Congress can move forward with budget reconciliation. That simply means they can negotiate bills and pass them without a filibuster in the Senate. This is key as many Republicans have expressed that they could use this process to enact key tax reform measures without confronting filibuster rules. Funding bills circulated so far include dramatic cuts or the elimination of essential federal programs such as SNAP, TANF, child care, LIHEAP, CDBG/HOME, and AFI to name just a few. While the Senate and the House restored some of the funding targeted in President Trump’s proposal, there are still cuts that would be devastating to Hoosiers struggling to make ends meet and organizations throughout the state working hard to build strong communities.

Please stay tuned to our blog/alerts for key updates and action alerts as we will be activating our members ahead of Congressional budget action. We need your voice!

Announcing New Department of Training Services

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:16:24 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce that Rachel Mattingly will become its first Director of Training Services. In this role, Rachel will develop and coordinate training and professional development content for Prosperity Indiana members across a variety of platforms. Take our survey to share your training priorities!

Prosperity Indiana has long been known by members for providing exceptional training opportunities. Whether bringing in a national leader for a statewide training or developing customized content for a member’s needs, Prosperity Indiana seeks to provide affordable access to high quality content. Through the creation of the Department of Training Services, we hope to expand on this success to further professional development in the field.

Prosperity Indiana currently provides professional development opportunities and other content in several important ways. Perhaps the resource best known to members is classroom training. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has supported a series of courses for several years to tackle topics in affordable housing, housing counseling, green building certification, aging in place, and more. There are five courses still to come in the 2017 training calendar, bringing in national leaders as well as local experts. Did you know that in addition to coordinating this statewide training program, Prosperity Indiana develops and delivers content for local members every year? Whether facilitating a board retreat, providing an evening training for residents, or leading leadership development for staff, we help our members fill their training gaps and needs.

Outside the classroom, webinars are a quick and effective way to connect members with expertise. A library of past webinars is available to members anytime, and new webinars can be found on our event calendar. Webinars allow Prosperity Indiana to address timely questions, such as legislative updates or the effects of new policies, as well as to share content on programs, partnership opportunities, or other resources. The Resource Library provides links, tools, and other resources to make it easy to find the information you need. The Library is updated regularly, and suggestions are always welcome.

For many professionals, networking and peer-to-peer learning opportunities are also an important part of their professional development. That’s why Prosperity Indiana facilitates Connection Point calls, where peers can meet to discuss important topics; hosts online forums to keep conversations going; and assists members with identifying and connecting with mentors from across our network.

Also, coming this fall, Prosperity Indiana will launch the Envision Collaborative -- a new training model aimed at developing leadership across the community. Practitioners from all fields, as well as residents, are invited to participate in this two-day course that will focus on developing personal leadership skills to create stronger, healthier neighborhoods. Watch for more details to be released soon! If you're interested in sponsoring a resident leader or practitioner to attend the Envision Collaborative, contact Rachel directly.

What are your goals for professional development and training? Share your priorities, as well as your training preferences, by taking our survey. Your participation will help us set strategy around our training plan to better meet the needs of our members and advance the field of community economic development. You can also contact Rachel at rmattingly@prosperityindiana.org or 317-454-8542 to discuss training opportunities.

Meet Prosperity Indiana’s New Member Capacity Builder AmeriCorps VISTA!

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 19:36:21 GMT

My name is Kaytlin Eastes, and I recently began my term as Prosperity Indiana’s Member Capacity Building AmeriCorps VISTA. I am a recent graduate of the University of Evansville, where I studied Public Health and Psychology. I was drawn to AmeriCorps VISTA because I want to work in community development; and this position with Prosperity Indiana gives me more opportunities, responsibility, and exposure to different aspects of community development than I would have received in any other entry level position. I wholeheartedly support Prosperity Indiana’s holistic approach to community development, and I am excited to learn and contribute throughout the upcoming year.

Along with supporting the Capacity Building team and working on the Outcomes Platform, I will be developing a new member service: Capacity Building Project Assistance. The purpose of this service is to provide Prosperity Indiana members with short-term, project-based capacity building help. If your organization is looking to create or expand a program, or could otherwise benefit from short-term assistance from an AmeriCorps VISTA, submit a request using this form.

Creating a Legacy of Collective Impact

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 18:33:11 GMT

In 2013, Prosperity Indiana began a multi-year partnership with the Legacy Foundation of Lake County to design a program that uses a neighborhood-based collective impact approach to strengthen communities from within -- through organizing, planning and decision-making and action. Four years later, the Legacy Foundation Neighborhood Spotlight program has seen four communities bring about transformation in local places, as residents, nonprofit organizations, and businesses came together to learn, plan, and implement change in their neighborhoods block-by-block.

Prosperity Indiana received an initial grant from the Knight Fund of the Legacy Foundation to facilitate the design of the Neighborhood Spotlight program in collaboration with the Legacy Foundation staff and board members. The Prosperity Indiana Capacity Building Team then worked with the inaugural communities, Hobart Northwest and the Gary-Miller Creative Arts District, to build the capacity of local stakeholders and coordinate collective impact planning efforts within each. Because of the program’s success, the JP Morgan Chase Foundation awarded Prosperity Indiana a grant to support the program and provide the same support to two additional communities, Gary’s Emerson neighborhood and the Town of Griffith, in 2016.

Now that all four communities are in the implementation phase of their plans, the excitement continues to build as participants see the projects that they organized around, decided on and are acting upon coming to fruition. Many of these projects are prime examples of what can happen when “a cross-section of community members work collaboratively and collectively on improving quality of life”.

The Gary-Miller Creative Arts District, one of the Spotlight communities, has been bustling with activity, completing so many of the action steps and goals of their quality of life plan that they’ve continued on to set new goals and objectives to accomplish.

Miller Community Builder Jessie Renslow says, “Community buy-in has made these projects hugely successful since they are community-sourced programs.”

Much of Renslow’s work has been to bring stakeholders together to get things done collaboratively instead of competing with one another.

“Because of Miller Spotlight, we’ve formed a lot of partnerships we couldn’t have had on our own.”

One project sparked by the identified strengths and needs of the community is a small business incubator and co-working space, The Stage (pictured on the right). Since its soft launch on February 12, 2017, this newly reclaimed community space has sprung to life with pop-up shops, business and financial literacy workshops, and other community gatherings to further the efforts of the Miller Neighborhood Spotlight work groups and connect fledgling local entrepreneurs with resources to strengthen their chances for success.

In an article by Dezimon Alicea of The Gary Crusader, Stage Manager Gretchen Sipp shared the community’s vision for the space. She said, “The hope is that “The Stage” will provide a platform for emerging entrepreneurs, freelancers, small business owners, creatives, and the community as a whole to gain knowledge, build a social foundation, and turn their purpose into profit while building and supporting our city.”

Community builder Jessie Renslow (left) with Gretchen Sipp, manager of The Stage, a new small business incubator in Miller

Meanwhile, in another Spotlight community close to Miller, part of the Gary Downtown-Emerson neighborhood’s audacious plan is to turn this blighted area into an eco-district. Pastor Curtis Whittaker, Executive Director of FAITH CDC, the convening organization for Emerson’s Neighborhood Spotlight, said that the planning process was valuable in that it “forced doers to step back to create a vision and plan for moving forward.”

He added, “We’re grateful for the opportunity to see what the goal is and the steps to complete that goal.”

For Emerson, the Neighborhood Spotlight process has been “instrumental in pulling people together to get things done.”

This has been transformational for a neighborhood that had experienced planning burnout because its residents felt that many of the City’s plans had not come to fruition. The grassroots process that Neighborhood Spotlight provided allowed residents to see progress through early action projects and to build community and hope for the future of their neighborhood.

One of these tangible beacons of change in the Emerson neighborhood has been FAITH Farms. Burgeoning on the former site of two abandoned houses are crops of herbs and vegetables (pictured on the right). Currently tended to by a mixture of two paid staff, students receiving spending money for the summer and upcoming school year, and community volunteers, members of this urban farm crew are building agricultural skills as they plant, tend, weed, and harvest their crops. A farm stand is set up to allow neighbors to purchase fresh produce within walking distance of where they live. The group is also working with Purdue Extension to acquire an EBT machine, so that neighbors receiving SNAP benefits can use their food stamp dollars to make purchases. The long-term vision for the neighborhood includes expansion into closed loop systems like hydroponics and having an urban agricultural center where residents can learn about topics like nutrition and urban farming. The hope is that by becoming an eco-district they can create job opportunities and stabilize the community by attracting new residents and decreasing the number of blighted properties.

Planning for collective impact that leads to community transformation takes time and investment from a variety of stakeholders. Seeing the progress that each community has made to improve quality of life for themselves and their neighbors, through initiatives like Neighborhood Spotlight, is an incredible reward that reaches well beyond the time that the Prosperity Indiana team spends with resident leaders and community stakeholders. To learn more about collective impact and the framework we use for comprehensive community development, visit the Resource Library on our website.

To learn more about the Neighborhood Spotlight program and explore each community’s plan for collective impact, visit the Legacy Foundation’s website.

2017 Interim Study Committee Assignments Announced

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 16:04:53 GMT

Update as of 8/7/17:

Below are some of the announced dates for interim study committees of interest to Prosperity Indiana's membership. (The full list of committee meeting dates announced so far can be found here: https://iga.in.gov/static-documents/2/4/2/e/242eba6c/cal_of_meetings.pdf):

August:

8th: Courts and the Judiciary, Interim Study Committee on, Room 431, 1:00 PM
23rd: Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services, Interim Study Committee on, Room 431, 1:00 PM

September

21st: Courts and the Judiciary, Interim Study Committee on, Room 431, 1:00 PM

October

5th: Courts and the Judiciary, Interim Study Committee on, Room 431, 1:00 PM

In our earlier blog, we outlined the topics to be examined this year in the General Assembly’s interim study committees. Now, we have also learned the legislator assignments to these committees. Below is a list of the committee assignments for the committees we are watching on behalf of Prosperity Indiana’s member interests, as well as a summary of the topics under consideration by those committees that are of interest to our membership.

Stay tuned to our blog or check here for updates on dates for interim study committee meetings.

*Corrections and Criminal Code*
CHR- Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis
V CHR- Rep. Thomas Washburne, R-Inglefield
Senators	Representatives
Sen. Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville	Rep. Edward DeLaney, D-Indianapolis
Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis	Rep. Ryan Hatfield, D-Evansville
Sen. Timothy Lanane, D-Anderson	Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville
Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage	Rep. Sharon Negele, R-Attica
Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis	Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington
Sen. James Tomes, R-Wadesville	Rep. Gregory Steuerwald, R-Avon

The Corrections and Criminal Code Interim Committee will examine the availability and certification of treatment providers and treatment facilities and extending support services (including mental health and addiction treatment) to individuals in the criminal justice system

*Courts and the Judiciary*
CHR- Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville
V CHR- Gregory Steuerwald, R-Avon
Senators	Representatives
Sen. Randall Head, R-Logansport	Rep. John Bartlett, D-Indianapolis
Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek	Rep. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend
Sen. Timothy Lanane, D-Anderson	Rep. Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend
Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago	Rep. Karen Engleman, R-Corydon
Sen. Jack Sandlin, R-Indianapolis	Rep. Chris May, R-Bedford
Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis	Rep. Thomas Washburne, R-Inglefield

The Courts and the Judiciary Interim Committee will study Adult Protective Services, indigent services for persons charged with a misdemeanor, civil forfeiture laws, defense services for children in need of services and guardianship.

*Environmental Affairs*
CHR- Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown
V CHR- Rep. David Wolkins, R-Warsaw
Senators	Representatives
Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso	Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
Sen. Susan Glick, R-LaGrange	Rep. Greg Beumer, R-Modoc
Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell	Rep. Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend
Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend	Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie
Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington	Rep. William Friend, R-Macy
Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage	Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis

The Environmental Affairs Interim Committee will study public water supply protection and issues related to lead removal, how water utility service can be adequately and affordably provided in areas of Indiana in which water utility service is inadequate and/or costly; the health effects and issues concerning economic development from wind power devices; and rural broadband service in Indiana.

*Fiscal Policy*
CHR- Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek
V CHR- Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville
Senators	Representatives
Sen. Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis	Rep. Robert Cherry, R-Greenfield
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne	Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers
Sen. James Buck, R-Kokomo	Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis
Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle	Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis
Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago	Rep. Steven Stemler, D-Jeffersonville
Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington	Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton

The Fiscal Policy Interim Committee will study uniform property tax assessment of nonprofit entities (KEY PRIORITY), issues related to establishing a neighborhood enhancement property tax relief program, a multi-year review of certain tax incentives, and tax increment financing issues

*Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services*
CHR- Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
V CHR- Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, R-Beech Grove
Senators	Representatives
Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville	Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary
Sen. Michael Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores	Rep. Steve Davisson, R-Salem
Sen. Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis	Rep. David Frizzell, R-Greenwood
Sen. Ron Grooms, R-Jeffersonville	Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis
Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond	Rep. Vanessa Summers, D-Indianapolis
Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington	Rep. Dennis Zent, R-Angola

The Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services Interim Committee will study changes to state law in light of changes that will come from modifications in federal healthcare legislation.

The Federal Reserve Banks’ LMI Survey

Fri, 14 Jul 2017 16:59:18 GMT

Does your organization serve low- and moderate-income individuals?

The Community Development and Policy Studies (CDPS) Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago requests your participation in the Low- and Moderate- Income (LMI) survey. CDPS, along with community development departments at the Federal Reserve Banks in Boston, Dallas, Kansas City and Philadelphia disseminate a brief survey, which addresses key areas of concern for LMI populations as well as organizations that serve marginalized populations. While the survey questions are high-level, your insights will provide a better understanding of regional conditions affecting LMI populations, with respect to both trends over time, and as compared with other regions of the country.

As background or to learn more about the LMI survey, please visit the homepage on the Kansas City Fed’s website.

Please click here Take the Survey to take the LMI Survey by Friday July 21st.

Participants will be asked same set of questions twice a year to ensure consistency and convenience.

Please contact Emily Engel at Emily.Engel@chi.frb.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Indiana Response to Hate Conference

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:05:23 GMT

The Central Indiana Alliance Against Hate, a project of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI), is pleased to announce the inaugural Indiana Response to Hate Conference. This Conference will bring people together committed to combating and addressing hate through this first of its kind training opportunity.

DATE/TIME: The Inaugural Indiana Response to Hate Conference will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at the Marriott East in Indianapolis from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Registration opens at 8:00 AM along with a continental breakfast. The conference will begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Please be sure to arrive by 8:30 AM to receive your registration packet and breakfast.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND FEATURED SPEAKERS: The luncheon keynote speaker will be Judy Shepard, Anti-Hate Crimes Activist and Mother of Matthew Shepard. However, Ms. Shepard is not alone in speaking at the conference. The full agenda of phenomenal speakers includes:

Miriam Zeidman of the Anti-Defamation League
Jeannine Bell, Author and Richard S. Melvin Professor of Law at Indiana University
Lydia X. Z. Brown, Disability Rights Advocate
Hilary Shelton of the NAACP-Washington DC Bureau
Pardeep Kaleka of Serve 2 Unite
David Sklar of the Jewish Community Relations Council
Rima Khan Shahid of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana
Amber O’Haver of the Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council (INSILC)
Kerry Steiner of the Indiana Native American/Indian Affairs Commission
And others that are currently pending!

AGENDA: A draft agenda can be viewed here. Please note that the schedule and speakers are subject to change.

CONFERENCE COST: The registration cost for this all-day event is only $40/person if registered on or by July 16, 2017. After this date, the cost will be $55/person. This registration fee assists with the costs of the speaker related costs, audio/visual needs, continental breakfast, lunch, and beverage. Due to hotel meal count requirements, no refunds will be provided after July 31, 2017.

REGISTRATION: To register for the conference, click here. Registration is required. Space is limited.

More information can be found on the event page: http://www.fhcci.org/events/response-2017/

FHLBI Seeking Affordable Housing Advisory Council Nominations

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 15:23:11 GMT

Every year, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ (FHLBI) Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC)—comprised of housing and community development leaders from Michigan and Indiana—helps chart the bank’s path forward on this mission. The council is a forum for knowledge sharing, policy advice, and relationship building between FHLBI members and practitioners doing the difficult work of developing communities.

Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Andy Fraizer who currently serves as chair of AHAC says, “This is an excellent opportunity to understand FHLBI and regulatory policies that govern it, find alignment, and be a resource, shaping the direction of FHLBI.”

FHLBI is accepting nominations for vacancies on its Affordable Housing Advisory Council. Interested parties should complete a nomination form.

Nominations must be received by September 30, 2017.

About the Advisory Council

The 12 members of the Advisory Council meet quarterly to confer with representatives of FHLBI’s Board of Directors on execution of the bank’s housing finance and community investment strategies in Indiana and Michigan. Members provide recommendations on matters such as low- and moderate-income housing, community investment programs in FHLBI’s district, and the use of Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidies, FHLBI advances, and other credit products.

Members receive a stipend for each quarterly meeting they attend and are reimbursed for travel, lodging, and meal expenses. Meetings may require overnight travel but are typically one day in length. On occasion, additional committee meetings may be required.

Advisory Council members serve three-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Nomination Criteria

FHLBI seeks nominees from a diverse range of community and nonprofit organizations actively involved in providing or promoting low- and moderate-income housing or community lending in Michigan and Indiana. Nominees must reside in the state they seek to represent on the Council.

For more information, visit the Affordable Housing Advisory Council page at www.fhlbi.com or contact MaryBeth Wott, First Vice President and Community Investment Officer, at 317-465-0368 or at 1-800-688-6697.

Job Opportunity: Central Indiana Community Foundation

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 14:11:04 GMT

Community Investment Officer
Central Indiana Community Foundation

If you’ve always wanted to find a place where you are surrounded by people as intelligent, dedicated, and passionate about the transformative power of philanthropy as you are, then welcome to Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). CICF is seeking a person to serve as liaison between not-for-profits, the community, and their constituents, advising on community issues and the grantmaking process.

As a member of the community investment department, this full-time position will manage a portfolio of activities in the grantmaking and community engagement process, serve as a convener for community issues and facilitate Foundation supported community initiatives. This position requires strong knowledge of the not-for-profit community, excellent organizational, analytical and evaluation skills as well as outstanding customer service skills.

The Foundation is looking for candidates who are organized, flexible, and creative. Professional presence, relationship building skills, and the ability to interact effectively with a variety of people are essential. CICF has an open corporate culture of teamwork, creativity, and dedication. Every staff member believes it is an honor and a privilege to serve the not-for-profits and donors in this community. Candidates should have values, interests, and a work style that are compatible with this philosophy.

A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven (7) years prior experience in the not-for-profit or public sector is required. Experience in the housing and community development grantmaking, project management, and managing task groups is preferred.

Interested persons should submit a detailed cover letter, resume, and salary requirements by July 22, 2017. Apply via the CharitableAdvisors.com Nonprofit Job Board at: CICF Community Investment Officer.

No phone calls please. EOE

Funding Opportunity: AARP Community Challenge

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 13:14:06 GMT

AARP is providing grants for 501(C)(3) and 501(C)(4) nonprofits and government entities to enhance the quality of life for all people of all ages. The AARP Community Challenge will fund projects to help build momentum towards building and sustaining great communities. If your idea is big, no project is too small. Projects can range from short-term activities costing a few hundred dollars to sizable efforts that might need thousands.

Grant applications are due Saturday, July 15, 11:59 PM (ET). Proposed projects must be completed no later than Wednesday, November 1.

Follow this link for more details and the grant application: http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/about/info-2017/aarp-community-challenge.html

Need a little inspiration? Listen to this episode of Prosperity Indiana's Ways and Means to hear about short-term actions that can lead to long-term solutions.

Prosperity Indiana Comments on 2018-2019 Indiana Draft Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP)

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 18:40:12 GMT

Prosperity Indiana's members are diverse in their structure, geography and areas of practice, but they are united by a purpose to achieve prosperity in Hoosier communities. This includes efforts to ensure that those in need gain access to affordable, safe, accessible and stable housing. With that in mind, Prosperity Indiana engages our members in developing policy priorities and soliciting feedback on crucial community development plans such as the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) which determines how Low Income Housing Tax Credits will be prioritized and allocated to achieve statewide community development goals.

These resources are more critical than ever for the populations our members serve. A new report from the Joint Center on Housing Studies (JCHS) at Harvard University found that, “even with multifamily construction at its highest level in two decades, additions to the rental supply have not kept pace with swelling demand. As a result, rents have climbed across the board.” Additionally, the report found that there is a “worsening mismatch of demand and supply, with the number of low-income renters far outstripping the number of available units.”

Using LIHTC resources to effectively respond to these considerable challenges is a tall order; and on behalf of our members, Prosperity Indiana staff appreciated the dialogue with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority staff regarding the approach to this drafting process prior to the release of the first draft of the 2018-2019 QAP. Additionally, we appreciated our members who participated in stakeholder meetings and our Connection Point monthly call where we solicited feedback on the current QAP. The comments contained in our feedback reflect the best summary of common themes and concerns expressed throughout those engagements.

Main Themes of Member Feedback include:

Areas where the QAP has improved compared to previous versions
Continued concerns regarding geographic bias in point awards
Onerous requirements that are barriers to nonprofit participation in the application process

Click here to download our letter submitted to IHCDA.

Please direct any follow up comments to Kathleen Lara, Prosperity Indiana's Policy Director at klara@prosperityindiana.org.

2017 Indiana General Assembly Interim Study Committee Topics that Impact Your Work

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 17:16:31 GMT

For those following our policy updates, you know that the 2017 session of the General Assembly ended with mixed results for Prosperity Indiana’s priorities. For a wrap up of how our priorities fared, click here for our blog post.

During the summer and early fall, state legislators follow up on topics assigned to study committees during session. Those committees often produce findings that result in legislation for the next session or investigate issues that were not given much, if any, time during the condensed session schedule.

In late May, the Legislative Council met to announce which topics that were assigned to study would be heard in interim committees this year. Their findings can be found here: https://iga.in.gov/documents/27badb77.

The following are of interest to our members:

The Fiscal Policy Interim Committee will study uniform property tax assessment of nonprofit entities (KEY PRIORITY), issues related to establishing a neighborhood enhancement property tax relief program, a multi-year review of certain tax incentives, and tax increment financing issues
The Corrections and Criminal Code Interim Committee will examine the availability and certification of treatment providers and treatment facilities and extending support services (including mental health and addiction treatment) to individuals in the criminal justice system
The Courts and the Judiciary Interim Committee will study Adult Protective Services, indigent services for persons charged with a misdemeanor, civil forfeiture laws, defense services for children in need of services and guardianship.
The Environmental Affairs Interim Committee will study public water supply protection and issues related to lead removal, how water utility service can be adequately and affordably provided in areas of Indiana in which water utility service is inadequate and/or costly; the health effects and issues concerning economic development from wind power devices; and rural broadband service in Indiana.
The Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services Interim Committee will study changes to state law in light of changes that will come from modifications in federal healthcare legislation.

Stay tuned to this post and our blog for updates on Prosperity Indiana's coverage of these meetings and policy issues. C l ick here for updates on interim study committee schedule.

Solar Powering Thriving Communities

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:30:00 GMT

How can Indiana communities benefit from solar energy?

Solar energy provides many economic, environmental, and health benefits, and harnessing the energy of the sun can be a strategy for developing thriving, sustainable, and resilient communities in our state. Community members play an important role in spreading solar technology. Prosperity Indiana’s new program, Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN), intends to make use of the power of community influence to help promote adoption of solar panels.

Clean Air & Healthy Communities

Promoting healthy, livable communities is central to Prosperity Indiana’s mission. Solar energy provides a clean alternative to coal-fired power plants, which are currently the state’s largest source of electricity, accounting for 70 percent of electricity generation. In fact, Indiana is home to 4 of the country’s most harmful coal-fired power plants, deemed “super polluters”. These power plants exceed national averages, both in their release of carbon emissions, which accelerate climate change, and toxic air pollutants, which threaten public health. Sulfur dioxide and other air pollutants emitted from these power plants can cause cancer and exacerbate asthma and other serious health conditions. Polluted air is an inescapable threat to the health of Indiana communities, especially to those located within close proximity to coal-fired power plants. Moving away from dirty energy and accelerating adoption of renewable technologies is key to better protecting the health of Hoosiers.

Further, Indiana has the eighth highest levels of annual carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Our state’s large carbon footprint contributes to climate change, which is predicted to have negative social, ecological, and economic impacts on global, national, and local levels. Impacts, such as highly variable weather and more frequent temperature extremes, will have deleterious effects on the health and livelihood of many Hoosiers. In order to mitigate climate change and its worst consequences, converting to renewable energy sources such as solar is an imperative.

Economic Development & Energy Savings

Clean energy has obvious benefits for public and environmental health, but it also provides important economic opportunities for Indiana businesses and workers. The solar industry currently consists of 88 companies that employ 2700 workers in the state, and Indiana solar jobs are expected to grow by 14% in 2017. Promoting solar development in Indiana is a strategy for guaranteeing safe, well-paying jobs that benefit local economies. Attracting solar developers and installation companies to our state will help to lay a solid foundation for the inevitable transition to renewable energy and will make Indiana a strong competitor in the burgeoning renewable energy market.

Organizations and individuals can reduce their energy costs by purchasing solar panels. In the past decade, the costs of solar technology have decreased dramatically, resulting in per kilowatt-hour costs that are on par with or even below fossil fuel options. It is predicted that the costs of solar technology will continue to fall, passing the savings on to solar panel owners. Further, individuals and organizations in Indiana who install solar panels prior to the end of 2017 will be eligible for net metering, which is a billing mechanism that provides market rate compensation for solar energy that feeds back into the electricity grid. Individuals that purchase solar panels are also eligible for a federal investment tax credit that reduces taxes on solar technology by 30%. Additionally, solar panels increase the value of your property. All of these factors combine to make solar a cost-effective energy option.

The Role of Community in Solar Adoption

Solar is contagious. Multiple studies have confirmed that the most influential factor in an individual’s choice to install solar panels on their property is the presence and visibility of solar on the homes of their neighbors. One study found that “the installation of one additional solar photovoltaic rooftop project within the past six months in a given area increased the average number of installations within a half mile radius by .44, or almost one half.” Neighbors and community members, just by owning visible solar panels, act as catalysts for the spread of solar energy in their communities. It turns out that peer pressure can have positive outcomes!

Although solar panels are often thought to be cost-prohibitive, these studies, which have surveyed neighborhoods throughout America, confirm that there is no significant correlation between areas with strong solar panel presence and income levels or political affiliation. This is an important observation given solar’s reputation as energy source reserved for affluent environmentalists. Solar panels can provide the largest benefits to low income individuals who, on average, spend 7.2% of their incomes on utility bills--a significant portion compared to the 2.3% national average. The disproportionate burden of energy costs for low income residents can be offset by solar energy savings; however, affording the initial costs of solar technology is often an unfortunate barrier to its potential long-term savings, which is why SUN will help to finance solar installations for low income residents. Solar technology is a tool for reducing energy costs and promoting improved environmental and public health, which is something everyone can get behind.

To see how many of your neighbors have solar panels, check out Google’s Project Sunroof. This tool also allows you to enter your address to estimate how much energy your roof could harness and how much money you could save by going solar.

Solar Uniting Neighbors Program

Prosperity Indiana launched our Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) program on June 15. Limited funding for solar photovoltaic installations will be available for nonprofit organizations that serve low income residents and are customers of Duke Energy. In addition to funding projects, Prosperity Indiana and its partners will facilitate solarize programs in multiple communities to help spread solar technology and its benefits to Hoosiers. Part of the solarize program will include fundraising for the installation of solar panels on residencies of low income individuals. Allyson Mitchell, Prosperity Indiana’s Director of Sustainability, is spearheading the program and will be giving a presentation about SUN at the upcoming Southeast regional member meeting on Tuesday, June 27. For those who cannot attend but are interested in learning more, Allyson will host a webinar about SUN at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 28. Please register for the webinar here.

For more details about SUN, view our press release here and follow us on social media for program updates.

By Kristen Billings, Sustainability Intern

Media Release: Solar Uniting Neighbors Program Launch And Available Funding

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:00:00 GMT

Today, Prosperity Indiana announces the first component of its Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) program, which is an effort to fund a total of $350,000 worth of solar projects for community organizations serving low income individuals in Duke Energy Indiana’s electric service territory.

The funding portion of this program is provided by a settlement agreement reached between Duke Energy Indiana, Citizens Action Coalition, Save the Valley, Sierra Club, Valley Watch, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the Duke Industrial Group, and Nucor Steel. Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED), dba Prosperity Indiana, was named in the settlement agreement as the administrator of the funds.

Funding is available, via the settlement, for the purchase and installation of solar installations of less than 0.5MW for community, educational, religious, and nonprofit organizations that serve low income individuals in the Duke Energy Indiana service territory. Organizations interested in applying for funding can download the Request For Project Applications (RFPA) on Prosperity Indiana’s website. Responses are due July 14, 2017 to sun@prosperityindiana.org.

Prosperity Indiana and its partners plan to provide access to solar energy technology in Indiana communities at highly competitive prices in a simple, easy process, while providing information and limited funding to qualifying community organizations who serve low income individuals within the Duke Energy Indiana electric service territory.

To make the settlement money go further and do more, Prosperity Indiana and its partners plan to negotiate discounted pricing for pre-evaluated solar products and installers through a transparent, competitive purchasing process (using a Request for Contractor Bids) so the community organizations will not have to burden themselves with becoming experts in solar, or lose time getting and evaluating multiple bids. Similar arrangements have resulted in installed costs that are 10 to 20 percent lower than the going market costs, with a much easier and faster process for new solar owners.

The SUN Program Administration team also plans to provide resources for technical assistance for the development and deployment of Community Solarize programs, the SUN For All Program aimed at increasing the availability of solar for low income households, and the release of a competitive bidding process to select the solar contractors that will evaluate and install the nonprofit solar projects, all of which will be coming soon. The SUN Program Administration Team includes the expertise of the Solar Indiana Renewable Energy Network (SIREN) and Indiana Solar For All. Andy Fraizer, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana, states “The Solar Uniting Neighbors Program has evolved from its creation in 2014 to better serve our members and the low-income residents they serve.”

HUD Announces FY17 Funding for Formula Programs

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 21:00:00 GMT

Today, HUD released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 allocations for the Office of Community Planning and Development's (CPD) formula programs. Those include Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and the Housing Trust Fund (HTF).

The list for Indiana allocations is included below. The HUD release notes that these amounts reflect approved grant reductions and include any reallocated funds for the CDBG and HOME programs. It also notes that urban county amounts shown do not include the funds allocated to any metropolitan city. The metropolitan city and urban county amounts are shown separately.

Here is a link to the HUD CPD budget page: https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/about/budget/budget17

FY17 Indiana CPD Allocations

NAME	CDBG	HOME	HOPWA	ESG	HTF
Anderson	$826,456	$259,763	$0	$0	$0
Bloomington	$769,074	$435,136	$0	$0	$0
Carmel	$235,411	$0	$0	$0	$0
Columbus	$231,562	$0	$0	$0	$0
East Chicago	$1,199,552	$214,811	$0	$0	$0
Elkhart	$708,374	$0	$0	$0	$0
Evansville	$2,412,918	$520,500	$0	$220,629	$0
Fort Wayne	$1,846,897	$767,509	$0	$169,790	$0
Gary	$3,025,987	$573,363	$0	$270,715	$0
Goshen	$272,284	$0	$0	$0	$0
Hammond	$1,959,654	$332,150	$0	$174,804	$0
Indianapolis	$8,261,780	$3,089,757	$1,106,921	$739,292	$0
Kokomo	$735,984	$0	$0	$0	$0
Lafayette	$597,938	$611,777	$0	$0	$0
La Porte	$406,113	$0	$0	$0	$0
Michigan City	$612,647	$0	$0	$0	$0
Mishawaka	$462,542	$0	$0	$0	$0
Muncie	$1,083,339	$380,876	$0	$0	$0
New Albany	$610,221	$0	$0	$0	$0
South Bend	$2,365,622	$734,817	$0	$211,484	$0
Terre Haute	$1,429,198	$284,421	$0	$0	$0
West Lafayette	$325,093	$0	$0	$0	$0
Hamilton County	$616,049	$0	$0	$0	$0
Lake County	$1,394,767	$491,985	$0	$0	$0
Indiana Nonentitlement	$27,891,732	$10,002,216	$1,103,995	$3,657,325	$3,367,317

Media Release: Affordable Rental Housing Out of Reach for Hoosiers

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 22:31:20 GMT

To afford a decent, two-bedroom apartment at the Fair Market Rent in Indiana, Hoosiers working a 40-hour week need to earn $15.17 per hour. This is Indiana's 2017 housing wage, revealed in a national report released today.

The report, Out of Reach 2017, was jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy organization, and Prosperity Indiana. Out of Reach documents the gap between what workers earn and the cost of housing by calculating housing wage. This is the hourly wage a renter working 40 hours per week must earn to afford a modest apartment without spending more than 30 percent of his or her income on housing costs.

The housing wage of $15.17 is $7.92 higher than the Indiana minimum wage ($7.25). That means a renter earning minimum wage in Indiana would need to work 67 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent and 84 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom.

The least affordable counties for Hoosiers to access rental housing are Monroe, Newton, Lake and Porter counties. The housing wage in Monroe County is $17.77. In Lake, Newton, and Porter, $16.62 is needed to afford a Fair Market Rent two-bedroom rental. Also more expensive than the state average, Indianapolis’ housing wage is $16.35.

Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Andy Fraizer said, "Housing markets vary across Indiana based on local conditions. In all local markets, wages are not keeping pace with

housing costs, and those earning the least are struggling the most. The Out of Reach report illuminates this problem in every county with easily understood data."

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said the Out of Reach 2017 data depicts why millions of low-income renters are struggling to afford their homes.

“The federal minimum wage has stayed the same since 2009 but the national Housing Wage has increased to $21.21 for a two-bedroom rental home, more than 2.9 times higher than the federal minimum wage and $4.83 higher than the average renter’s wage,” Yentel said. “We have the resources to solve the affordable housing crisis by realigning federal tax expenditures and reinvesting the savings in rental housing programs that serve our nation’s most vulnerable. We lack only the political will to do so.”

The Prosperity Indiana 2017 state policy agenda outlines strategies to increase the supply of affordable rental housing and ease its development. This includes legislation to provide clarity and certainty around tax exemption for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that own and operate affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families. Prosperity Indiana is working with leaders in the Indiana General Assembly to create a uniform, objective standard to ensure that nonprofit organizations receive property tax exemption throughout all of Indiana’s 92 counties.

“A uniform property tax system that values the charitable purpose of basic shelter for low-income families is essential to preserving and expanding quality affordable housing options, which our state currently lacks,” Fraizer said. “We can assist households who face the greatest challenges in finding decent, safe and affordable housing by providing fair tax treatment, rebalancing scarce federal housing resources and increasing investments in proven solutions, like the National Housing Trust Fund and rental assistance. America can afford to invest in programs for people with the greatest needs.”

For additional information, visit: www.nlihc.org/oor.

Sec. Carson Defends Administration’s Deep Cuts to Housing Programs in Testimony

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 20:40:44 GMT

Secretary Carson testified today before the Senate Appropriations Transportation and HUD (THUD) Subcommittee on the administration's FY18 budget and he will appear on the Hill tomorrow before the House THUD Appropriations Subcommittee .

The budget proposal would eliminate funding entirely for the National Housing Trust Fund, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, and the Community Development Block Grants program in addition to severely underfunding key programs that promote affordable housing and combat homelessness.

Our blog posts regarding the draft and final proposals and offering details on the Administration’s proposed cuts to specific housing and community development programs across numerous federal agencies and the Indiana impact can be found by clicking here and here.

Senate Hearing Notes:

Secretary Carson emphasized the need to make difficult decisions like a family with limited resources when pressed about the size of the budget cuts to /elimination of for critical community development funding. Several Committee members pressed Carson to square his testimony during his confirmation process about the need for compassion and resources for safe, affordable housing with the budget figures contained in the President’s budget.

Carson noted that in one area, lead abatement, there was an increase in funding and in other areas, they were trying to increase efficiencies, reduce waste and use federal investments as seed money to support local efforts instead of serving as the sole funder of many of these efforts. Some Senators pointed out leverage and match requirements in most HUD programs being slashed, but Carson reasserted the need to reign in spending responsibly. Much of the discussion centered around a largely bipartisan concern for cuts to the CDBG program. When asked specifically about cuts to homeless programs, Carson said that this is one area, “where our humanity must be evident and our commitment steadfast,” but he asserted that the proposal was not counterproductive to that goal. He argued that the prioritization of funding and programming changes are essential to achieve budget restraint and reach compassionate housing goals.

You can watch Secretary Carson testify by following the links below:

Wednesday, June 7 Senate Webcast: http://bit.ly/2qG7pqh
Thursday, June 8 House Webcast: http://bit.ly/2r24rAS

This post will be updated

Job Opportunity: Serve Indiana

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:00:28 GMT

Serve Indiana is seeking qualified applications for their Communications and Training Manager open position. The purpose of this position is to oversee Serve Indiana’s communications including social media, newsletter and marketing needs. In addition, the Manager will organize and facilitate all Serve Indiana trainings and events alongside other team members. The position is overseen by the Assistant Director and requires some travel and outreach efforts.

Serve Indiana is a division of the Department of Workforce Development within the State of Indiana. The position is a “Program Director” position within the state and applicants can apply at http://www.in.gov/spd/careers/ . The application ID is 609189 and applications will be open until 06/19/2017. For more information about the position, please contact Elspeth Hilton at 317-233-0901 or ehilton@serveindiana.gov. For more information about Serve Indiana, visit www.serveindiana.gov.

Reviewers Needed for OCS Community Economic Development Program Application Review

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 18:34:24 GMT

The Office of Community Services (OCS) is seeking expert reviewers with a broad array of direct community economic development experience to help select grantees for the Community Economic Development (CED) program.

The grant review process is mutually beneficial for the Federal government and the reviewers. The Federal government and taxpayers benefit from expertise and knowledge of the reviewers, ensuring that OCS projects address relevant and emerging issues in the communities they serve. At the same time, reviewers obtain knowledge about the Federal grant award process and grant application requirements, which can be taken back to the community and applied when developing proposals.

If you or someone you know is interested in serving as a reviewer, please review this linked brochure or visit the Reviewer Recruitment website (direct link: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/resource/ced-reviewers) for more details and then contact OCS@reviewops.org.

To avoid conflict of interest, individuals from organizations that are applying for CED funding this year will not be accepted as reviewers.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email OCSRegistrar@icf.com.

Memorial CDC:”Putting Faith to Work” Conference

Tue, 30 May 2017 15:51:35 GMT

By Rasheedah Jackson, Development Director, MCDC

Member organization Memorial CDC is hosting a conference June 27-29 to share best practices in community development. In the following guest blog, MCDC Development Director Rasheeda Jackson reflects on the organization’s history and successes and plans for the conference.

The Vision

Twenty-three years ago, Pastor Adrian M. Brooks Sr. was given a powerful vision from God that would redefine the role of Memorial Baptist Church (MBC) within the center city of Evansville, IN. At that time, the church had a small membership of about 50 people, and the community was distressed. The members of Memorial were diligent in sharing the good news and meeting the spiritual needs of the community, but it was apparent that people were living in despair. Blight, poverty, and addiction were just some of the challenges that they were facing. Memorial Baptist Church, with its strong roots in the community, was called to be an agent of change. Pastor Brooks and his 50 faithful members made a commitment to be public servants and a church that would be involved in every facet of peoples’ lives. From that commitment birthed the Memorial Community Development Corporation (MCDC). The purpose of the corporation is to create enriching opportunities in economic development, health services, housing, education, and financial services, social services, and youth development. MCDC would be vital to the transformation of Evansville’s center city.

“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

-James 2:17

The Harvest

Within the first five years of its ministry, Memorial Baptist Church and MCDC experienced an abundance of growth. The church membership grew to over 1,200 and there was an emergence of center city revitalization. Blocks of dilapidated housing and abandoned warehouses were eliminated and replaced with the new Memorial Baptist Church, two senior housing complexes, a health center, childcare facility, multi-family townhouses, and a Subway restaurant. In addition to development, more than 50 ministries providing various supportive services were being offered. Memorial established itself as a pioneer for holistic ministry in action. Residents began to look to Memorial as a solution to their issues. To date, Memorial has developed over 100 units of affordable housing; built and sold 13 single family homes; employed hundreds of youth; supported children and families through childcare and educational programs; provided repair services to homeowners; created access to fresh produce through the Urban Market; purchased a shopping plaza, and chartered a community credit union. God has positioned Memorial to be leaders and advocates poised to meet the ongoing challenges in the city of Evansville.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

The Conference

Memorial Baptist Church and MCDC have accomplished a lot. While demonstrating the impact a church can make in the community through faith and hard work. That is one of the reasons Memorial was inspired to host a conference this summer. Last November, Dr. Stacey Spencer, pastor of New Directions Community Church in Memphis, Tenn., and keynote speaker for the conference, hosted a meeting amongst five faith-based organizations from across the U.S. who spent two days sharing experiences and best practices in community development. The feedback that Memorial received from the participants at that meeting helped us to realize the wealth of information and resources we had to share. It was decided amongst the leadership team that a conference could be very beneficial to others that want to make a difference.

“Putting Faith to Work” is a conference that is not just for churches or faith-based organizations. This conference is for those who have a desire to make a difference and have a heart to serve their community. People should attend because it is a great way to expand their network, garner additional resources, and get one-on-one assistance. A range of businesses, corporations, and other non-profits will be represented at the event. The conference will offer small class sizes to allow participants to be engaged and interact with the presenters as much as possible, also attendees will receive a flash drive of all the learning materials and resources provided. It’s very important to us that our attendees walk away with good information. Another exciting component to this conference is the variety of sessions. There are four tracks: housing, economic development, youth programs, and special topics. Each track has three levels: novice, intermediate, and advanced. The courses are structured this way to reach a broader audience. Presenters represent local and regional communities and bring a wealth of knowledge from their areas of expertise.

Participants can expect to hear from some dynamic speakers and community development practitioners that have a track record of doing amazing work. I am particularly excited about the plenary session because each speaker is truly a community development all-star. Their biographies are available on the MCDC website. Outside of the conference, participants can experience great food, scenery, and entertainment in Downtown Evansville.

The conference will be held June 27 – 29, 2017. The event will take place at Tropicana Casino on Day 1 and Day 2 and at Memorial Baptist Church on Day 3, concluding with center city tours and Memorial’s annual luncheon. Those interested in registering should visit MCDC’s website for all info pertaining to the conference, including registration. You may also contact Development Director Rasheedah Jackson at 812-423-2500 or by email.

Here We Go Again ... President's Budget Begins Fiscal Year 2018 Federal Funding Process

Fri, 26 May 2017 19:44:37 GMT

Just last month, the Congress allocated spending to the federal government for fiscal year 2017 (FY17). Now the process starts anew for FY18 which spans October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. The Trump administration released the 2018 Budget of the U.S. Government: A New Foundation for American Greatness on May 23, 2017.

The headline from the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities conveys the crisis if the President’s vision of greatness is enacted, “Trump Budget Would Increase Homelessness and Hardship in Every State, End Federal Role in Community Development”. The budget offers up large tax cuts for the wealthy along with increases in defense spending and border security. It proposes to pay for these tax expenditures and expenses through deep cuts to federal safety net and community development programs. The President’s budget proposal begins the process. It is a proposal and these drastic cuts and bad proposals can be stopped with your advocacy as outlined below. Congress writes the actual budget and directs funding through appropriations, not the President.

If enacted by Congress, this budget would cut $54 billion from programs designed to meet human needs and develop communities in FY18, and $1.4 trillion over 10 years. These cuts include transportation, workforce development, community economic development, housing, aging, clean water and air, youth and other non-defense discretionary spending.

Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition said in a blog post, “If enacted, Mr. Trump’s budget would exacerbate the growing affordable rental housing crisis in every state and community across the nation, and it would represent a clear departure from the belief that everyone deserves an affordable place to call home.”

The budget proposes the complete elimination of programs and agencies:

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
Choice Neighborhoods program
National Housing Trust Fund
Corporation for National and Community Services (AmeriCorps)
Legal Services Corporation
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (NeighborWorks)
Interagency Council on Homelessness
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant
Economic Development Administration
Minority Business Development Agency

For FY18, the impacts at various federal agencies are sizeable. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) receives a $2.6 billion or 31 percent cut as compared to FY17. The Department of Labor’s reduction is $2.5 billion or 21 percent. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is cut by $7.8 billion or 16 percent. The Department of Commerce cut is $1.5 billion or 16 percent; while the Department of Transportation is cut by $2.4 billion or 13 percent. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) cut is $4.3 billion or 12 percent; and Energy by $1.7 billion or 6 percent.

Indiana’s loss from the elimination of the CDBG program is $60,543,482 and the HOME program impact is $18,671,931. In addition to the program eliminations listed above, the budget proposal eliminates Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for more than 250,000 low-income households. The budget requests $17.6 billion to renew housing vouchers— $771 million less than policymakers provided for 2017 and $2.3 billion less than estimated need in 2018. In Indiana, more than 4,000 vouchers representing real families would lose assistance next year.

The Public Housing Operating Fund is cut by $500 million, while the Public Housing Capital Fund would be reduced $1.31 billion. The Indiana impact is $20,217,861 less for operating. Related policy proposals include increasing tenant rent contributions for public housing to 35 percent of a family’s monthly income and eliminating utility allowance reimbursements. The budget document includes policy proposals affecting the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) initiative including lifting the cap on participation making Section 202 Housing for the Elderly units eligible for participation. The budget request proposes cutting funding for Homeless Assistance Grants, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and Housing for Persons with Disabilities. Homeless Assistance grants are cut $133 million.

The budget proposal decimates the US Department of Agriculture’s programs. Funding for Single Family Direct Loans, Rural Housing Repair Loans, Farm Labor Housing Loans, and Section 515 Multifamily Rental Housing Direct Loans would all be eliminated. 502 Direct Loan and 504 Home Repair Programs provide low-cost loans for the purchase or repair of housing for low-income borrowers that live in rural communities. The budget preserves the 502 Guaranteed Loan Program, where loans made by intermediary lenders are backed by the government, but at a much lower level than what was budgeted for FY17. Section 523 Rental Assistance would be cut by $55 million.

The President’s budget calls for restructuring the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in ways that impair its ability to protect consumers and pursue bad actors defrauding consumers. If enacted as proposed, the CFPB's current funding of $650 million would see an immediate 22 percent cut in FY18. In calling for structural changes, the budget mirrors efforts on Capitol Hill—such as The Financial CHOICE Act of 2017—which would leave countless consumers susceptible to predatory products, services and behaviors. Read about Prosperity Indiana’s recent efforts on Capitol Hill dealing with the CHOICE Act on the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network blog.

Safety net programs experienced large cuts as well in the proposed budget. For programs that are managed jointly between federal and state governments, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, there is a massive cost shifting to the states that would put growing pressure on state budgets in the years to come. SNAP faces a $4.6 billion cut in FY18 and a cut of over $190 billion over the next decade. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is reduced by $1.2 billion in FY18. Much of the savings from TANF and SNAP come from the administration’s proposal to tighten eligibility requirements for benefits and “encourage” work.

The proposal includes changing the funding formula for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, making $600 billion in cuts over 10 years. Included in the Medicaid changes are setting annual limits on federal payments to each state in 2020. The budget proposes to expand on the drastic proposals in the American Health Care Act (AHAC/Trumpcare/Ryancare). The budget proposes to restructure the financing system for the Medicaid program by capping federal Medicaid funding on a per-person or per-state basis. This results in a reduction of federal Medicaid funding and tens of millions of people becoming uninsured according to Congressional Budget Office analysis.

Social Security disability programs are reduced by $72 billion over the next 10 years. These cuts result in changing Social Security Disability (SSDI) from 12 month retroactive payments when someone is accepted to the program to six month retroactive payments and creating a sliding scale for families receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who have multiple recipients within the household. Changes to SSDI also test “new approaches to increase labor force participation” with work requirements.

Across federal agencies, other drastic cuts reduce resources for building resilient families and vibrant communities. These include the elimination of federally subsidized student loans, as well as the public service loan forgiveness program for nurses, policy officers and teachers.

Programs focused on climate change, water quality, and chemical safety, and “safe and sustainable water resources,” would be substantially reduced. Estimated cuts to the EPA reduce funds to Indiana by $8.9 million that protect public health. The EPA budget proposal includes $100 million in cuts for the Clean Power Plan, international climate change programs, and climate change research and partnership programs.

Prosperity Indiana urges you to act and voice your concern to Congress.

Reach out to your members of Congress. The only way to stop these drastic cuts is by calling your Representatives and Senators and telling them you oppose the President’s budget proposal and why. Include details on how cuts impact you, your programs and your community. Share personal stories and data on the impact federal programs. Use the Prosperity Indiana's Policy Action Center to find your member of Congress and contact them directly. Get advice on storytelling from Prosperity Indiana’s Ways and Means podcast.

Other strategies for advocacy include inviting members of Congress and their staff to your organization, your housing development or program so they can see the impact these programs make. Write an op-ed in your local paper. Sign your organization onto the most recent letters urging protection of key programs. Find the list from Prosperity Indiana’s partner, the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations here.

Stay up to date on the budget process, the latest developments, and ways to engage with Members of Congress and stop bad policy and drastic cuts from being included in the final budget. Join in membership today. Signing up is the best way to stay informed and be alerted when it is time to act.

Job Opportunity: PNC's Community Development Banking

Fri, 26 May 2017 16:00:00 GMT

Relationship Manager II

Position Overview:

· Retail Banking
· Full-Time

At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. As a Relationship Manager II within PNC's Community Development Banking organization, you will be based in Indianapolis, IN.

The Relationship Manager must be focused on client opportunities by providing ideas and insights based on an understanding of the client's needs and their financial well-being.

See full job description for more details.

PNC Bank

101 W. Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46255

Job Opportunities: OneWest and LISC Indianapolis

Thu, 25 May 2017 15:00:00 GMT

OneWest, President and Chief Executive Officer

The CEO will report to the Board of Directors and will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, administration, and management of OneWest. The CEO will work collaboratively with the Board of Directors to execute a highly strategic vision dedicated to West Louisville. In addition, the CEO must be a visionary leader and be able to lead and facilitate fundraising and other programs and initiatives to enhance and sustain the organization’s financial goals and mission-driven opportunities.

Click here for the full job announcement

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply immediately and should submit a cover letter and resume.

Send materials via email to: execsearch@nonprofithr.com

To obtain further details about this opportunity, contact:

mmathis@nonprofithr.com

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

Program Officer for Workforce Development

LISC is seeking a team-oriented individual to help deploy a wide range of strategies and services related to the neighborhood-based workforce development agenda in the Indianapolis LISC office. The successful candidate must have a proven record of accomplishment, being highly motivated, highly skilled, quality-minded, and detail-oriented. The candidate will need to be flexible and adept at multi-tasking and adjusting to changing business requirements.

Click here for the full announcement

Interested parties should submit a resume including salary requirements, by 5 pm Friday, June 9, 2017.

Send resumes and/or inquiries to:

Tedd Grain, Deputy Director

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

tgrain@lisc.org

The mission of LISC is to help resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones — good places to live, do business, work, and raise families. Click here to learn more about LISC.

Member offers Free Capacity Building/ Grant-Writing Training

Wed, 24 May 2017 16:00:00 GMT

The Indy East Promise Zone has partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Center for Faith’ Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The capacity building and grant writing training event will be held from 9am to 4:30 pm to provide free training Wednesday, May 31, 2017.

This training will focus on strategies to enhance community and organizational development and the art of successful capacity building.

Trainings will include:

· Organizational Capacity Development
· Sharing your Vision/ Strategic Planning
· Budgeting/ Financial Management
· Elements of a Successful Grant Proposal and more

If interested, click here to register!

Location:

University of Indianapolis

UIndy Hall

1400 E. Hanna Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46227

No cost employee benefit helps employees avert crisis

Tue, 23 May 2017 15:30:00 GMT

While nonprofits excel at providing work opportunities “that matter,” their employees oftentimes sacrifice salary or additional perks available to those in the private sector.

Most of the time, the intangible rewards of work outweigh the downsides of working for an organization on a tight budget.

But when an unexpected hospital visit or a car repair bill hits, it can often snowball into a full-blown financial crisis. When faced with those expenses, the lure of fast cash available at a payday loan store may become tempting.

Sadly, this short-term solution often extends far deeper into its users’ pockets than originally promised. Because payday lenders encourage multiple renewals of loans -- leading to interest payments frequently many times greater than the original loan amount, the product is generally considered a debt trap. Nearly 76 percent of payday loans are quick re-borrows or renewals.

Payday loan payments consume 36 percent of the typical borrower’s biweekly paycheck. However, the average payday borrower can afford only 5 percent a paycheck, making it difficult to pay the loan off in a standard two-week loan period. In Indiana, the average payday borrower takes out approximately nine loans per year. According to a recent report by the National Consumer Law Center, this recycling of the same debt results in typical payday loan fees in Indiana averaging 382 percent annual percentage rate.

But programs like the Community Loan Center -- affordable small dollar loan alternatives -- have recently become available.

Seeing the devastating impact of payday lending products, Prosperity Indiana has partnered with Community Loan Center of America to offer a ‘turnkey’ alternative to payday lending. Community Loan Center (CLC) loans are made to employees of participating employers, and borrowers repay through payroll deduction. All funds loaned are provided through a community-based loan fund, offered by a nonprofit acting as a local lender, not the employer.

CLC loans are unsecured and have a one-year term for a maximum $1,000 loan with an 18 percent interest rate and an initial $20 loan fee.

As a result, the CLC employer-based model meets the same short-term lending needs of payday lending without applying the burdensome fees, interest, and repayment period associated with payday loans.

The CLC program also complements other sources of financing by reporting borrower payment history to credit bureaus, which can increase borrowers’ FICO scores. Improved FICO scores help CLC borrowers qualify for other conventional financial products in the future, like credit cards, mortgages and preferred insurance rates.

Highlights and benefits of the program to participating employers include:

Attracting and retaining employees
Fully automated loan payments
Reducing financial stress, resulting in less employee absenteeism
Fewer payroll advances
Minimizing “presenteeism,” physically present, but distracted employees
Zero cost to employer

CLC loans also rarely end in default. Nationwide, the program has originated more than 10,000 loans with a loan loss of less than four percent.

Through Prosperity Indiana members, Brightpoint in Fort Wayne and HomesteadCS in Lafayette, this opportunity is now available in 22 Indiana counties in Northeast and West Central Indiana.

One participating employer in Lafayette is LTHC Homeless Services, a nonprofit that provides housing and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.

LTHC Executive Director Jennifer Layton said, “As a nonprofit we are always looking for new ways to increase our benefit package to support our staff of 24. Partnering with the Community Loan Center Program was a great opportunity. This program allows my staff to overcome emergent needs as they arise and can assist them with building their own credit. It’s a win-win for LTHC Homeless Services and my staff.”

Prosperity Indiana plans to bring the CLC program statewide by expanding the network of lenders, working with local lenders to recruit more employers to the program and assisting local lenders to assemble operating and loan capital to serve new borrowers. It is currently seeking local lenders to bring the program to Central Indiana and other areas of the state.

If your organization is interested in being a lender, which comes with capital requirements, or becoming a participating employer to provide this free benefit, please let us know.

This program is open to any employer: nonprofit, for-profit and governmental entities. Establishing a stronger case for market demand could aid Prosperity Indiana in finding the right local lender to bring this service to your organization and community.

For more information about this program, please contact Prosperity Indiana’s Assets & Opportunity Network Manager Kelsey Clayton.

Jessica Love is the associate executive director for Prosperity Indiana and works with the executive director to provide team leadership for staff. She is responsible for developing and managing organizational systems for Prosperity Indiana to ensure effective management and control. She also provides one-on-one technical assistance to Prosperity Indiana members, informed by her media and grants management background. With 15 years experience in the nonprofit sector, Love’s consulting work focuses primarily on resource development and creating processes and tools for effective management and program compliance.

People & Places Conference Next Week, Registration Open

Mon, 22 May 2017 20:14:08 GMT

People & Places offers an opportunity to come together and figure out how an unprecedented national context impacts the all-too-familiar challenges facing place makers.

During the conference, strategies will be presented to examine how threats to federal spending, tax reform, immigrant rights, and consumer protection could affect disinvested places and communities of color and what we can do about it. How are place makers offering support to those targeted for deportation? Are rural communities positioned for greater support? Less? What are the place-based implications for healthcare reform?

The goal of People & Places is not to answer these questions, but rather to build a platform and process that gets us one step closer to solutions.

People & Places will feature 35 sessions with more than 100 speakers from communities across the country.

Keynote Speaker: Angela Rye is a Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies.

She is also a CNN Political Commentator and NPR Political Analyst, featured as an influential politico, lawyer, and advocate by several publications and outlets. As a prominent political strategist, Rye offers regular on-air commentary for several media outlets.

Rye served as the Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for the 112th Congress. Prior to working for the CBC, she served as Senior Advisor and Counsel to the House Committee on Homeland Security under the leadership of Congressman Bennie G. Thompson.

Conference Dates: May 31 – June 2

Location: Arlington, Virginia

Minutes from DC – Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, United States

Registration: Go to https://ww2.eventrebels.com/er/Registration/StepRegInfo.jsp?ActivityID=19627&StepNumber=1

Regular registration is open until May 30, 2017.

Onsite registration is available during the conference, May 31 to June 2, 2017.

Explore the Agenda: https://peopleplaces.topi.com/#agenda

Hosts: National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Urban League, Network for Developing Conscious Communities, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations

Connect to Increase Affordable High-Quality Early Childhood Education in Indiana

Tue, 16 May 2017 14:39:29 GMT

Guest blog post by Amanda Lopez, Transform Consulting Group.

In 2013, after a lot of advocacy of several stakeholders, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation to form the Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC).

BACKGROUND

The state statute outlined specific responsibilities for ELAC: annual needs assessment on the state of early learning in Indiana, assess the collaboration and coordination of state agencies involved in early learning, advise development of a new pre-k program called Early Learning Matching Grant (EEMG) framework and make recommendations.

The Governor appointed seven members representing the public and private sector. It did not take long for the seven appointed members to realize that their responsibilities far exceeded their capacity. As a result, ELAC formed seven workgroups to focus on key issue areas.

By forming the seven workgroups, ELAC now includes approximately 150 members representing a variety of disciplines, experiences, expertise and communities.

PURPOSE

ELAC is working to ensure that children ages birth to 8 years and their families have access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education programs that keep children healthy, safe and learning.

All of ELAC’s work is focused on making a difference in these four community impact areas:

In order to accomplish this impact, ELAC and the workgroups are focused on five key strategies.

Establish baselines and future trends
Provide system development tools
Facilitate community partnerships
Demonstrate impact
Secure resources

WHY?

ELAC has spent the first few years really trying to understand the current state of early learning in Indiana. By looking at where we currently are, ELAC has been able to make best practice recommendations for the future. Here are some quick facts to consider:

Indiana is home to roughly half a million of young children (ages 0-5).
About two-thirds of those children (66%) NEED care from other adults, because their parents are part of Indiana’s workforce.
That means about 330,000 of Indiana’s 500,000 infant to five year olds NEED care because their parents work…but only 113,393 of these kids are in known care…a formal setting licensed or registered by the state. The rest – the other 200,000 – are being cared for in an informal setting – cared for by a family, friend, or neighbor.
But it’s not enough for kids just to be in a formal setting - in order for early childhood education investments to make a difference. Kids need to be in a setting that is rated high-quality.
Statewide, only 45,000 (13%) of young children who need care are getting what IN considers to be a high quality educational experience.
Access to a high quality education varies tremendously by county, with 9 counties having no access to high quality programs (see the map).

Resources

At the beginning of 2016, ELAC launched a new website that summarizes the work completed and new resources developed. Some resources that you may want to check out include the new ELAC County Early Childhood Profiles available here:

Other Resources to Check Out:

2017 ELAC Annual Report
Indiana’s Early Childhood Program Funding Analysis
Indiana Glossary on Early Learning Terms and Organizations
Many more report reports and resources on the Resources page
Latest news in early learning and funding opportunities
Workgroup information

CONNECT

There are many ways that you can get involved.

1. Join a workgroup. Check out the seven workgroups and see if there are any natural connections to your work, expertise or passion. Then contact the ELAC project management support team to learn how to get involved.

2. Join a local coalition. Many communities have identified early childhood education as a top economic and education priority for them. They have formed local coalitions to organize around addressing early childhood education and connecting to the resources and partners of ELAC.

3. Attend the upcoming Indiana Summit for Economic Development via Early Learning Coalitions on Monday, June 5^th in Bloomington, Indiana at the Monroe Convention Center. Why would business and community leaders get together to talk about early childhood education? Because they know that early education is an economic driver and workforce development strategy. Register today to be at the forefront of great things for Hoosier economies. http://www.elacindiana.org/indianasummit/

If you have any questions and would like to learn more / get involved, contact Amanda Lopez with Transform Consulting Group (317) 324-4070 x 5 or A.Lopez@transformconsultinggroup.com. They provide project management support for ELAC that is funded by FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

Residents working to improve neighborhood in Anderson

Tue, 09 May 2017 14:23:38 GMT

10-year strategic plan being developed

ANDERSON — Since last August, community leaders and residents have been developing a plan to improve the quality of life in the near west side neighborhood.

Don Knight | The Herald Bulletin | Rachel Mattingly with Prosperity Indiana talks about forming working interest groups that will tackle specifics about quality of life in the 46016 neighborhood at the Anderson Impact Center on Thursday.

Approximately 50 people gathered Thursday at the Anderson Impact Center to get an update on progress and to discuss the next steps.

The Sweet 16 Neighborhood consists of the area comprising the postal zip code and census tract 46016. It includes an area from Brown-Delaware Street to Raible Avenue and from 10th Street to 30th Street.

Rachel Mattingly with Prosperity Indiana said a steering committee has been working since August and they’re asking residents what changes they want to see over the next 10 years.

“A lot can change in 10 years,” she said.

Mattingly said Prosperity Indiana conducted one-on-one interviews on how to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.

She said the next step is to form working interest groups that will tackle specific topics and bring recommendations to the larger group.

“They will be creating strategic plans in various topic areas,” Mattingly said. “Small groups of dedicated people working together to make a difference.”

The specific topics to be addressed include: youth activities; education; job training; housing; infrastructure; crime and drug abuse; business development; and transportation.

Shelly Delong said there are abandoned houses throughout Anderson, but especially in this neighborhood area.

“It’s frustrating for people who want to maintain their properties when there are abandoned houses all around,” she said. “People want to see the neighborhood cleaned up.

“It starts with us as residents of Anderson,” Delong added.

She said when it comes to attitude, people tend to talk negatively about Anderson.

“Anderson is a good place and we’re going to make it better for our kids,” Delong said.

Archie Cotton said the community must work together to restore hope in young people in the neighborhood.

He said weaknesses cited by residents — including a lack of activities and a lack of guidance for young people in single-parent homes — was the focus of the YMCA's decision to gradually change from youth to senior citizen programming.

Cotton said strengths include the Geater Center, Impact Center and the new Girls and Boys Club.

He said churches should be working together to develop programs for young people and to provide opportunities.

“Youth want stability,” he said. “They want programs that are promised to continue and not come to an end in a short period of time.”

The Rev. Ray Wilkins said there is a negative perception of the community and there is now an opportunity to change that perception.

“The drug culture is a bigger problem than we want to admit,” he said. “People can’t get a job because they can’t pass a drug test.

“As a result young people are living with their parents and grandparents,” Wilkins added. “Don’t bury our heads in the sand. We do have that problem.”

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 640-4863.

Topics of concern for the Sweet 16 Neighborhood steering committee:

• Youth activities

• Education, to include post-secondary education.

• Job training

• Infrastructure and greens space

• Crime and drug abuse

• Transportation

• Business development

Story By Ken de la Bastide

Published in The Herald Bulletin, May 6, 2017

http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/residents-working-to-improve-neighborhood/article_5b8b3b47-26f7-56fe-bb0f-1a1e74e6750f.html

Learn about Fair Housing this May

Mon, 08 May 2017 17:17:12 GMT

There are several opportunities to learn the basics of Fair Housing this month, presented by Prosperity Indiana member the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI).

The first is a webinar hosted by the Back Home in Indiana Alliance, Understanding the Basics of Fair Housing with Amy Nelson, Executive Director of FHCCI.

May 18, 2017 from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm (EDT)

Overview: The Fair Housing Act Amendment (FHAA) of 1988 prohibits discrimination and directs U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) program participants to take steps to overcome historic patterns of segregation, promote choice in housing and foster inclusive communities. The FHAA covers most types of housing, including single family homes and rental properties.

What does Fair Housing mean? In this webcast, learn about:

1. The basic facts about the Fair Housing Act.

2. Who is protected by the Fair Housing Act

3. What additional protections are in place for persons with disabilities.

4. What to do if you think your rights or your constituent’s rights have been violated.

Speaker: Amy Nelson brings nearly twenty years of groundbreaking work in fair housing to Indiana. Her work has included addressing systemic lending discrimination against minorities, rental discrimination against those with disabilities and discriminatory advertising.

Amy is active in her Indiana community of 5 years, serving on multiple Indianapolis housing related committees. She maintains membership in several state organizations, including the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development and the Indiana Affordable Housing Association. She is the 2015 recipient of the Central Indiana Realtor Association “Best of the Best” Award. Amy is a longstanding member of the Board of Directors of the National Fair Housing Alliance.

Moderator: Deborah McCarty, Executive Director of the Back Home in Indiana Alliance

Who should attend: Persons with disabilities and their families, care coordinators of the FSSA Money Follows the Person program, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, affordable housing community organizations, public housing agency representatives, property managers, civil rights leaders, HUD program participants, Indiana policy-makers in aging and across disability-related programs; attorneys and advocates.

To Register: Go to https://bhiafairhousing.eventbrite.com/.

You can also call the Back Home in Indiana Alliance at 317.638.2392 to register via telephone or to request disability-related accommodations.

Registration will be closed on May 17, 2017 at 5:00 pm.

Cost: No cost due to the support of our Sponsors.

Sponsors: This webcast is made possible through the generous support of the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana University School of Education – IUPUI and the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana.

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If you would like to attend an in-person training, FHCCI will be offering two FREE Fair Housing 101 Trainings in Indianapolis towards the end of May.

DATE/TIME: Two trainings are being offered:

Training 1: Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Haughville Library in Indianapolis from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Training 2: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at the East 38th Street Library in Indianapolis from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

AGENDA: Topics to be addressed include: Overview of fair housing laws (rental focus), major fair housing regulations and guidance, advertising requirements, and disability specific regulations.

WORKSHOP COST: There is no cost to attend these workshops; however, advance registration is required due to seating limitations.

PARKING: Parking at the libraries is free.

REGISTRATION: To register for either of the workshops, go to: http://www.fhcci.org/events/

Registration is required. Space is limited.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Please contact Amy at the FHCCI if any accommodations are needed. Alternate formats of materials will be available upon request for those with disabilities.

SPONSORS: The funding for these workshops is provided by the City of Indianapolis and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Job Opportunities: Indiana Public Health Association (IPHA)

Fri, 05 May 2017 13:31:36 GMT

Prosperity Indiana Partner, IPHA is seeking candidates for two positions:

Coalition Director, Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana (CADI)

The Coalition Director will conduct multiple responsibilities associated with the Better Together Plan, Indiana’s first state plan to address cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. A copy of the plan can be found by going here: http://indianacadi.org/better-together/. In addition, the Director is responsible for overseeing CADI’s administration, special initiatives and annual statewide symposium. Other key duties include oversight of coalition membership recruitment and retention, community engagement, social media marketing, and fundraising. To accomplish this, the Coalition Director works closely with an Advisory Board of Directors, a consulting firm, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), community partners across the state of Indiana and other IPHA staff. Limited in-state travel is required.

Click here for the full job announcement.

Indiana Chronic Disease Plan Program Manager

The Program Manager will conduct multiple responsibilities associated with Indiana’s Chronic Disease Plan including finalization of the Plan, promotion, implementation, evaluation and partner relations. The Program Manager will work closely with an Advisory Group, other IPHA staff and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). The work involves project management, website development, group facilitation, problem solving, systems thinking and strategic planning. It is broad in scope and requires strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills. Writing and compositional skills and the ability to produce written materials appropriate for various audiences are especially important for this position.

Click here for the full job announcement.

Interested parties should submit a resume with an introductory letter by Friday, May 19, 2017.

Resumes and/or inquiries to:

Jerry King, Executive Director
Indiana Public Health Association
615 N. Alabama Street, Suite 426
Indianapolis, IN 46204
jking@inpha.org

The mission of IPHA is to strengthen public health through partnerships, policies and professional development. Click here to learn more about IPHA.

Community Economic Development Appropriations for Federal Fiscal Year 2017

Thu, 04 May 2017 13:55:44 GMT

Congress reached a fiscal year 2017 (FY17) budget agreement—the Omnibus Appropriations Act—late in the evening Sunday, April 30, 2017. The bill funds the federal government through September this year. The FY17 Omnibus Appropriations Act packages 11 regular appropriations bills, as well as additional Trump administration requests on national defense and border security.

The spending package is expected to be voted on in the House and Senate this week before the current Continuing Resolution ends on May 5. The Omnibus Appropriations Act provides $1.070 trillion in base discretionary funding. The final budget agreement upholds the bipartisan deal made in late 2015 to lift the spending caps—sequestration—required by the Budget Control Act for defense and non-defense programs.

The FY17 budget agreement does not include any of the $18 billion in cuts requested by the Trump administration in the “skinny budget” proposed for FY18.

Looking ahead, FY18 begins October 1, 2017. In a typical year, the President releases his budget proposal on the first Monday in February. Congress then begins its work on a budget resolution and on appropriations legislation. President Trump released a “skinny budget” in March. The full administration FY18 request is expected in mid-May. This timeline has prevented Congress from even beginning regular order budget conversations. Refer to this Prosperity Indiana blog on the FY18 spending proposal—the “skinny budget.”

The following links are legislative text and summaries for each of the FY17 appropriations bills incorporated into the omnibus legislation. These files are provided by the House of Representatives Rules Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee:

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The FY17 Omnibus Appropriations Act funds many HUD programs the same as last year FY16 or with small increases. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) detailed budget chart, this is true for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Family Self-Sufficiency, Native American Block Grants, Native Hawaiian Block Grants, Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships programs, Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), Homeless Assistance Grants, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, Housing Counseling, Policy Development and Research, and Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The programs to see funding cuts compared to FY16 were the Public Housing Operating Fund and Section 811 Housing for People with Disabilities.

This budget chart from Enterprise Community Partners provides additional program detail. Prosperity Indiana’s national partner NLIHC summarized the major housing provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The agreement provides $20.292 billion for tenant-based rental assistance, $18.355 billion renews previous contracts. The bill allocates $47 million for Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), $7 million of which is to serve Native American veterans. The bill also provides $10 million to support new Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers and $120 million for Section 811 mainstream vouchers. The bill provides $10.816 billion to renew project-based rental assistance contracts for calendar year 2017, an increase of $186 million from the FY16 funding level.

The public housing capital fund saw a small increase, while the operating fund received a $100 million cut. The operating fund allocation fell from $4.5 billion in FY16 to $4.4 billion, while the capital fund allocation increased from $1.9 billion to $1.942 billion to help address lead-based paint hazards in public housing. The bill directs $35 million of the capital fund to be used for supportive services and service coordinators.

The bill increases the number of public housing units that can convert under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program from 185,000 to 225,000 and extends the program’s sunset date to 2020. Under RAD, public housing agencies leverage public and private debt and equity, largely through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, to rehabilitate public housing stock and make capital improvements.

The bill increases funding for homeless assistance programs to $2.383 billion from $2.25 billion in FY16. The bill targets $43 million to address youth homelessness and waives the requirement that youth 24 years of age and under provide third-party documentation to receive housing and supportive services within the Continuums of Care. The bill extends the authorization for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) by one additional year. It is now set to expire next year, October 1, 2018.

The bill provides $502 million to the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program, enough to renew all existing contracts and provide $10 million to build new units or provide rental assistance. The bill also reduces funding for the Section 811 Housing for People with Disabilities program to $146 million, $5 million less than the FY16 level. The bill does not include language allowing Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) properties to convert under the Rental Assistance Demonstration.

The bill level-funds the HOME Investments Partnerships program (HOME) at $950 million and the Community Development Block Grant program at $3 billion. The bill also provides a four-year suspension of the 24-month funding commitment deadline under the HOME program. Because of the additional requirements on project selection, underwriting standards, and developer capacity under the HOME program, many communities have struggled to meet the two-year commitment deadline, which led to funding being lost. This language removes this barrier while keeping in place other, more meaningful deadlines.

Funding for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) program was increased to $356 million to account for changes made to how the program funds are awarded by the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act. The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative received an increase above FY16 funding, $125 million to $138 million. Jurisdictions receiving Choice grants must ensure that at least $50 million is made available to public housing authorities.

The bill provides $145 million to the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes’ grants, a $35 million increase above FY16, and proposes initiatives to address lead-based paint hazards in affordable housing. The bill directs HUD to establish a process to improve data on how PHAs are complying with lead-based paint regulations in properties that use Section 8 vouchers.

The bill also takes steps to address the physical conditions of HUD-assisted housing to ensure residents are living in decent and safe homes. It requires HUD to act against property owners receiving rental subsidies that do not maintain safe properties. The language authorizes the HUD secretary to replace the property’s management agent with one approved by HUD, impose civil monetary penalties, change HUD’s contract with the property owner until the program is resolved, transfer the property or contract to a new owner, and relocate tenants, among other actions.

The bill funds the HUD’s office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the same level as FY16. The bill also prohibits HUD from directing local governments to change zoning laws under the agency’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule or with the AFFH assessment tool.

Department of Agriculture

The FY17 spending bill includes $2.94 billion for rural development programs, an increase of $166 million above the FY16 enacted level. The Agriculture section of the omnibus includes a provision setting aside at least 10 percent of most rural development programs for counties with at least a 20 percent poverty rate for the last 30 years (10-20-30).

The bill funds USDA’s Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance program. It also provides a modest increase to USDA’s Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Loan program and the Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization demonstration. It provides increases for rural housing programs including Section 502 Single Family Direct Loans, Section 504 Housing Repair Grants, and Section 521 Rental Assistance.

The Agriculture section of the bill provides $24 billion in loan authority for the Single Family Housing guaranteed loan program, equal to the FY16 level. It includes $1 billion, $100 million above the FY16 enacted level for the direct loan program that provides low-income rural families with home loan assistance. In addition, $1.4 billion, $15 million more than current levels, is included for the Rental Assistance program, which helps low-income families and the elderly in rural communities obtain affordable rental housing.

The bill directs the USDA secretary to incentivize nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities (PHAs) to assume ownership of rental housing properties and to ensure that they remain affordable by allowing these entities to receive a return on investment and asset management fee up to $7,500 per property. According to NLIHC, a record number of USDA rental homes were lost last year due to prepayment or maturity of their USDA Section 515 loan. When that occurs, tenants are no longer eligible for USDA’s rental assistance program and may be subject to rent increases. These incentives are aimed at making it more financially feasible for nonprofit organizations and PHAs to maintain properties as affordable for the long term.

The bill provides discretionary funding, as well as mandatory funding required by law, for food and nutrition programs within the USDA. This includes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Child Nutrition programs. WIC funding is $6.35 billion, the same as FY16 level. SNAP receives $78.5 billion in required mandatory spending, this is $2.3 billion below FY16. Child Nutrition Programs are funded at $22.746 billion in mandatory funding. This is $637.2 million above the FY16 enacted level. This funding will provide free or reduced-price school lunches and snacks for 30.3 million children who qualify for the program.

The bill supports a $946.8 million grant and loan level for rural business and industry programs to promote small business growth in rural areas. It provides $1.25 billion for rural water and waste program loans, the same as the FY16. The measure provides $6.94 billion for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans.

The Omnibus funds the communities facilities program at $2.6 billion, a $400 million increase from last year. This program provides low-cost loans to build critical community infrastructure like hospitals, schools and public safety facilities. It targets historically underserved rural communities throughout the country.

A portion of this funding supports the Department of Agriculture’s relending program, which leverages Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partnerships to build and repair critical community facilities.

Department of Treasury

The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund received a $14.5 million funding increase above FY16 levels to $248 million – the largest appropriation in the history of the fund. The bill places emphasis on serving persistent poverty counties and supports the enhancement of CDFI presence and activities in underserved rural communities.

The Omnibus funds the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at $15 million, level funding from the previous year. This provides certainty to VITA programs that the grant funding will continue for at least the near future.

In other policy matters in the IRS section of the legislation, the agency is prohibited from finalizing any regulation or guidance clarifying the 501(c)4 determination process. Recall, controversy erupted in 2013 when the IRS was accused of targeting nonprofit groups by scrutinizing their political activity while assessing applications for 501(c)4 nonprofit status.

Small Business Administration

The Omnibus Appropriations Act provides $886.8 million for the Small Business Administration (SBA) The bill funds business loans at $157 million. The bill also funds $125 million for Small Business Development Centers, $10.5 million for SCORE, formerly the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and $12.3 million for veteran outreach programs.

Department of Justice

Funding for community safety provisions at the Department of Justice includes $2.4 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement activities, including the Office on Violence Against Women, juvenile justice programs, and community crime prevention grant programs. The bill contains $103 million to fund the recently authorized Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) grant program, which consolidated and expanded existing grant programs to combat opioid abuse, and $10 million for Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) anti-heroin task forces grants. The bill also contains: $403 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG).

Health and Human Services

The Assets for Independence (AFI) program at the Department of Health and Human Services is not funded. According to CFED, “AFI’s $18.95 million in funding that fueled Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) across many programs and states was eliminated as part of a broader $900 million cut to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education.”

Additional funds are directed at fighting opioid abuse, $801 million, an increase of $650 million or 430 percent is provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs. Specifically, the bill provides a $50 million increase above FY16 levels for CDC opioid abuse programs and a $51 million increase to SAMHSA for treatment and overdose reversal, of which $20 million is for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) authorized programs. The bill also provides $50 million for Community Health Centers treatment and prevention.

Community Health Centers (CHCs) are funded at $1.49 billion, the same level as FY16. There are more than 10,400 Health Centers nationally, serving over 24 million patients per year. Health centers advance the preventive and primary care model of coordinated and comprehensive care, coordinating a wide range of medical, dental, behavioral, and social services in communities.

SAMHSA and HRSA received $1.2 billion for mental health programs. This level includes an $80 million increase above FY16 for key mental health investments. The bill provides $541.5 million, an increase of $30 million above FY16, for the Mental Health Block Grant, and continues a 10 percent set-aside for serious mental illness activities. The bill also provides $50 million within the funding for Community Health Centers to provide mental health services.

Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is funded at $2.9 billion, an increase of $95 million above FY16. Head Start receives $9.3 billion, an increase of $85 million above FY16. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is funded at $3.39 billion, equal to FY16.

Department of Transportation

The bill provides funding for the Department of Transportation based on levels enacted in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. For discretionary transportation programs, the measure provides $500 million for new TIGER grants and $2.4 billion for New Starts transit grants. New Starts will see a boost of $236 million in FY17This includes $50 million for Indianapolis’ transit expansion.

Department of Labor

Several community development related programs are included in the Department of Labor budget. YouthBuild is a program to help at-risk high school drop-outs develop skills and knowledge to obtain industry-recognized job credentials, apprenticeships, and employment. It receives $84.5 million, equal to the FY16 level.

The Apprenticeship Opportunities effort also receives $95 million, an increase of $5 million above FY16, to continue and expand a grant program established focused on the range and number of apprenticeship opportunities available in a wide variety of fields nationwide. A component of the program will also help involve more women and other workers, who have not traditionally participated in apprenticeship programs.

Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) receives $8.058, $81 million below the FY16. This includes $1.394 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $863 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, both, equal to FY16. Brownfield grants receive $47.7 million in funding.

Legal Services Corporation

The legislation provides $385 million for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) equal to the FY16 level. The Corporation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. LSC distributes more than 90 percent of its total funding to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices. Indiana Legal Services Inc., a Prosperity Indiana member receives these funds.

Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation responsible for Americorps and VISTA receives $1.03 billion, a decrease of $65 million overall. The bill maintains funding for core national and community service programs, including $386 million for AmeriCorps grants and $202 million for Senior Corps programs, equal to the FY16 level. In addition, the Committee includes expanded resources for state commissions to build the capacity of national and community service programs locally.

Bikes, Healthy Communities, and Community Development

Mon, 01 May 2017 13:00:00 GMT

May is Bike Month. In Indiana it’s also a celebration of speed, car racing, and all things local.

I kicked off May a little early with a metric century (100 kilometer/62 mile) bike ride in Louisville with my husband as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and great training for my upcoming triathlon season. It also gave us an opportunity to see metro Louisville in a way we hadn’t yet experienced. I have run the Derby half marathon and loved the tour of Louisville it provided. So many great places.

Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP with her husband, David Scovel, LPG Senior Geologist, BCA Environmental Consultants

The month begins with the One America Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon – known locally as “the Mini.” The Mini is something everyone should do (at least) once. It is a local celebration, it is one of the largest half marathons in the country, and it is an opportunity for a physical activity challenge and to see Indianapolis in a different way that most people have experienced it. I have walked/run the Mini eight times. It was my first half marathon. The Mini is walker friendly and is a mix of elite level runners and people who walk a half marathon once a year. The course begins downtown and heads out toward the Town of Speedway, which has been undergoing a transformation of their downtown and Speed Zone economic development area. It then enters the track and you cover the entire 2.5 miles on foot (I have also ridden my bike around the track). Then the course weaves back to Military Park. There are neighborhoods on the route that highlight some of the very real housing challenges in Indy, neighborhoods that many “outsiders” don’t see otherwise. Regardless, people see the city in a whole new way. The training programs that lead up to the Mini create a sense of community (and happen in several places around the state) and connect people in meaningful relationships.

Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP finished her 8^th Mini in 2016.

That same weekend is the American Planning Association national planning conference in New York City. I will be attending as part of the Planners4Health collaboration. There we will talk about the work the collaboration has been doing around integrating planning (and community development) with public health and promoting health in all plans.

Connecting bikes and the Indianapolis 500, the Central Indiana Bicycling Association has their 500 miles (or 500 kilometers) in May competition where members try to ride either 310 or 500 miles in May to earn a special jersey (average 10-16 miles per day). These miles can be commuting (avoiding the traffic and enjoying the spring weather), recreation rides, or training for bike races or triathlon. All miles count. All miles are a way to experiences neighborhoods in a different way than you do in a car. Some miles end in local beer or local donuts, which is economic development at its most fun!

Friday, May 19 is Bike to Work Day. While many more days are great for biking to work, May 19 is a day set aside for groups to meet and encourage people to try riding in to work. It’s about people working with people to overcome barriers to biking to work (logistics, safety, etc.). It is about building a community of people. It allows you to experience your commute in an entirely different way. Depending on your community and where you work you may be able to ride most of the way without being on roads. Of my 10 mile bike commute only 1.3 miles is on road, the rest is on the Monon Trail and the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis. Allyson (Director of Sustainability) has been bike commuting for the past few weeks because construction projects have left the roads so congested that her bike commute is faster than driving. Try it out! A few quick guidelines if you aren’t used to bike commuting:

Check your A, B, Cs – AIR in your tires, BRAKES, and CHAIN.
Helmets are not required under Indiana law. There are people who support their use and others who do not.
Lights are required if you are riding when it’s dark. Headlights and taillights come in a variety of price points and are easy to attach to your bike. Being visible is very important.
Indiana law requires a bell. Not everyone follows this law, but use the bell or an audible warning to let people know if you are approaching/passing. Pass on the left.
On most multi-use trails/greenways pedestrians have the right-of-way. Bikes must slow and pass safely. Some trails have speed limits of 10-15 miles per hour. Know your trail rules.
When riding on roads always ride with traffic. Do not ride more than two abreast. Follow all traffic signals and signs as if you were in a car.
Carry ID – an ID bracelet or shoe tag or your photo ID. Some way to identify you in the event there is a problem.
Let someone know you’re route and your expected arrival time. Let them know that you arrived.

Indiana State Department of Health Healthy Communities Planner Pete Fritz, AICP, ALSA is a regular bike commuter and always ready to ride

Look for bike events in your community – in Indy we have organized rides to the ball park, weekly recurring rides, women’s rides, grand touring weekend rides (often involving stops at local restaurants), and beer rides (lots more too). It’s a great way to get some physical activity, meet new people, and explore. You don’t need a fancy bike. You don’t need to wear spandex.

If your community has a local bike share program May is the perfect month to try that too! I use Pacers Bikeshare in Indy to get around downtown without moving my car. It’s a great way to get to meetings or appointments (or lunch) and is faster than walking – or getting the car from the parking garage. More communities in Indiana have added bike share programs in the past few years.

If you try riding on trails and decide you like it (you’ll love it), the Greenways Foundation of Indiana has a number of different challenges that run from April 22 (Earth Day) through October. Some are focused on local trail use while others encourage exploring your region or the state. I am participating in the Hoosier Trail Hero challenge for the second year – riding (or running) at least 10 different trails around the state. http://www.greenwaysfoundation.org/

Beyond Monumental Strategic Partnerships Manager Swati Gunale and Prosperity Indiana Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP riding in the Greenways Challenge in 2016.

Planning, Healthy Communities, Bikes, and Community Development are all connected and help connect people and places to make prosperity. Prosperity Indiana’s capacity building team can help you make connections and provide information resources on how to make your community healthier (and more fun).

Also, Prosperity Indiana will be hosting our first Twitter chat on May 11 at 11:00 AM and we'll be talking about healthy neighborhoods and physical activity. I'll have control of the @INCommDev Twitter handle and we'll have fun for an hour. There will be six questions to respond to and opportunities to connect with others doing the same work.

Happy biking! Cheers to healthy communities!

Rose Scovel, AICP

Director of Capacity Building

Indiana Money Smart Week 2017—Find an Event Near You!

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 14:34:47 GMT

First organized in July 2001 by a collaboration of Chicago-area organizations and directed by the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, Money Smart Week has grown and become an annual public awareness campaign promoting personal financial literacy across the nation. During the six days of Money Smart Week, participating organizations from community groups, financial institutions, and government agencies will host events to educate the general public on smart money practices. This year, Money Smart Week will be from Monday, April 24^th to Saturday, April 29^th.There are several opportunities to attend events in Indiana with hosts including the Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, AARP Indiana, The Social Security Administration, The Indy Star, Indiana Legal Services, and more. Below are some events that will be held throughout the state, but please use the Official Money Smart Week Event Page to find an event near you.

Tippecanoe County: Events will be held on Purdue University’s campus beginning on Monday, April 24^th.The Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network joined HomesteadCS and Purdue Federal Credit Union to present to Purdue University staff members, students, and interested community members about the predatory nature of Payday lending. The presentation took place at Purdue University’s Horticulture Building room 117 at 12pm and at 5pm. A recording of the presentation will be made available to the public. On April 28^th, a seminar on Homebuyer Education will be held in the Horticulture Building room 117 at Purdue University from 12pm-1pm. This event is open for students, faculty, and staff.

Marion County: Events will be held throughout Indianapolis including an Indy Star Call for Action event on Tuesday, April 25^th from 4:30pm-8pm. The event will take place at the John Boner Community Center at 2236 E. 10^th St. and will provide consumer advice through free attorney consultations available in both Spanish and English.

On Wednesday, April 26^th from 9:30am-12pm there will be a viewing of $CAMMED: Investment Fraud Revealed—a thirty-minute documentary about investor fraud in Indiana. Afterwards, investigative reporter for RTV6 Rafael Sanchez will M.C. the event with a panel of experts including Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Deputy Attorney General Steve Frank, Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Cindy Oetjen, and Dr. Mary Guerriero Austrom from the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Center, among others. The event will be held at North United Methodist Church on 3808 N. Meridian St.

On Saturday, April 29^th the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the Indianapolis Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will present Women Building Our Financial Legacy: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Social Security & Investments. The event will begin at 8:30am at the New Direction Church located on 5330 E. 38^th St. Breakfast will be provided, but please RSVP by Thursday, April 27^th through the eventbrite page or 317-748-3195.

Johnson County: Kelly Griese, an Investor Education Coordinator from the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office will provide a free fraud prevention presentation on Tuesday, April 25^th, from 6:30-8:00pm. The presentation will be held at Prince of Peace United Church of Christ on 3050 West Smokey Row Road, Bargersville and will cover the latest scams and techniques used by fraudsters, how to request and review your credit report, how to freeze your credit, and how to report fraud. Seating is limited so please register online at center.com/register or by calling Pastor Joan Dell at 317-535-7712.

Webinar: On Tuesday, April 25^th from 11am-12pm, the Social Security Administration will host a Social Security Retirement Planning webinar. Register to attend the webinar at attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/6272735108852379650 in order to learn more about the many factors to consider when deciding when to start receiving your Social Security benefits.

Through the joint efforts of dedicated individuals, agencies, community organizations, and financial institutions, Money Smart Week will empower Americans in all fifty states with the knowledge and tools to become financially stable. Please join us by finding an event near you through the Official Money Smart Week Event Page.

Join Us for Prosperity Indiana’s Regional Member Meetings

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:54:15 GMT

The time is fast approaching when Prosperity Indiana staff members hit the road for regional meetings. We will travel across our state for a series of meetings with community development professionals, advocates, neighbors, elected officials, and other stakeholders that are focused on building resilient families and vital communities.

Join us at five locations this summer to engage on issues currently facing your organization and community, the work Prosperity Indiana is doing on your behalf and how Prosperity Indiana can help you build on your organization’s and community’s strengths.

These meetings will allow you to:

Connect with members of our board, Executive Director Andy Fraizer, Member Services Manager Faith Musgrove, and other members of the Prosperity Indiana Staff
Hear a summary of the highlights of Prosperity Indiana’s 2017 policy agenda and key changes in state community development policy
Learn more about specific Prosperity Indiana programs (outlined below) to get updates on what Prosperity Indiana is doing and can do on your behalf. Members will be able to access recordings of each regional meeting presentation on the member portal.
Meet with members of our staff one-on-one, either before or after the regional meeting, for dedicated time to talk about your work and how you can connect to other people and resources to propel you forward. Email Faith Musgrove at fmusgrove@prosperityindiana.org to schedule your time with us.

Please mark your calendars for this opportunity and register today! Up to five staff at member organizations can attend for free, if the Executive Director is among the attendees. Lunch will be provided.

June 19: Northeast Regional Member Meeting
Fort Wayne, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member Brightpoint
12-2 pm EST

Come learn about the Community Loan Center program and hear from Brightpoint staff about their experiences and impact through this employee lending innovation aimed at reducing reliance on payday lending. Community Loan Centers allow local employers to offer employees small dollar loans at 18% interest rate on a 12-month term. Participating employees can build their credit and take advantage of financial education classes.

June 27: Southeast Regional Member Meeting
Jeffersonville, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member New Hope Services
12-2 pm EST

Thinking about going solar? Come hear Allyson Mitchell, Prosperity Indiana's Director of Sustainability, discuss the Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) For All program and learn how you and your organization can participate. The group-purchase solar discount program aims to help community organizations and residents purchase and install solar panels at a reduced rate to lower their organizational and household operating costs and pass those benefits on to low- moderate-income (LMI) individuals. Direct funding opportunities are available to Prosperity Indiana members.

July 20: South Central Regional Member Meeting
Bloomington, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member City of Bloomington
12-2 pm EST

Incorporating asset-building strategies into existing programs can enable and support individuals and families at all income levels. Discuss with Kelsey Clayton, Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network Manager, the economic barriers families face. Also learn about the Learning Cluster, a current initiative assisting organizations in integrating financial capability services, which help Hoosiers achieve financial stability and provide access to tools that help organizations think through this innovation.

August 10: Northwest Regional Member Meeting
Hammond, Hosted by the Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana
10 am -12 pm CST

Hear Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel share about how you can utilize the staff expertise at Prosperity Indiana to assist you with consolidated planning, housing needs assessments, housing studies, assessments of fair housing, HUD compliance, and other plans and processes that might be required for your organization.

September 27: Southwest Regional Member Meeting
Evansville, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member Old National Bank
12-2 pm CST

Come hear about the Outcomes Platform: a new data collection, tracking and outcomes reporting solution. Learn how you can use this comprehensive and interactive data tracking tool to visualize the impact that your organization has on your community and the results of your collective efforts with local partners.

Prosperity Indiana 2017 Board Election

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 19:52:20 GMT

Every day, I get to work with the brightest people and impactful organizations across Indiana. These organizations and their staff are Prosperity Indiana member organizations - local nonprofits, private businesses, and government - each with a mission and drive to serve and build communities. From amongst these member organizations, the board of directors receives and solicits nominations to help lead our organization.

Know someone who fits this description, apply to join the Prosperity Indiana board of directors here.

At the March 17 meeting, the board of directors approved a slate for election to renew and supplement the board leadership.

The slate for renewing members of the board includes:

Steve Hoffman, Brightpoint (Fort Wayne)
Jean Ishmon, Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance (Hammond)
Rob Evans, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
James Bosley, New Hope Services (Jeffersonville)

The slate for new board members includes:

Keith Broadnax, Cinnaire (Indianapolis)
Alyssa Prince, Hoosier Uplands (Mitchell)

If you are the membership (bundle) administrator of a 2017 voting member organization, please log into the member portal and cast your ballot for the board of directors election.

Job Opportunities: Carey Services Job Fair

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 17:08:56 GMT

Are you looking to make positive difference in people's lives?

Carey Services is seeking applicants to serve adults with development disabilities as:

Direct Support Professional (DSP)
Instructor DSP
All Applicants must be 18 years & older; valid driver's license and have a HSD/GED
Consumer Support Specialist :
Care & services to children and adults. Must be 18; no GED required; various schedules; P/T & F/T positions.

Saturday, April 22nd from 9am - 2pm
2724 S Carey Street (Bldg. A)
Marion, IN
46953
765-668-8961

Carey Services is a community based human services organization assisting individuals and families to turn abilities and barriers into opportunities by providing individualized services, education, and advocacy. They offer flexible work schedules exceptional benefits; potential DSP sign on bonus. Applicants can also apply at www.careyservices.com/job-opportunities

EOE

Job Opportunities: Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:01:28 GMT

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is seeking candidates for multiple positions. OCRA works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for economic development.

There are two openings for Program Managers - Grant Services. They assist the Business Office of the Lieutenant Governor in the operation and administration of grant programs administered by the agencies that are under the purview of the Lieutenant Governor. The agencies for which Grant Services provides assistance include the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and the Office of Defense Development.

Responsibilities include review of grant applications for compliance with federal, state and departmental regulations to determine eligibility for funding; providing technical assistance regarding the requirements for environmental review, civil rights, land acquisition/relocation, procurement of goods and services, prevailing wage payment, minority and women owned business enterprise requirements and/or other related statutes; on-site field-monitoring activities of federal and state grants and work with grantee to resolve findings and bring project to closed status. Complete written monitoring reports, applicable worksheets and Federal reporting.

The CDBG Project Manager (PM) reports to the CDBG Program Manager and helps manage Indiana’s CDBG Program. This includes the State and Small Cities CDBG Programs, CDBG Disaster Recovery Supplemental Appropriation Two (IKE) and all other programs utilizing CDBG funds. The PM will also be responsible for coordination with the Grants Management Team for compliance monitoring and all other aspects of Grants Management. The PM will perform grants management and compliance on other OCRA funded programs as assigned.

For the full job descriptions and to apply, visit http://www.in.gov/spd/careers/ and search for “rural” or “Lieutenant Governor's Office.”

Early-bird Ends Friday, 4/28: People & Places 2017

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 15:45:09 GMT

Community-based organizations from every corner of the country will convene near Washington, DC on May 31-June 2 for People & Places 2017. (Scholarships for registration to the event have all been awarded -- thanks to all who responded.) Click here to attend this event alongside your Hoosier peers and others from around the nation.

Here are four reasons you don't want to miss this dynamic peer-learning event:

See what's working to strengthen places and improve lives. The agenda features 35 sessions with more than 100 presenters. Learn about their successful strategies to remediate blight, promote equitable development, bolster small businesses, encourage asset growth, make places healthier, and so much more. Get inspired by local solutions that you can adapt and transform back home.

Learn effective political organizing tactics. There were some big wins in the November elections at the state and local levels. Ballot initiatives and organizing campaigns across the country resulted in significant new funding for housing and community development. Learn from advocates how they achieved victory and – in some cases – learned from defeat.

Connect to diverse community development networks. Engage with peers from five national networks. You'll develop your own network of placemakers who are just a phone call, text or email away.

Go to Capitol Hill to protect resources. Join us on Capitol Hill as our five networks raise our voices on behalf of the places we serve. Tell your representatives in Congress how federal funds work to improve lives in your community. Help change the narrative to highlight work that benefits low-income and disinvested places. If we don't tell the story of our places, who will?

HOSTS

* National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders * National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development * National Urban League * Network for Developing Conscious Communities * National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations

Read a message from the hosts about the importance of bringing together our networks at this critical moment for America's places.

HOTEL DISCOUNT

Hotel rooms are available at the discounted rate of $215 per night at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia – right above the Crystal City Metro Station. The hotel is minutes from Washington, DC and just one Metrorail stop away from Reagan National Airport. Reserve a discounted hotel room online or call 877-212-5752 and say you're attending People & Places 2017. You must RESERVE YOUR ROOM BY MAY 2 to get the discounted rate. In case you want to extend your time in the DC area, the discounted rate runs from May 27-June 5.

Click here for more information and to register today!

Announced Today: OCRA and Tourism to Fund Quick Impact Place-based Grants

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 17:44:42 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) announced on April 5, 2017 a new grant funding opportunity, the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program (QuIP), a matching program designed to fund the type of place enhancement and community transformation that sparks community wide conversation and creativity.

“One of the cornerstones of OCRA’s mission is to continuously look for partnership opportunities that offer a variety of resources to support community-led initiatives which improve the economic health and wellbeing of Indiana,” said OCRA Deputy Director Matt Crouch. “We are excited to launch QuIP as a fast turnaround, high impact opportunity for projects throughout our cities and towns.”

Eligible Applicants include:

Community Groups or Organizations
Local Units of Government
Schools - (these include all schools such as elementary through high school, college, university, and trade & vocational)

Eligible applicants have the opportunity to apply for project funding between $2,500 and $5,000 with a 50 percent required cash and/or in-kind match.

“The goal in creating the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program was to provide communities another opportunity in which to build upon their local assets and create community connections,” added IOTD Executive Director Mark Newman. “We recognize this is a fast turnaround, but have great faith these grants could provide the quick wins for communities to build upon or spark the initial conversations for local transformation and growth.”

Examples of Eligible Projects:

Alley activation: Art Alley
Creative project to showcase community identity
Enhancement of existing or underutilized public assets into a new or usable space
Interactive Life-size Games or Game Sheds for public use
Pop-Up public gathering spots
Transforming vacant store fronts
Unique signage or identifiers

There are many eligible projects. These dollars should be used to create a small change that spurs conversation and community engagement. The space should in some way be transformed for the better.

Ineligible Projects include:

Admin Fees-Including grant writing or administration
Demolition
Events
Food, drink or alcohol
Gaming and Gambling activities
Illegal or unsanctioned activities
One-time use activities or products
Plants, greenery, shrubs or anything of that nature
Public Restrooms
Salaries
Spaces that are not open to the public
Small funding portion of a much larger project, grant amount cannot be less than 10% of total project cost (example: request for $5,000 of a $75,000 project would be ineligible)
Taxes
WiFi

OCRA and IOTD encourage these projects to be community unique and locally inspired. Placemaking involves a working partnership with local governments, residents, community groups, and organizations as well as business and community agencies. Successful applications would demonstrate community collaboration, partnership capacity, and have impactful community benefits.

Applications must be received in the OCRA office by 4pm, EST on Friday, April 21, 2017.

Applications can be delivered in person or mailed to:
1 North Capitol
Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204

For more information on QuIP, contact your OCRA Community Liaison or visit: www.in.gov/ocra/quipgrant.htm.

March 2017: Podcast Roundup

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 15:43:00 GMT

In case you missed it, here's a link to our latest podcast:

2017 Mid-Session Policy Update

Other podcasts released this year include:

- Achieving Vision: Breaking the Dream Down into Doable Pieces
- Storytelling: Telling our Individual and Collective Stories
- 2017 Statehouse Day Recap
- Ben Carson’s Confirmation Hearing Debrief

Listen to the podcasts online at Libsyn or subscribe to iTunes or Google Play.

April podcasts will focus on business diversity.

Kathleen Lara, policy director, testifies in support of SB 154.

Prosperity Indiana Offers Feedback to Statewide Annual Action Plan

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:19:18 GMT

Today, Prosperity Indiana submitted feedback (linked here) to the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in response to requests for public comment on the draft of Indiana’s 2017 Annual Action Plan.

As part of the annual process of reviewing progress made toward goals stated in the 5-year Consolidated Plan and a description of allocation priorities, OCRA and IHCDA conduct public hearings, issue an online survey and solicit written public comments. Prosperity Indiana plans to engage our members throughout the year as both agencies work on program design and the next draft Plan. We urge our members to participate in the public hearings on Thursday, March 30 at the locations listed below. If you have any questions about this process or our feedback, please contact Prosperity Indiana’s Policy Director, Kathleen Lara, at klara@prosperityindiana.org.

Public Hearing Announcement and Locations

The State of Indiana wishes citizens to participate in the development of the State of Indiana’s 2017 Annual Action Plan. In accordance with this regulation, the state is providing the opportunity for citizens to comment on the draft report, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or before May 15, 2017.

Public hearings will take place at five locations on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 4:00pm EST- 6:00 pm EST.

Central/Indianapolis Indiana State Fairgrounds Discovery Hall, Suite 201 Indianapolis, IN 46205

Southwest/Vincennes Purdue Extension-Knox County 4259 N Purdue Rd. Vincennes, IN 47591

Southeast/Scottsburg Purdue Extension Office for Scott County 1 East McClain Avenue, Suite G-30 Scottsburg, IN. 47170-1894

Northeast/Huntington Purdue Extension Office 1340 S. Jefferson Street Huntington, IN 46750

Northwest/Rensselaer – note that this location in on Central Standard Time. The hearing will start at 3:00pm CST. Purdue Extension Office 2530 N. McKinley Avenue #1 Rensselaer, IN 47978

Member Insight: Leaders must be true to themselves

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:58:40 GMT

We asked Jennifer Layton of LTHC Homeless Services, formerly known as Lafayette Transitional Housing Center, for her take on leadership. The executive director of 25-staff strong LTHC since December 2000, Layton has cobbled together the best of what she's seen modeled to become the leader she is today. Here's her story:

I have served as an executive director for many years, and my leadership style has continued to evolve. If I took a class on leadership, I’m sure I would learn about many styles that I have bits and pieces of, but the one that I feel most connected with is Servant Leadership.

I have built my career around the philosophy of servant leadership which, in part, means that there is nothing I am unwilling to do to help reach the goal of ending homelessness. Ending homelessness takes a collaboration of people and organizations that all must work together. When I began my career with LTHC, 22 years ago, I honestly thought it would be an easy job… because how many homeless families could there be in Lafayette, Indiana?? There were more than I imagined. My next thought was “who doesn’t want to end homelessness?” There are those people as well. I take it as a personal challenge to help them understand the reasons that people become homeless and what they can do to help. All of those years of working directly with adults and children who had lived experiences that I had never imagined helped shape who I am.

Their stories, their challenges, and their determination showed me that when offered resources and support, people will succeed! I see it as my responsibility to continue to speak for them to make sure others will have a life-changing experience as well.

When I think about the impact I want to make at LTHC, I know I don’t want to be just a manager... I want to be a leader. I want to use my experiences working with homeless people to share their stories and show the community how important of a role LTHC can play in changing lives. I want the staff and the board of LTHC to understand their role and the impact they are making on the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness. Helping people is both rewarding and tiring, so my hope is to create an environment where the staff all feel appreciated and supported. Our role in the community is to end homelessness, and we can only do that by working as a team. Each person on my staff plays a valuable role, and it’s my job to encourage and help each part of my team understand their role and the asset they are to the group.

If I had to pick a single person who has influenced my leadership style the most, it would be my mother, who passed away three years ago. She was the perfect role model – diplomatic in all situations but also clear about what she wanted to achieve. In her philanthropic roles, she was the type of person who led by example. She would challenge people to learn about new things and ways the community could work together to solve issues. She drew people to her with her energy and enthusiasm and used her passion to help educate them and draw them into the solution.

Every leader should possess the quality of flexibility; and in my personal and professional life, there is rarely a day that goes according to plan. I have worked with many people who, when something goes awry, will get flustered and maybe even panic. I like to keep an even-temper so that problems that arise can be evaluated and addressed. While I consider myself passionate, I don’t think I am prone to emotional carelessness.

I encourage everyone on my team to think about their role and what they can do to be more successful. I want to challenge my employees to not only do their best for their clients, but for themselves as people. Doing the kind of work we do is life-changing – not only for the client, but also for the staff.

The one thing that I had to learn about leadership, the hard way… is to realize that not all people have the same values and beliefs that I do. Especially when it comes to basic human needs. I believe that we must do all we can to end homelessness for everyone. I had assumed that every person would have that same (or at least similar) belief. However, I have seen decisions being made that have huge consequences on the people that have the weakest voice. When I see this happening, it makes me even more determined to use my leadership skills to educate and provide insight to others.

Throughout my career, I have worked under several different types of leaders…all of whom I learned from. Some I aspire to be more like – to use some of the skills that I have seen them use successfully. There are also “leaders” that I have met that I try to avoid what I have seen them do because I judge it to be ineffective or not compatible with my own style. Every leader must find his/her own way to be true to themselves.

President's Budget Proposal Would Eliminate Funding for Critical Community Programs

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:30:00 GMT

On Thursday, March 16, a draft of President Trump’s proposed FY18 Budget was released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/2018_blueprint.pdf). While the budget was not comprehensive in program-by-program specifics, it confirms earlier fears of deep cuts to critical community development programs Hoosiers rely on. Below are some of the key findings that affect the diverse programs and interests of Prosperity Indiana members. In light of the dramatic and damaging impact this proposal would across our state, please stay tuned to our blog for updates and be sure to respond to our action alert to be sent via email next week.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Eliminates funding for the Community Development Block Grant program, which the OMB claims is a program that “is not well-targeted to the poorest populations and has not demonstrated results.” The President’s budget would, as the draft states, “devolve community and economic development activities to the State and local level.” In FY16, Indiana’s entitlement and non-entitlement communities received a combined total of $60,833,178 in federal investment in, among other activities:
- acquisition, demolition, and sale of real property
- construction of public facilities
- housing counseling
- housing rehabilitation and repair
- housing counseling
- homeownership assistance
- lead abatement programs
- public services
- historic preservation
- energy conservation
- provision of assistance to entities in support of private-sector job creation
Eliminates funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which the administration claims is ineffective as well. In FY16, Indiana’s entitlement and non-entitlement communities received a combined total of $18,963,083 178 in federal investment in:
- homeownership-occupied rehabilitation
- homebuyer assistance
- acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction of rental housing
- tenant-based rental assistance
Eliminates funding for the Choice Neighborhoods Program, designed to support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans
Eliminates funding for the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program, which awards grant funds to non-profit organizations to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families.
Eliminates funding for Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing, which helps build the capacity of community development corporations (CDCs) and community housing development organizations (CHDOs) making an impact in our communities statewide
The proposal’s only substantial increase includes an increase of $20 million for the lead-safe homes program, budgeting $130 million for this effort

Department of Education

The proposal would eliminates the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which supports before and after-school programs as well as summer programs that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.

Department of Energy

The draft calls for the elimination of the Department’s weatherization assistance program, which provides grants to states to improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families. States, which then provide the funds to local governments and nonprofit agencies, to provide weatherization services to those in need using the latest technologies for home energy upgrades.

Department of Health and Human Services

Here again, the budget proposal makes sweeping cuts, eliminating all discretionary programs within the Department’s Office of Community Services. These critical programs aimed at supporting low-income individuals and families include:
- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) The administration claims in the budget proposal that “LIHEAP is a lower-impact program and is unable to demonstrate strong performance outcomes.” Indiana's LIHEAP provides financial assistance to low-income households at up to 150% Federal Poverty Level. The program help prevent utility companies from shutting off home heating service to low-income families in cold months provides limited funds for the purchase of fans during summer months
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). The administration claims in the budget proposal that, “CSBG funds services that are duplicative of other Federal programs, such as emergency food assistance and employment services, and is also a limited-impact program.” The CSBG program provides funds Community Action Agencies (CAAs) to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities by:
- - helping individuals and families secure and retain meaningful employment
  - attain an adequate education, improve the use of available income
  - obtain adequate housing
  - obtain emergency assistance, including health and nutrition service
  - remove obstacles which block the achievement of self-sufficiency
  - achieve greater participation in the affairs of the community
- The only bright spot identified for this program budget would be a $500 million increase above 2016 enacted levels to “expand opioid misuse prevention efforts and to increase access to treatment and recovery services to help Americans who are misusing opioids get the help they need,” according to the draft

Department of Labor

The proposal would eliminate grants, such as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), claiming they are “ineffective, duplicative, and peripheral job training grants”
It would also cut funding by eliminating funds for underperforming Job Corps centers
Federal support for job training and employment service formula grants would also be cut
Lastly, the plan eliminates the Department’s technical assistance grants within the Office of Disability Employment Policy, choosing instead to launch an early intervention demonstration project to “allow States to test and evaluate methods that help individuals with disabilities remain attached to or reconnect to the labor market”

Department of Transportation

The plan would limit funding for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program (New Starts) to projects with existing full funding grant agreements only
It would also eliminates funding the TIGER discretionary grant program that provides capital for projects that generate economic development and improve access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation for communities, both urban and rural

Department of Treasury

The proposal would eliminates funding for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund grants, claiming it would save $210 million not that the industry is now 20 years old and “private institutions have ready access to the capital needed to extend credit and provide financial services to underserved communities”

Environmental Protection Agency

President Trump’s budget proposes to “rein in Superfund administrative costs and emphasizes efficiency efforts by funding the Hazardous Substance Superfund Account at $762 million, $330 million below the 2017” level. This is particularly concerning in light of the lead housing crisis in East Chicago and other areas of the country and our state that may have been

Small Business Administration

The proposal would eliminate PRIME technical assistance grants, Regional Innovation Clusters, and Growth Accelerators. The Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME) provides assistance to various organizations. These organizations help low-income entrepreneurs who lack sufficient training and education to gain access to capital to establish and expand their small businesses.

Legal Services

The Trump budget would also target the Legal Services Corp., an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The agency promotes equal access to justice by providing funding to 134 independent non-profit legal aid programs in every state to address cases of wrongful eviction, custody disputes, child support, domestic violence, among many others.

How Can I Stand Up for Critical Community Development Programs?

Stay tuned for our Action Alert to go to out to our members via email next week urging Indiana’s congressional delegation next week to oppose these damaging proposed cuts.

Join the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and other leaders of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) for a webinar on Monday, March 20, entitled “How Advocates Can Help Stop President Trump’s $7 Billion Cut to HUD In Its Tracks,” by clicking on this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/712995188908614659

Volunteer Opportunity: accessABILITY Board of Directors

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:33:56 GMT

accessABILITY is currently seeking individuals to serve on their Board of Directors. accessABILITY is a 501(c)3 organization committed to helping individuals make the most out of life and the least out of disability. They execute their mission by providing education and advocacy to all members of the community; by increasing awareness of the rights, needs and freedom of choice of individuals with disabilities; and by eliminating barriers that impede inclusion and equity. All services are provided free of charge.

The center is located in Indianapolis and serves the counties of: Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby.

Job Overview:

The accessABILITY Board of Directors governs the overall execution of the organization’s mission. Principally, the Board manages organizational finances and sets long term priorities for programs and services. Additionally, the Board oversees the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is responsible for the day-to-day management of accessABILITY. Overall, the members of the Board contribute the educational, management, legal, and financial skills needed to ensure long term organizational stability and ensure year-to-year excellence for accessABILITY’s services.

Finally, Fifty-one percent (51%) of the Board of Directors must be individuals with disabilities.

The Board of Directors currently has no maximum number of directors. Terms are for three years.

Mission

Building advocacy and inclusive communities with, and for, people who have disabilities.

accessABILITY’s mission is reflected in the following beliefs:

Consumer-controlled organizations ensure that the will and needs of people with disabilities are foremost—thus no less than 51% of our staff and governing board are persons with a disability.
Accessible communities benefit everyone.
Disability is a natural part of life.
Full inclusion in community life is the desired outcome for all people.

Interested parties should contact Tammy Themel, CEO & Executive Director, at tthemel@abilityindiana.org.

For more information about accessABILITY, visit www.abilityindiana.org.

New Member Benefit to Address Need for More Comprehensive and Interactive Data Tracking

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 14:43:06 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is still seeking funds to drive down the costs associated with roll-out of a new member benefit this year, the Outcomes Platform. But we've been talking about it with potential partners and already have organizations committed to a pilot of the program. So, we wanted to more broadly communicate the intent of the endeavor. We outlined the need for the new data collection, tracking and outcomes reporting solution in the article below, recently published by Charitable Advisors:

Meeting a Need No Longer Enough

Generally, nonprofits are established to make a difference for the people or places they serve. As a result, the impact and outcomes are inherent in the work.

But these days, meeting an individual or community need is generally not good enough for a nonprofit to thrive, or even survive, in a world “competing” for donations, sponsorships and grants. Nonprofits must prove they are doing the good they set out to accomplish – and that they’re about outcomes as much or more than they are about outputs.

The National Council of Nonprofits cites this same challenge in an article, titled Impact and Evaluation of Outcomes. The article highlights concepts from Leap of Reason (2011). Of note is that measuring outcomes is not just about attracting resources to your nonprofit, but about mission. A nonprofit will only know that it is indeed helping individuals, solving problems in communities, and protecting the environment, etc., if it is evaluating its performance and then communicating the impact. The article also provides helpful links to numerous resources to improve outcome measurement.

Unfortunately, tracking outcomes is often disjointed from one organization to another and from one funder to another. Additionally, outcomes are often just tracked to meet external requirements or cite specific accomplishments, and may not tell the larger story of the organization’s or program’s success.

According to Andrew Means, co-founder of the Impact Lab and founder of Data Analysts for Social Good, technology is one example. The nonprofit sector often doesn’t see technology as a set of tools created to make jobs better. Means suggested that nonprofits, acting as partners in creating a social sector powered by information, have a huge opportunity “to actually use data and data technology to inform the way that we program.”

He also suggested that nonprofits beginning to use data to measure impact should first start “where they are.” As their work advances, they should seek to invest wisely and align themselves with data experts so as to not waste time with bad data. It is critical, according to Means that nonprofits work together to take advantage of the data.

“No nonprofit has the market concentration of Amazon, or Netflix, or Google. We need to come together, and share our data, work more collaboratively with one another to really understand and identify ways of increasing our impact. If you want to do really great data work, you have to do it collaboratively with other organizations,” he said.

That’s where a new initiative of Prosperity Indiana – the Outcomes Platform – will support its members in a more meaningful way.

In a survey of the membership, 90 percent of respondents said they use data to support their programs and to document and demonstrate success. More than half of all respondents indicated Excel is the tracking tool of choice.

Prosperity Indiana values the importance of developing specific, measureable, aggressive yet achievable, realistic and time-bound goals, but realizes that without a dynamic system for collecting, measuring and tracking goals, strategies, actions and accomplishments, it’s difficult to determine whether those aspirations were achieved.

Because limitations are inherent across the field and clearly identified by Prosperity Indiana’s member survey, Prosperity Indiana wants to provide a way to overcome the challenges of time, staff and financial resources and training.

Providing/developing a cloud-based system for use across the membership to collectively measure impact by tracking of organizational outcomes and planning initiatives against community-level indicators, Prosperity Indiana’s new data collection system will give a clearer picture of impact through a tool that creates visual representations of the data with a web embed option.

Through an evolving relationship with an award-winning online database developer, Insightformation, Prosperity Indiana hopes to provide access to this cloud-based tool for at least 100 nonprofit members with the specific goal of meeting the community economic development sector’s diverse data needs.

And according to the authors of the Stanford Social Innovation Review article in July 2015, Architecting for Data, we are right on track.

Prosperity Indiana seeks to provide a system that meets four criteria: “organized (stored in a consistent structure), well described (documented formally or informally so folks know what it is and where it came from), accessible (easy available for folks to find and use), and usable (stored in a format people in your organization know how to wrangle).”

The initiative

Goals of Prosperity Indiana’s initiative include providing the system at low- or no-cost, reducing the amount of staff time it takes to track outcomes while providing a better system for doing so, and developing in-house capacity to provide training and technical assistance to members on the data collection, measurement and reporting processes. Prosperity Indiana is also seeking collaboration with other associations and funders to develop a system that meets the needs of the field in such an all-encompassing way that reporting redundancies can be eliminated.

Those interested in learning more about Prosperity Indiana’s Outcomes Platform may contact Jessica Love, Associate Executive Director, at jlove@prosperityindiana.org.

2017 Training Calendar

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 15:05:48 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is excited to announce our 2017 Training Calendar! See below for training topics, dates, and links to register. All trainings are $50 for members, $100 for non-members.

Universal Design/Build

April 4-5, Indianapolis

Universal Design/Build, a course through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), presents a shift in the approach to residential design and construction. Comfort and convenience regardless of age, stature or ability is the hallmark of inclusive design. Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) courses are not a pre-requisite and CAPS graduates will find benefit by expanding into the broader spectrum of universal design that offers a much wider target audience.

Certified Green Building Professional

June 5-6, Indianapolis

Certified Green Building Professional (CGBP) from Build It Green introduces participants to the overarching principles of green building and the systems approach to the design, construction, and operation of residential buildings. Participants will develop an understanding of energy efficiency, resource conservation, water conservation, and indoor air quality, and how they can effectively convey the importance of these building principles to homeowners.

Affordable Housing Development for Homeownership

July 25-26, Indianapolis (tentative)

This training will explore the challenges to developing affordable housing for homeownership, including predevelopment work such as land acquisition, subdivision, and construction finance. Trainers will address the differences between development of scattered sites and subdivisions. They'll also address finance requirements often associated with funding for homeownership development and the potential ramifications of these requirements for developers.

Abandoned Housing Strategies 201

August 22-23, Indianapolis

The Center for Community Progress will lead this training, working with participants to identify key strategic issues in their communities and to understand appropriate tools and interventions. As a national leader on solutions for vacant, abandoned, and other problem properties, the Center for Community Progress serves as the leading resource for local, state, and federal policies and best practices that address the full cycle of property revitalization, from blight prevention and strategic code enforcement through the acquisition and management of problem properties to their productive reuse.

Comprehensive Rural Development

September 13-14, Indianapolis (tentative)

Practitioners in rural areas often wear multiple hats, addressing the interrelated issues of housing, infrastructure, transportation, brownfield redevelopment, and economic development in an agricultural community. This training will address successful strategies for rural development.

Comparing Residential Green Building Certifications

September 13-14, Indianapolis

The Green Home Institute supports homeowners and builders in making healthier and more sustainable choices in housing renovation and construction. This course will introduce participants to several green building certification programs which offer points on Indiana's QAP. After this training, participants will walk away better prepared to make decisions about how to ensure sustainability of their projects.

Community Engagement

October 25-26, Indianapolis (tentative)

This training will provide practical tools and strategies for engaging the community. The first day will include a general overview of engagement strategies and situations. The second day of training will include sessions for how to target community engagement strategies for particular populations. Trainers will discuss common misperceptions, cultural differences, and effective strategies for ensuring that all voices in the community are heard.

Thank you to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, which underwrites our training program.

Interested in presenting at a Prosperity Indiana training? Respond to one of our RFPs.

If you have any questions about training with Prosperity Indiana, please contact Rachel Mattingly at rmattingly@prosperityindiana.org.

Free Webinar Series Focused on Solutions to Opioid Crisis

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana partner InsightFormation is hosting a free, 3-part webinar series on battling opioid abuse, a growing problem in Indiana. Part 1 was held in February, and Part 2 will be held at 11 am (EDT) on March 14.

Over 100 people attended Part 1, Developing and Implementing a Comprehensive Strategy, of The NOpioid Series. If you missed it, you can access it on-demand here. (Hover over the bottom of the screen to access the link for the recording.)

To participate in the second webinar, Using New Technologies, register here. This session features two leading technologies that can streamline and accelerate teamwork and information sharing across a large coalition.

The approach and tools provided through The NOpioid Series are meant to present high-impact ways to address both the urgency and complexity of the issue. Two recent editorials in the Indiana Economic Digest underscore concerns around this community issue:

Indiana needs to get serious about opioids

Attacking opioid epidemic a complex task

More on Part 2 of The NOpioid Series - In this LIVE 60-minute session, you'll learn:

1. Specific ways your community can build on a shared strategy framework to dramatically improve collaboration and proactively address many facets of the opioid/heroin crisis

2. How InsightVision, an online strategy management platform, can align, monitor, and manage cross-sector, multi-stakeholder teamwork across the three key components of addressing the opioid/heroin crisis--prevention, treatment, and recovery

3. How XCare Community streamlines and enhances care coordination to support a community wide effort to engage community resources to work with individuals at risk, dealing with prevention, addiction, or in recovery

New Grant Funds Available via Crowdfunding Platform; Harrison Center Among Recipients

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 18:05:41 GMT

Prosperity Indiana member Harrison Center for the Arts is now one of four Indiana groups to meet a crowdfunding goal that earns them matching funds from the state's CreatINg Places program.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) launched its crowdgranting program utilizing the civic crowdfunding platform, Patronicity, to host the projects online. Up to $1 million will be awarded by IHCDA through the CreatINg Places initiative, by investing in projects ranging in cost from $10,000 to $100,000.

For more on the Harrison Center's Pre-Enactment Theater project, which will receive $50,000 from IHCDA, read this blog. To see the status of other Indiana projects on Patronity, check this page. To learn more about the CreatINg Places program through a webinar Prosperity Indiana hosted with Patronicity, go to Learn on our website, click "Webinars" and log-in for member-only access.

The Indiana Economic Digest article on this topic is here.

Attend Community and Economic Development for Community Foundations

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:12:11 GMT

Community Leadership is essential to the work of Community Foundations. But what core skills, basic strategies, and critical tools are needed to maximize the potential of place and catalyze resources for your community?

Community Foundation members & partners: Reserve a limited seat at the Council’s Community and Economic Development for Community Foundations in Indianapolis on April 6, 2017. Or forward to a staff or board member this unique training!

Co-hosted by the Council on Foundations and the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Speakers and participants will include experts from the Council on Foundations, the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and several philanthropic and economic development institutions. Our very own Andy Fraizer, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana, will be presenting in two of the sessions to share how comprehensive community development is really the work of collective impact and the role of adaptive leadership.

Do you see complexity in your work and seek strategies to adapt yourself, organization and community for the difficult work of social change?

Explore adaptive community leadership and impact investing
Dive into grantmaking for economic development
Enhance core competency skills to effectively exercise leadership
Take Community Leadership to the next level for your Foundation

Attend this workshop to voice your assumptions, create energy for the important work you do with your colleagues, and explore practical tools for mobilizing people, clarifying what matters most, and creating impact.

Learn more online and Register Today.

Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana Receives Communities Against Hate Grant

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 16:21:45 GMT

The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI), a member of Prosperity Indiana, recently announced that it has been awarded a $125,000 “Communities Against Hate” rapid-response grant by the Open Society Foundations. This funding initiative was a national competition awarding a total of $3 million in funds nationwide.

“Although we are disheartened at the escalation of hate directed at Hoosiers in recent months, we are incredibly appreciative that the Open Society Foundations offered this opportunity and chose the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana for receipt of funds to attempt to confront this hate,” stated Amy Nelson, Executive Director of the FHCCI. “We look forward to using these needed funds to help those in our community take a stand against hate and provide needed resources and training.”

The Communities Against Hate rapid-response initiative aims to respond to what communities believe is of greatest value to support, protect, and empower those who are targets of hateful acts and rhetoric. The grants are awarded to organizations that are well positioned to provide an array of responses to acts of hate.

Click here to read the full press release and learn more about FHCCI's plans.

Statehouse Victory: Senate Votes to Advance Bill to Increase Asset Limits for SNAP

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:30:00 GMT

Today, the Senate voted to advance another critical Prosperity Indiana proposal, SB 154, a bill that address asset limits for SNAP benefits. While the bill was amended to increase the asset limit from it's current level of $2,250 to $10,000, instead of eliminated the test altogether, this still represents a significant improvement to help vulnerable Hoosiers in need of food assistance attain economic sufficiency. For more details on the bill, click here to read our blog coverage.

Statehouse Victory: Senate Votes to Approve Foreclosure Filing Fee Extension

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:00:00 GMT

Today, the Senate approved SB 227, a bill Prosperity Indiana worked to introduce and shepherd to extend foreclosure counseling resources in the form of the foreclosure filing fee by a vote of 39-10. For details on the legislation and our advocacy, click here to read our blog post.

Statehouse Victory: Property Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Affordable Housing Bill Advances Out of Senate

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 01:30:00 GMT

Today, the Senate voted to approve Prosperity Indiana's top legislative priority this session, SB 559, a bill to clarify charitable purpose to ensure non-profits providing affordable housing for low-income clients receive property tax exemption approval by a vote of 47-3. For more details on the bill and our advocacy, click here to read this blog post.

NFWF, Wells Fargo launch $10 Million Community Resilience Program

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:51:17 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Wells Fargo (WFC) recently announced the launch of the Resilient Communities grant program. Through a commitment from Wells Fargo of $10 million over the next four years, this new program will improve natural resources and enhance local capacity to help communities prepare for expected impacts associated with water quantity and quality issues, forest conservation challenges, and sea-level rise.

“We are pleased to be working with the experts at NFWF on this important, multi-year community resiliency program,” said Mary Wenzel, Director of Environmental Affairs at Wells Fargo. “Focusing on resiliency through conservation and capacity building helps communities minimize climate- and extreme-weather-related impacts while simultaneously improving community well-being and prospects for economic development.”

By enhancing and restoring wetlands, resilient shorelines, urban tree canopies, natural forests and healthy upstream watersheds, communities across the country can improve their residents’ quality of life, increase resilience, and support wildlife populations. The program places special emphasis on helping low- and moderate-income communities build capacity for resilience planning.

“Wells Fargo’s dedication to conservation and the long-term environmental health of local communities serves as the cornerstone of this public-private partnership designed to improve natural habitats and community resilience throughout the United States,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF.

Resilient Communities will accept applications and award five to 10 grants per year supporting the goals of the program. Proposals will be evaluated by their effectiveness in accomplishing regional goals and engaging low- and moderate-income communities. Applicants may submit a proposal through NFWF’s online system by March 30; awards for this program will be announced in fall 2017. For the 2017 round of applications, Resilient Communities grants will emphasize the interconnectedness of natural systems and community well-being by:

 Using wetlands, coastal habitats and other ecosystems to alleviate future floods, storm events and sea level-rise in Eastern states

 Sustaining water quantity and quality through enhanced natural infrastructure in the Central United States

 Conserving healthy forests, managing wildfire fuels and restoring habitats for healthy forest ecosystems in Western states.

More information on the Resilient Communities program and partnership is available at www.nfwf.org/resilientcommunities.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores our nation’s wildlife and habitats. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private contributions. NFWF works with government, nonprofit and corporate partners to find solutions for the most intractable conservation challenges. Over the last three decades, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.5 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.

February 2017: Podcast & Video Roundup

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:02:32 GMT

Always seeking new ways to meet the needs of members and the community economic development field at large, Prosperity Indiana commissioned a theme song, Home, by Roustabout and launched a new podcast called Ways and Means. Already this year, we have released the following four podcasts:

Ben Carson’s Confirmation Hearing Debrief
2017 Statehouse Day Recap
Storytelling: Telling our Individual and Collective Stories
Achieving Vision: Breaking the Dream Down into Doable Pieces

Listen to the podcasts online at Libsyn. We also produced videos on the Carson hearing and Statehouse Day as well. The Carson video provides expanded content beyond what is included in the podcast. Subscribe to one or both to never miss an episode again.

The podcast is available on iTunes or Google Play. The videos are posted to our YouTube channel.

SB 309 Passes Senate, Prosperity Indiana to Continue Advocacy Against Measure in House

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 02:00:00 GMT

This evening, SB 309, a bill that would end net metering and benefits for solar energy investment in the state unfortunately passed third reading in the Senate by a vote of 39-9. For coverage on our testimony in opposition to this measure, please read our blog coverage here.

This Week in the Statehouse: Testimony in Favor of Property Tax Exemption for Affordable Housing

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 20:44:54 GMT

On February 21, 2017, Steven Meyer, Executive Director of King Park Development Corporation, gave testimony before the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy in support of Senate Bill 559. Read his full testimony below. SB 559 creates parity across the state by providing a property tax exemption for affordable rental housing properties owned by charitable organizations. The Senate Committee voted unanimously to pass the bill but with the contingency of working with counties to determine the specific wording of the legislation.

Thank you, Chairman Hershman and members of the committee, for the opportunity to offer our support for SB 559 and provide some context for the importance of this legislation. I would like to recognize and applaud Senator Eckerty’s leadership on this bill and in speaking up for charitable affordable housing organizations throughout the state on an issue that requires urgent attention and action.

I am here as the Executive Director of King Park Development Corporation, a non-profit community development corporation that provides high-quality affordable housing in Indianapolis. I am also here as a board member of Prosperity Indiana, a network of 230 non-profit organizations, units of local government, and private companies dedicated to building stronger communities.

Mark referred to a trend we are seeing now take hold statewide: increased reports from non-profits that are selling off properties they used to rent to low-income families because they simply cannot afford to fight exemption appeals. In 2010, several non-profit housing providers in Marion County had our exemption revoked. Over the past five years, King Park spent over $40,000 in staff time, attorney’s fees, and forfeited property taxes to have the exemption reinstated. If it weren’t for new leadership at the Assessor’s Office, the dispute might still be ongoing.

But the uncertainty around non-profit property tax exemptions has other implications, as well. Affordable housing is developed and operates with razor thin margins. An unanticipated exemption revocation is certainly enough to move a project from black to red. The risk and uncertainty is enough to raise financing costs and, in some cases, prevent otherwise sound projects from moving forward. King Park is experiencing this right now. We are refinancing a project that we’ve operated since 2010. Before the bank would offer us financing, we were required to obtain a legal opinion about the certainty of our current tax exemption. In addition, the bank has allocated nearly half the operating reserve requirement to risk associated with the property tax uncertainty. For a 13 unit apartment building, uncertainty around property taxes lead to an additional $30,000 in financing costs.

The risk from uncertainty does not just affect the non-profits that develop and operate these projects and the banks that finance them, either. Much of my organization’s funding flows from the federal government, through the city, and into our projects. In fact, all 23 entitlement communities in Indiana rely on non-profits like ours and other members of Prosperity Indiana to deliver this housing. If a project were to fail, the entitlement city could be responsible for paying back the funds invested into the project. These projects are aimed at lessening the burden of government by providing needed affordable housing, but a failed project can actually cost local governments significantly. This bill is specifically aimed at making these projects more stable across the entire state.

That is why we enthusiastically support SB 559, a bill that offers guidance for assessors reviewing charitable purpose exemption claims. The measure is narrow in scope and carefully tailored to ensure that it is not introducing a broad new category of organizations that will be property tax exempt. Quite the opposite is true. SB 559, as amended, will ensure that ONLY non-profits that operate affordable rental housing units for low- and very-low income families will benefit from this clarification. This legislation would not affect tax credit developments, for example, since those projects are almost exclusively held in partnership with a for-profit company.

Parity and certainty across Indiana’s 92 counties is essential. Many assessors recognize and endorse these services as not only exempt, but an important tool in reducing reliance on emergency housing services. Unfortunately, my organization and the members of Prosperity Indiana have no way of knowing from county to county and assessor to assessor whether or not their clearly charitable purpose will be recognized for property tax exemption purposes. We believe that non-profits fulfilling their charitable missions should receive equal treatment for property tax exemptions, regardless of where they are located in the state.

I urge the Committee to pass this bill and thank you for your time today.

Steven Meyer is the Executive Director of King Park Development Corporation, non-profit community development corporation committed to improving housing, economic development, and quality of life in the King Park area of Indianapolis. He also serves on the board of directors of Prosperity Indiana. Steven was recently named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Forty under 40 class for 2017, in part due to his efforts to launch the Build Fund, a small business loan fund operated by King Park. Click here to read the full press release.

Prosperity Indiana members receive majority of tax credit project awards

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 18:08:14 GMT

A very competitive program, only 25 percent of the Rental Housing Tax Credit (RHTC) projects submitted to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in November were awarded in the funding round announced today. Among those awarded were eight Prosperity Indiana members with 10 approved projects that will receive a combined $7,568,601 in RHTCs. Awarded member projects include:

Biggs GC
Bloomfield and Linton (Greene County)
Rehabilitation of 24 one bedroom units located in a senior apartment community in Bloomfield and the new construction of 8 new scattered site homes in Linton. Biggs TC Development was awarded $372,938 in RHTCs.

Biggs Housing Opps
Decatur and Fort Wayne (Adams and Allen Counties)
Consists of the adaptive reuse of the historic Music House in downtown Decatur into 16 affordable artists lofts apartments, the rehabilitation of 48 existing Rural Development units in Decatur and the new construction of 25 single family lease purchase homes in Fort Wayne. Biggs TC Development was awarded $1,180,444 RHTCs.

Carpenter Court Apartments
Evansville (Vanderburgh County)
Adaptive reuse of the former St. Joseph Catholic School building into a 45-unit apartment complex. Pioneer Development Services was awarded $709,409 RHTCs .

Garvin Lofts
Evansville (Vanderburgh County)
Adaptive reuse of a vacant warehouse creating 27 units of housing targeting chronically homeless individuals, including 7 units set-aside for FUSE (frequent users system engagement) participants. ECHO Housing Corporation awarded $512,021 RHTCs and $810,000 in Housing Trust Fund funding.

IndyEast Homes
Indianapolis (Marion County)
Located within the HUD-designated Promise Zone, this project will have 36 units. It will include the preservation/rehabilitation of project-based Section 8 units (32 units), the demolition of blighted homes for the new construction of lease purchase single family homes (2 units) and the adaptive reuse of a blighted non-residential building (2 units). The John H. Boner Community Center was awarded $585,165 RHTCs.

Kinnley Court
Plainfield (Hendricks County)
The redevelopment of a greyfield lot and an underused property for the new construction of 64 units. Keller Development was awarded $890,000 RHTCs.

Kyler Ridge
Churubusco (Whitley County)
New construction of a 35-unit multi-family senior housing development. Keller Development was awarded $490,000 RHTCs.

Minnie Hartmann Center
Indianapolis (Marion County)
Adaptive reuse of the former Minnie Hartmann Elementary school and a new construction addition creating 64 affordable units for seniors. Near East Area Renewal was awarded $1,046,000 RHTCs and $500,000 Development Fund funding.

The Fieldhouse Apartments
Anderson (Madison County)
New Construction of 44 units of permanent supportive housing. BWI, LLC was awarded $1,083,424 RHTCs and $765,000 in Housing Trust Fund funding.

The Lofts at Leeson's
Elwood (Madison County)
Mix of 23 units of new construction on BEP lots and 23 units of adaptive reuse located in the Leeson's building. New Hope Services was awarded $699,200 RHTCs and $500,000 in Development Fund funding.

About the Awards
IHCDA acts as the housing credit agency for the State to administer, operate, and manage the allocation of the Internal Revenue Service Section 42 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, also known as RHTC. The purpose of the RHTC is to incentivize private developers and investors to provide more affordable rental housing options. This is done through new construction, adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of existing structures.

With 62 applications received in November 2016 requesting just over $50.6 million in federal rental housing tax credits and just 16 projects selected to receive a combined $13.9 million in RHTCs, the RHTC program is highly competitive. IHCDA also received $23.2 million in supplemental IHCDA funding requests, for which $5.8 million in additional funding was awarded from the Development Fund, HOME and Housing Trust Fund. Prosperity Indiana members were awarded a combined $2,575,000 through the Development Fund and Housing Trust Fund. In all, the projects awarded today will provide over 700 additional units of affordable housing options for residents throughout Indiana.

Click here for a full list of awarded and denied applications.

Bill to Extend Foreclosure Counseling Resources Passes Out of Committee Unanimously

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Great news for Prosperity Indiana members! Today the Indiana Senate Public Policy Committee voted unanimously to advance SB 227, a bill that Prosperity Indiana members identified as a key priority and worked closely with Senator Jim Merritt to introduce. Read our hearing coverage and a summary of the bill on our blog post here: https://www.prosperityindiana.org/Blog/4643710. The bill will now advance to the full Senate for consideration.

Seeking Proposals to Provide Training in 2017

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 13:32:12 GMT

Prosperity Indiana will offer seven training courses throughout 2017, underwritten by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. We are seeking proposals from individuals and organizations interested in developing training on the following topics:

Affordable Housing Development for Homeownership

Tentatively scheduled for July 25-26 in Indianapolis

Proposed content should provide an overview of strategies for affordable housing development for homeownership and include:

Predevelopment needs, including land acquisition, subdivision, and construction finance
Differences between development of scattered sites and subdivisions
Funding sources and subsidy layering
Finance requirements, including rules regulating conversion of homeownership units to rental units if unsold, and their ramifications for developers

Community Engagement

Tentatively scheduled for October 25-26 in Indianapolis

Proposed content should provide an overview of strategies for community engagement and include at least one of the following topics:

General engagement strategies
Youth engagement
Engagement of Latino/a populations
Engagement of non-English speakers
Engagement of racial minorities
Engagement of people with disabilities
Engagement of LGBTQ populations

Note: Trainers may opt to submit a proposal for the full training, or for individual modules. If the proposal is for the full training, it should divide the content into modules as directed in the RFP.

Comprehensive Rural Development

Tentatively scheduled for September 13-14 in Indianapolis

Proposed content should address the interrelated issues of the following topics:

Housing
Infrastructure
Transportation
Brownfield redevelopment
Economic development in an agricultural community

All proposals are due by March 22, 2017. If you have any questions regarding the RFP, please contact Rachel Mattingly at rmattingly@prosperityindiana.org or 317-454-8542.

From the Ground Up: A Creative Placemaking Workshop

Tue, 21 Feb 2017 17:18:59 GMT

Attend this Creative Placemaking Workshop in June, hosted by the Indiana Arts Commission.

June 8–9, 2017
Indianapolis, IN

Creative placemaking describes an intentional and integrated role for the arts in place-based community planning and development bringing artists, arts organizations, and artistic activity into the suite of economic and community development strategies.

This high-energy day and a half-long workshop will introduce the practice of creative placemaking as a viable strategy for small and/or rural Indiana communities and neighborhoods. Sessions focus on practical ways to get started and how to make a meaningful impact and are led by artists and creative placemaking professionals from throughout Indiana and the Midwest.

Save the date to bring your team and explore how cultural assets and artists are positioned to help your community succeed!

Click here for more information and to register.

Registration: $50 per person, $45 per person for two or more registrants.

Why should Prosperity Indiana members attend?

Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel says, “Our members approach placemaking from a variety of perspectives - creating opportunities for artists, making use of public space, engaging residents and visitors, and improving quality of life - this workshop will offer an opportunity for those new to placemaking and those with a strong sense of the topic to engage with others, learn from experts, and consider the CREATIVE aspect of placemaking.”

Job Opportunity: National Development Council

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 17:40:03 GMT

The National Development Council (NDC) is seeking a full-time Field Director for its East Regional Team (includes Indiana).

Field Directors deliver NDC’s core services, including technical assistance and capacity-building, to local governments and non-profit corporations. The position will require substantial travel. Ideal candidates embrace NDC’s mission and bring a sense of humor and passion to their work.

NDC’s work focuses on homes, jobs and community. Founded as a national nonprofit in 1969, NDC has worked for almost 50 years fulfilling its mission to increase the flow of capital for investment in low-income communities. NDC directs capital to support the development and preservation of affordable housing, the creation of jobs through training and small business lending and the advancement of livable communities through investment in social infrastructure.

Follow these links for more information on this opportunity and the full job description.

Statehouse Victory: Predatory Lending Expansion Bill Defeated in Committee

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 01:00:00 GMT

As we outlined in our introduction to this year’s session of the Indiana General Assembly, fighting back efforts to expand predatory lending in our state was identified as a top state policy priority for this year. Accordingly, Prosperity Indiana has been hard at work with other non-profit advocates to stop SB 245 from advancing in the Senate. Today, we are excited to announce that we were successful in killing off the bill, thanks in part to your engagement, responses to our action alert and Prosperity Indiana member testimony. Steve Hoffman, the President of the Prosperity Indiana Board and the President/CEO of Brightpoint, based in Fort Wayne, provided testimony opposed to the measure and shared client insights and details of the Community Loan Center his organization administers to reduce reliance on payday lending.

The bill was under consideration in the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions committee and after testimony from advocacy organizations, members of the faith-based community, veterans, former payday borrowers, and a former payday lending employee, the bill ultimately died with a bipartisan vote of 4-5.

That vote was particularly critical considering an amendment was offered at the last minute that was billed as a less harmful version of the bill, but it still would have allowed a loan amount to $1750 for up to 18 months at an interest rate to 18% per month on the principal balance, which would work out to 216% APR, a harmful product for vulnerable consumers.

Below is the testimony provided by Kathleen Lara, Prosperity Indiana's Policy Director.

TESTIMONY REGARDING SB 245
KATHLEEN LARA, POLICY DIRECTOR
FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Thank you Chairman Holdman and Members of the Committee,

My name is Kathleen Lara and I am the Policy Director for Prosperity Indiana an organization that represents 230 non-profits, units of local government, private companies statewide dedicated to building stronger communities.

I wanted to start by taking a moment to express that we also appreciate that bill supporters tried to make improvements to the loan terms compared to the original bill and also that we respect the committee’s interest in trying to find ways to meet the needs of unbanked or under banked individuals and families, but we still feel SB 245 is the wrong approach.

You have already heard exactly how high-cost loans trap vulnerable consumers in debt cycles, but haven’t heard is how this more broadly affects community stability.

Our members are based in Hoosier cities and towns of all sizes focused exclusively on long-term community prosperity, helping low-income individuals and families attain economic sufficiency, break cycles of poverty, and address blight and foreclosures.

They are also organizations left to try and help consumers repair the financial damage left behind when they were inevitably unable to pay back these loans at exorbitant rates.

Our members watch payday lenders that are almost exclusively concentrated in low-income communities market their products as easy financial solutions and know that consumers seeking a last-resort hand up are instead likely to end in default or bankruptcy.

Our members watch these products drain $70 million in fees from the low-income communities they seek to support.

They know that the inability for households stuck in high-interest loan debt to pay expenses like rent, transportation, health care, and food directly correlates to the housing instability and foreclosures, bankruptcies, loss of local spending and accordingly, loss of local job creation they work hard to combat.

An expansion of high-cost lending without regard for a consumer’s reasonable ability to repay is not a true alternative; rather it is another dead end. Even under the amended bill, someone making $12k per year can qualify for $1000 end up paying pay close to $2500 in interest.

We are grateful for the conversation regarding the financial needs of low-income consumers, but we believe the utility assistance, home repair loans, financial literacy education and payday loan alternatives, such the Community Loan Center program Steve referenced, that are offered by our members are the kinds of programs that truly deserve investment and support.

We urge the committee members to instead focus on these solutions. Thank you for your time today.

Guest Voice: Present Your Successes on a National Stage

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:46:13 GMT

By Suzanne Gunther, NACEDA, and Nina Arce, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey

A lot great things are happening in New Jersey and we’re eager to share the tremendous accomplishments of NJ’s community development sector on the national stage. Join us for the largest gathering of community development professionals in the country at People & Places 2017. Mark your calendars for May 31-June 2 in Arlington, Virginia (minutes from DC and Reagan National Airport), this peer-learning event will bring together approximately 800 community development placemakers, partners and supporters from across the country.

Call for Presenters

Do you have a passion about the work you do? Have you helped orchestrate a successful state or local policy campaign? Do you want to share your strategies and tactics with community development professionals from around the country? If so, the People & Places 2017 steering committee invites you to propose a session to present at the most diverse and inclusive community development event in the nation. Some travel assistance is available for selected presenters. To submit a proposal for a workshops, panel, roundtable discussion, or TED-style talk, respond to the Call for Presenters by Friday, February 24.

People & Places 2017 is hosted by five national networks to inspire each other, strengthen our skills, unite our networks, and raise our voices on behalf of the communities we serve. The hosts are:

National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations,
National Urban League,
National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders,
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Developmet
Network for Developing Conscious Communities.

Prosperity Indiana Supports Bill to Increase Accessibility via Low Interest Home Modification Loans

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 02:59:42 GMT

Today, Prosperity Indiana staff expressed support for SB 485, a measure that, if enacted, would provide for a new home modification loan pilot program to help homeowners in Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties.

The program would allowing the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to make zero interest or low interest loans low- and moderate-income individuals or families that include individuals with disabilities or individuals who have a child with disabilities to improve accessibility. Below is the testimony Prosperity Indiana's staff provided today in support of the measure.

TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB 485
KATHLEEN LARA, POLICY DIRECTOR
FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Chairman Grooms and members of the committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning. My name is Kathleen Lara and I am the Policy Director for Prosperity Indiana, a network of 230 non-profit organizations, units of local government, private companies and institutions dedicated to building vibrant communities and resilient families.

Our member network is devoted to expanding economic opportunity and improving the quality of life in communities of all sizes throughout the state. That is why I come before you today in support of SB 485.

Our members know that while the economy has been improving overall, hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers still struggle to meet their basic needs such as housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care.

In fact the Out of Reach Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition ranks Indiana 38th in the country for housing affordability. That is particularly true for families that include and individual with a disability, as our state has a deficit of safe, affordable and accessible housing. We have numerous member initiatives, including work with the Legacy Foundation in Lake County working to bolster efforts to address community development concerns, including housing affordability so we are encouraged by the introduction of this bill. We hope to work with Senator Melton to address some administrative concerns we have with regards to the structure of this bill, but believe this is an important measure that should move forward.

Thank you for your time today.

IHCDA Strategic Plan Regional Sessions

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:08:53 GMT

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) is seeking your input as they develop their 2017-2020 Strategic Plan.

To do so, IHCDA will be conducting listening sessions around the state. At these sessions they hope to create a collaborative, solutions-focused environment where they accurately identify the best approaches for creating an Indiana with a sustainable quality of life for all Hoosiers in the community of their choice.

Provided below are dates, times and locations. Please register if you plan to attend.

NW Regional Session
February 14, 2017
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Chatham Square Apartments
3619 Champlain Street
Lafayette, Ind. 47905
Click here to register.

SW Regional Session
February 15, 2017
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tri-Cap
607 Third Avenue
Jasper, Ind. 47547
Click here to register.

SE Regional Session
March 1, 2017
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
New Hope Services
725 Wall Street
Jeffersonville, Ind. 47130
Click here to register.

Central Regional Session
March 14, 2017
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
RealAmerica Headquarters
10711 America Way, Suite 200
Fishers, Ind. 46038
Click here to register.

NE Regional Session
March 15, 2017
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Allen County Library
900 Library Plaza
Fort Wayne, Ind. 46802
Click here to register.

Prosperity Indiana Opposes Bill to Kill Net Metering

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 23:30:00 GMT

Today, Prosperity Indiana rose in opposition to SB 309, a bill that would end net metering and solar energy investment, which would have dramatic and negative consequences for community development organizations and sustainable development throughout the state.

Prosperity Indiana’s Director of Sustainability, Allyson Mitchell, was joined by other non-profit advocates, residents, local businesses, environmental advocates, and school corporation representatives in offering testimony opposed to the measure. Read her testimony below for context on the bill’s impact for Prosperity Indiana’s membership.

SENATE UTILITIES COMMITTEE
TESTIMONY, SB 309
ALLYSON MITCHELL, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Chairman Merritt and members of the committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning. My name is Allyson Mitchell and I am the Director of Sustainability for Prosperity Indiana, formerly the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development, or IACED. We are a network of 230 non-profit organizations, units of local government, private companies and institutions dedicated to building vibrant communities and resilient families. I hope that my testimony will give voice to other Prosperity Indiana members in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state committed to using energy alternatives to make a difference in our communities, and those who work on the front lines assisting low-income individuals and families ascend from poverty into economic stability.

Working to advance policies that respond to urgent human needs, help expand economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in communities of all sizes throughout the state is essential to our members and partners. That is why I come before the committee today urging opposition to SB 309, a bill that will limit the choices for low income Hoosiers to pursue strategies for economic self-sufficiency.

It is critical to recognize the natural intersections between the benefits of distributed energy generation like solar and the needs and interests of low-income communities. Solar technology, coupled with efforts to increase energy efficiency, can dramatically lower utility costs for residential properties. While certainly beneficial to everyone, these kinds of outcomes can have particular significance for lower-income households, who often struggle to stretch earnings to cover basic costs like utilities, health care, and transportation. We feel Senate Bill 309 does not consider the interests of low-income Hoosiers.

Rooftop solar provides individuals with the ability and independence to generate their own electricity. You may not picture the mobile home owner who wants to use solar panels to reduce his monthly utility bill and have more money to feed his children when you imagine rooftop solar. Or the low income housing developer pursuing solar to help his tenants keep up with their bills and keep their lights on. But rooftop solar is indeed used exactly those ways. It is a path to personal financial responsibility for low income Hoosiers in cities, small towns and rural areas. Indiana should be increasing, not limiting, the choices and opportunities for low income Hoosiers to improve their quality of life.

In my role at Prosperity Indiana, I am developing a program called Solar Uniting Neighbors, or SUN. The program aims to remove inequalities and barriers to the acquisition and installation of solar panels, lower energy costs for transformative community economic development projects, and build capacity for solar energy in Indiana. We envision solar panels on the roof of our member organizations - soaking up rays, lowering operating costs, thereby allowing more funds for programs that help low income individuals help themselves. We also envision providing a low interest loan to a low-income, single-parent homeowner for a small solar array so she can afford her electric bill year-round and build credit in anticipation of sending her daughter to college. If passed, Senate Bill 309 could eliminate these types of projects.

Prosperity Indiana and its members believe in working collaboratively on asset-building strategies that help lift Hoosiers out of poverty permanently, and access to net metering is one such strategy. Senate Bill 309 ultimately eliminates net metering, a critical part of financial infrastructure within solar project financing that ensures low-income Hoosiers can access the sun to power their homes, their personal financial goals - and their dreams.

We have concern that Senate Bill 309 does not take into account the impact that ending net metering would have on low income Hoosiers and therefore we urge you to vote NO on Senate Bill 309. Thank you for your time today.

What Next? Succession Planning for Nonprofits

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 15:20:09 GMT

An article by Prosperity Indiana Executive Director Andy Fraizer on succession planning was featured in the Fall 2016 edition of Bridges, a publication of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In it, Andy highlights the advance planning that member HOPE of Evansville did to ensure a successful executive transition.

HOPE's Executive Director Josh Case said, "Time, patience, flexibility and oversight from the leadership at HOPE helped me adjust well to this new role.”

Read the article on the St. Louis Fed website.

Bridges is a quarterly review of regional community and economic development issues, projects and regulatory changes for practitioners from community-based organizations, as well as for Community Reinvestment Act officers, academics and government officials.

Andy's appointment to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) was announced in April 2016.

Announcing Our 2017 Training Courses

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 19:59:32 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is pleased to announce our list of training opportunities for 2017. These courses are underwritten by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

The training agenda includes:

Universal Design/Build
Certified Green Building Professional
Comparing Residential Green Building Certifications
Abandoned Housing Strategies 201
Community Engagement
Comprehensive Rural Development
Affordable Housing Development for Homeownership

Each course will be two days in length. The dates and locations will be announced soon; watch for an email announcement. You can also find details for training and other events on our website at www.prosperityindiana.org/events.

Prosperity Indiana Member Advocacy In Action at Statehouse

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 16:40:15 GMT

Prosperity Indiana held its statehouse day, Prosperity IN Action, on January 31, 2017. Among the more than 40 participants were members and partners representing a broad spectrum of services, interests and communities across the state. In addition to their individual concerns, participants were also asked to discuss the ways the network’s 2017 priorities, including Senate Bill 559, SB245 and SB227 and its companion bill HB1097 addressing foreclosure counseling resources, charitable property tax treatment, and combating efforts to expand payday lending, affect their work and clients.

Neil Elkins, Housing Services Director for TRI-CAP in Jasper, attended to discuss a variety of bills that TRI-CAP is following. He said TRI-CAP is most focused on the state’s PRE-K program and finding ways it can work in tandem with the organization’s federal Head Start funds; the potential expansion of payday lending; and the tax exempt status clarification for nonprofit affordable housing developers, since TRI-CAP is the owner of Neighborhood Stabilization Program properties being rented to residents that are below 50% of area median income.

“We are being taxed pretty heavily on these homes. We want to take the charity purpose decision away from the assessors and make it consistent throughout the state,” Elkins said. “We frankly wanted to support all of [Prosperity Indiana’s] platforms on that day. We also wanted to show our support to Prosperity Indiana and their efforts that they put forth to support the nonprofit agencies in Indiana.”

TRI-CAP used the statehouse day as a launching pad for new and improved relationships with legislators. He said it was important to attend in person because, although TRI-CAP has a great relationship with the state and federal senators and representatives serving Jasper, the organization operates programs in more than 22 Indiana counties and rarely meets with other state legislators in neighboring counties. As a result of the statehouse day, TRI-CAP has since met with another state senator and a representative and is scheduling more visits by legislators to their office in Jasper in the coming months.

Kathleen Lara, Policy Director, said it is the passion and commitment from members like Elkins that make Prosperity Indiana’s efforts important and successful.

"I'm really thankful for the vision of our policy committee, which helped drive this event, and for the many members who participated in our statehouse day. Face-to-face time between constituents who represent member organizations and their legislators is enormously effective in demonstrating the true community-level impact of their work and how our policy priorities empower local efforts. It increases accountability and builds relationships between policymakers and the individuals working hard to build strong communities throughout the state," Lara said.

She added, “And as important as that one day was, it's also critical for members to stay engaged throughout the session to raise their voices through testimony, calls, meetings and emails to their legislators. And then after session is over, we'll need their help in crafting our priorities for the future. Our work is never done; but it's far more effective when we're doing it in partnership with those in the field who can tell the stories of impact on those who need us most."

For details on Prosperity Indiana’s 2017 state priorities, go here. To stay connected to Prosperity Indiana’s advocacy efforts and other initiatives year-round, in addition to following the blog, subscribe to the member newsletter, connect via Facebook or Twitter, and go to the advocacy action center to check out current campaigns, sign up for action alerts and more.

FHLBI's Affordable Housing Program and Community Investment Workshops

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 14:14:40 GMT

A PLACE TO CALL HOME…

If you’re interested in developing, maintaining, and promoting a place to call home for low-income families, you may find the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ half-day Affordable Housing Program and Community Investment Workshops helpful to you and the work you’re doing.

WHY ATTEND?

In 2016, FHLBI provided their members and sponsors with almost $15 million in grant dollars to support local affordable housing needs throughout Michigan and Indiana.

They’re gearing up to do the same in 2017, and it all begins with these workshops. Learn how to use FHLBI’s programs to help those in need in your communities:

Affordable Housing Program: Competitive grants uniting financial institutions and community partners to create affordable homes, whether rental or homeownership projects.
Community Investment Program: Their lowest priced funding solutions dedicated to community economic development.
Homeownership Initiatives: Three grant programs that address the needs of families throughout the life cycle of homeownership from first time buyer assistance to rehabilitation to accessibility modifications.

Plus, the workshops provide networking opportunities for FHLBI members to connect with housing developers and community development practitioners to partner and access these programs.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Retail Lending Staff
CFOs
Housing Agencies
Commercial Lending Staff
CRA Staff
Community Lending Professionals
AHP Sponsors
Community Development Organizations
Affordable Housing Developers

WORKSHOP DATES AND LOCATIONS:

March 1
Evansville IN (Register)
Holiday Inn Airport

March 2
Indianapolis IN (Register)
Marriott North

March 16
South Bend IN (Register)
Hilton Garden Inn

Building Capacity Means Making a Difference: Join the Prosperity Indiana Team

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 17:57:50 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is looking to grow its capacity again – this time even more focused on how we can support members’ work through capacity building support.

We are currently recruiting four VISTA positions. One of them will replace our current Assets & Opportunity Network VISTA Kelan Fong, who still has plenty of work to do before wrapping up his term in June. When asked what drew him to VISTA, Kelan admitted that he was initially drawn to the program partly because he thought it would be easier than looking for jobs elsewhere, since VISTA provides an extensive jobs listing from which to choose. But he also wanted to do something that mattered.

Kelan Fong

“I’ve always wanted to work with a nonprofit. I wanted to learn more about the nonprofit world in Indianapolis and make more connections,” Kelan said. “Working here, I get to see what the nonprofit field is like more in-depth, and I obviously wanted to make a difference as well, which I think I have.”

Much of Kelan’s work has been focused on the rollout and delivery of the Your Money, Your Goals training program for the A&O Network. In 2016, 150 individuals from 98 legal aid and social service organizations were trained on this toolkit that helps front line staff and volunteers incorporate financial conversations into their case work. Your Money, Your Goals provides the resources needed “to help people set goals, choose financial products, and build skills in managing money, credit, and debt.”

Kelan has also contributed to the communications strategy of the network, helped build an Expert Directory for A&O Network partners, and is working on his legacy project related to lending circles. But Kelan has not just built the capacity of Prosperity Indiana through the A&O Network; his service with the organization and the Network has likewise built his capacity as a recent graduate and young professional.

“This is the first 40-hour workweek position that I’ve had. So, I’ve definitely grown. I think I’ve gotten a lot more organized. And although I haven’t done advocacy, I’ve learned a lot by being exposed to policy work and how that happens at the state level. It’s also been good to learn best practices about how to help low-income Americans,” Kelan said.

And referencing the subsistence living allowance provided to VISTAs, he laughed, “It has definitely also helped with my budgeting as well.”

For those interested in becoming the new A&O VISTA, or filling one of the other positions Prosperity Indiana will host, potential applicants should visit the VISTA Campus “How to Apply to AmeriCorps VISTA” page. Prosperity Indiana’s VISTA positions are listed on the job board under the following Program Names:

Assets & Opportunity Network (described above)

Nonprofit Impact (to support strategic plan goals like building the Outcomes Platform and establishing an Institute, or laboratory, framework for Comprehensive Community Development capacity building)

Member Capacity Builder (to work onsite with members to fill short-term or project-based capacity gaps)

Those interested in filling the VISTA positions, or any members interested in a Member Capacity Builder placement, may contact Jessica Love, Associate Executive Director, with any questions.

Prosperity Indiana Testifies to Help Advance Bill to Extend Foreclosure Counseling Resources

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 19:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, February 1, Prosperity Indiana's policy team and one of our members, Regina Flowers, a housing counselor with the Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Inc., delivered powerful testimony supporting SB 227. The bill would preserve critical foreclosure counseling resources for Hoosier homeowners in trouble by extending the foreclosure filing fee which is due to sunset in July of this year. The fee is paid by lenders each time they file a foreclosure proceeding. Those resources are then directed to statewide efforts to prevent foreclosures, through the Mortgage Foreclosure Counseling and Education Account. The bill was not voted on during the hearing, but received favorable consideration by committee members, based on discussions during the proceedings. Our one pager background on the bill can be found here. Thank you, Senator Jim Merritt, for your leadership on this initiative! Read on for Prosperity Indiana's full testimony.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC POLICY, TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB 227, KATHLEEN LARA, POLICY DIRECTOR, FEBRUARY 1, 2017

Chairman Alting and members of the committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak this afternoon. My name is Kathleen Lara and I am the Policy Director for Prosperity Indiana, a network of 230 non-profit organizations, units of local government, private companies and institutions dedicated to building strong communities.

Working to advance policies that respond to urgent human needs and improve the quality of life in communities of all sizes throughout the state is essential to our members. That is why I come before the committee today urging strong support for SB 227. I would also like to thank Senator Merritt for this leadership on this important piece of legislation.

Around the state, our members and partners work diligently to help those few economic opportunities build assets and achieve housing stability through a large and diverse portfolio of programs. Housing counseling, and in particular, foreclosure prevention counseling, is a keystone of those efforts as it provides emergency assistance for homeowners in crisis.

The foreclosure filing fee, which helps to fund the Foreclosure Prevent Network hotline and counseling services as Senator Merritt mentioned is imperative to interventions statewide. This counseling assistance includes managing household finances to resolve a delinquency, informing the client of options for resolving the delinquency, helping negotiate with lenders, providing information on financial assistance programs, explaining the foreclosure process, providing referrals to other service providers (including legal counsel), and sometimes helping to find alternative housing.

We know that foreclosure prevention housing counseling is extremely effective in helping struggling Hoosiers save their homes. The evidence is not just anecdotal. According to the latest figures from HOPE NOW, which is included in the papers I passed around, 770 permanent home loan modifications occurred in Indiana in the 3rd Quarter of last year alone. Additionally, two of every five homeowners who go through the GET HOPE hotline and attend a settlement conference, also funded through the filing fee proceeds, achieve a non-foreclosure workout.

In May of last year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development released a publication finding that counseled clients were 2.83 times more likely to receive a loan modification and were 70 percent less likely to redefault on a modified loan than were similar borrowers who were not counseled. The publication also reported homeowners who received a mortgage modification to resolve a serious delinquency were 45 percent more likely to sustain that modification if it was obtained with the help of housing counseling.

We are fortunate today to be joined by one of our members, Regina Flowers with the Community Action Program of Evansville who will speak to her experiences in working with struggling homeowners first-hand. She will share what consumers are facing even though foreclosure rates throughout the state are below the rates we saw during the peak of the housing crisis. We know that the work is not complete and that is why it is so critical to extend the foreclosure filing fee before it is set to expire. According to the GET HOPE data, at the end of the 3rd quarter in September, there were still 20,663 loans over 60 days delinquent and 639 foreclosure starts in Indiana. Further, RealtyTrac found that in December, the number of properties that received a foreclosure filing in Indiana was 54% higher than the previous month and 30% higher than the same time last year even though nationwide, the number of properties that received a foreclosure filing was 1% lower than the previous month and 17% lower than the same time last year.

There is still an urgent need for the counseling and legal resources funded in part by the foreclosure filing fee proceeds and it is important to note those funds fluctuate depending on the number of foreclosures filed. So, if there are fewer foreclosures, the proceeds are diminished. By the nature of how the fee was set up, we are funding these programs in proportion to need throughout the state.

As a representative of members who are interested in both saving the homes of Hoosiers and stabilizing local real estate markets to create economic opportunity for working families, I urge your support for the measure and thank you for your time today.

https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Housing-Counseling-Works.pdf

Prosperity Indiana hosts Statehouse Day on January 31

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 14:18:38 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosperity Indiana will host Prosperity IN Action at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday, January 31. The event is designed to bring together representatives from Prosperity Indiana’s membership, representing community economic development drivers, with state lawmakers. Prosperity Indiana, its members and partners will urge lawmakers to act on critical policy priorities that respond to urgent human needs, help expand economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in communities of all sizes.

Kathleen Lara, Prosperity Indiana’s Policy Director, said, “We want to see our members directly engaged with their legislators so policymakers better understand the impact of members’ work. We believe it is important for legislators to hear firsthand how our policy priorities affect their constituents and communities.”

Lara identified Prosperity Indiana’s key priorities for 2017 as clarifying the affordable housing property tax exemption, defending key programs in the budget, protecting consumers and strengthening asset building opportunities for low-income Hoosier families. In terms of the affordable housing property tax exemption, Prosperity Indiana wants to see the enactment of legislation that clarifies that tax exemption for 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that own and operate affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families should be consistently applied throughout all of Indiana’s 92 counties. Senate Bill 559 addresses this concern.

See the full press release here.

Summer Paid Internship Opportunities: IHCDA

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:35:31 GMT

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) is seeking summer interns for several different divisions:

Community Programs

The Community Programs intern serves as part of the Community Programs team, which administers programs related to energy assistance, weatherization, and homeownership counseling for low income and vulnerable populations.

Community Services - Continuum of Care or Coordinated Entry

The Community Services interns serve as part of a team which provides funding and program management for the organizations serving persons experiencing homelessness in the Indiana Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC). See http://www.indianabos.org/coc for more information about the CoC.

Internal Auditor

The Internal Audit intern will assist in evaluating existing internal control documentation, testing current processes and providing recommendations. The Internal Audit Intern is expected to constructively work with departments to improve internal controls across the organization.

Housing Choice Voucher

The Housing Choice Voucher intern serves as part of the Community Programs Department. Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides rental assistance to over 4800 families within IHCDA’s jurisdiction. Please visit http://in.gov/ihcda/2333.htm for additional information on the HCV program.

Legislative Affairs and Policy

The Legislative Affairs and Policy intern provides logistical and program support for an education and outreach effort to encourage dialogue around critical housing and community development issues among practitioners, policy makers, and the communities they serve.

Real Estate Production

The Real Estate Development Production intern will work to develop an outreach strategy for the programs that the Real Estate Production administers, including HOME Investment Partnership, Community Development Block Grant Owner Occupied Rehabilitation, and Ramp Up.

Click here for more details about applying for these paid internships and other job opportunities available at IHCDA.

Job Opportunity: City of Bloomington - Housing and Neighborhood Development Dept.

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 02:13:09 GMT

The City of Bloomington seeks a full-time Assistant Director for the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department. The position oversees coordination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) process; assists with the oversight of the housing counseling program, including providing housing counseling to individuals. Assists with the Rental Inspection Program, as needed. Attends departmental boards and commission meetings, as needed. Supervises the front line staff in their daily activities.

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration or related field. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of construction finance and pro forma analysis. Ability to interpret and apply federal laws and regulations dealing with community and economic development programs. They should also have a thorough knowledge of the housing market and industry practices and finance issues.

Minimum three to five years working in a government environment or experience in implementing governmental programs. Supervisory experience. Knowledge of and experience in implementing the federal CDBG and HOME programs. Salary $62,500-$68,182.

Interested parties may apply by fax (812-349-3446), email (hrmail@bloomington.in.gov), or at City Hall, Human Resources Department, 401 N Morton Street, Suite 230, Bloomington, IN.

See full job description for more details.

Prosperity Indiana Testifies in Support of Priority SNAP Bill at Statehouse

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:00:00 GMT

This morning, Kathleen Lara, Prosperity Indiana's Policy Director testified before the Indiana Senate's Family and Children Services Committee in support of SB 154, a key state priority bill removing the asset limit test for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits. The committee considered testimony, but did not take a vote on the measure. Read her full testimony below. Another priority bill supported in the Committee by Prosperity Indiana passed with a vote of 8-1, in favor of dropping the ban on individuals with certain drug offenses from receiving SNAP benefits. Read more coverage on that bill by clicking here.

COMMITTEE ON FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB 154
KATHLEEN LARA, POLICY DIRECTOR
JANUARY 23, 2017

Chairman Grooms and members of the committee,

Working to advance policies that respond to urgent human needs, help expand economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in communities of all sizes throughout the state is essential to our members and partners. That is why I come before the committee today urging strong support for SB 154, a bill that will help financially vulnerable, food-insecure Hoosiers reach and maintain economic sufficiency.

Our members and partners work diligently to help those with few assets and few economic opportunities access financial literacy education, open savings accounts, find workforce development training, attain higher education, and achieve housing stability. Our networks have helped launch community loan centers to cut down on payday loan reliance. They have helped to train non-profit organizations on best practices in helping low-income clients manage money successfully. They help operate Individual Development Account programs that allow low-wealth consumers to receive financial education and open matched-savings accounts to afford higher education, open a business or buy a home.

So, our member networks know that consumers are eager to access these opportunities and work hard to advance their financial goals. Unfortunately, we find that too often, low-income consumers are in a system where they are set up to fail or held back from their full potential. Too often we hear that low-income Hoosiers should receive a hand up, but not a hand out and yet the very nature of the certain program rules contradicts that philosophy. The SNAP asset limit test is among those rules.

Despite member efforts underway to help break through generational poverty and thus, decrease reliance on public assistance, rules such as the asset limit test can have the unintended consequence of training beneficiaries to stay dependent – to keep their assets low or risk losing essential food assistance during tenuous times.

Program beneficiaries are not eligible if they make more than 130% of the federal poverty level, roughly $31,600 annually for a family of four and the program constrains assets to below $2,250. That may sound like a generous asset limit, but when you consider that our network partners teach clients that they need three months’ worth of income savings survive a financial emergency, the three months’ worth of savings even at this low-income level exceeds program allowances.

Logically, if we want Hoosiers to be economically sufficient, we cannot penalize them for saving funds and forcing them to spend down savings, retirement accounts, or selling off assets to become SNAP eligible. That is important when you consider that SNAP benefits were designed to temporarily help individuals and families maintain food access as they weather financial turmoil, especially since benefit is not even their primary source of income for food. It is, as the title indicates, supplemental. The program already deducts the amount they expect a household to pay towards food - 30% of net income.

The revisions in SB 154 make economic sense in supporting the financial independence of low-income Hoosiers. The Urban Institute reported just last June that more flexible SNAP policies increase the likelihood that lower income adults live in a household where at least one member has a bank account and there is at least $500 in the account. Entering the financial mainstream by opening bank accounts is in line with what our network case managers repeatedly recommend to clients.

Removing the asset limit test not only makes economic sense for consumers, it makes economic sense for the state. We know from other states that eliminating the asset test reduces administrative costs. For example, Pennsylvania’s Department of Health Services announced that the 2015 elimination of its asset limit test for SNAP was estimated to save the state $3.5 million annually.

Prosperity Indiana members believe in asset-building strategies that help lift Hoosiers out of poverty permanently. We believe compassionate, common sense policy updates like those contained in SB 154 are essential to building strong families and communities. We urge your support for the measure and thank you for your time today.

Prosperity Indiana helps Michigan City neighbors create plan for positive change

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:27:59 GMT

After almost a year of working alongside the City of Michigan City and the residents of Michigan City’s Eastport neighborhood, the quality of life planning process that Prosperity Indiana guided for that community is completed. Now in the implementation phase, the plan was presented to the City Council by Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel on January 17.

Using a comprehensive community development model, Prosperity Indiana helped residents and stakeholders in the Eastport neighborhood develop a plan for the future of the area. Taking into account insightsfrom formal and informal leaders, the plan addresses what the public, private and philanthropic sectors can do in collaboration with residents and stakeholders to make Eastport a better place to live, work, and play.

With the project now completed, Rose said, “The most rewarding part of doing this work is becoming part of the neighborhood, having people get to know one another and want to work together. That, and bringing resources to the community that they weren't familiar with.”

Rose Scovel

The neighborhood planning process included focus group meetings, listening sessions, surveys, a visioning session, and goals and action planning meetings. The culmination of the planning process is a neighborhood level plan for improving their quality of life. In Eastport, the five key topic areas for the plan, around which there were individual working groups, are Business, Housing, Walkability, Civic Infrastructure, and Engagement/Pride.

While Prosperity Indiana has a well-defined process that can be adapted to every community, each neighborhood has its own unique set of opportunities and challenges that come to bear, many of which will take months or years after completing the plan to fully take advantage of or otherwise address. While this makes the work more difficult, it is also what makes it so important.

Rose said, “The most challenging part is that there are issues facing the neighborhood (like food access) that there isn't the capacity to resolve in a time frame that is meaningful to the neighborhood.”

That is why helping neighbors establish a unifying force to work together is vital to their future. For many communities, the planning process is just as crucial to their success as the actual plan. Often neighbors meet for the first time and find common interests and concerns during this endeavor to create their shared vision for the future of the area. Finding this connection with their neighbors sets them up for greater success when they move to implementation.

Rose noted, “The most exciting outcome in Eastport is that the neighborhood resident group is reforming and developing their capacity to lead change in the neighborhood.”

And positive change is exactly what Prosperity Indiana is in the business of helping people and places create across the state.

For more about this project, see the following press releases and media briefs from April, June, July, August/August (FAQ) 2016 and January 2017.

Be a Mentor, Ask a Mentor: Strengthening Leaders with a New Resource

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 14:08:13 GMT

Prosperity Indiana supports a network of organizations from all sectors and a variety of fields. That network includes many talented and effective leaders, several of whom were highlighted on our blog in a series that began last October to mark our 30^th anniversary. Through our services, we strive to support all Prosperity Indiana members in becoming leaders who make an impact on their communities. Last fall, we launched the Expert Directory Survey to ask members to identify their level of experience on a variety of subjects. This tool is helping us understand our members better and providing us new ways to connect members to opportunities within the network. The below chart provides a summary of responses on several leadership characteristics from the first 70 people to complete the survey.

Those who identified themselves as an “expert” have incorporated these skills into their work to a significant degree and are comfortable sharing their knowledge with others.

We’re excited to announce a new member service to use this data to grow leaders in our network. Members may now request to be matched with a mentor to help them tackle a challenge or learn a new skill. Mentors are people with significant experience in the field who have volunteered to assist their peers by spending one to two hours meeting or speaking with them one-on-one to address particular topics.

If you’re setting resolutions for 2017 and are looking for support in developing strong goals and action plans or if your resolutions include strengthening your command of finances or your ability to facilitate difficult conversations, request a mentor to receive tips, resources, and guidance for reaching your goals. Below is a list of some of the areas in which mentors have agreed to serve; but there are many others—use the Mentor Request Form to let us know what topic you’re interested in.

If you’d like to exercise your own leadership potential and be a mentor, please complete our Expert Directory Survey. In this survey (accessible exclusively to members through our Member Directory page), you’ll identify your level of experience on a variety of topics. You can also indicate your willingness to provide training, technical assistance, and/or mentorship to other members. As more people join the Directory, its potential as a tool for connecting with other professionals grows. So, please share it with other network members.

Be a mentor. Ask a mentor. Become a leader.

Lilly Endowment Grants Boost Financial Sustainability of 15 Indianapolis Organizations

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:52:11 GMT

In addition to the Lilly Endowment’s regular support of human service organizations this year, the Endowment is granting a total of $100 million dollars to 15 organizations to invest in their sustainability plans. These grants seek to strengthen the financial infrastructure of vital but under-capitalized organizations and build their capacity for the long-term. Included among the grantees are Prosperity Indiana members, Edna Martin Christian Center, John H. Boner Community Center, and 2014 member, Horizon House. Congratulations to each grant recipient for the well-deserved recognition and support of the important work they do in building vibrant communities and resilient families.

Read the official press release for more details of this initiative from the Lilly Endowment and the full list of award recipients.

Purdue Extension Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing Workshops

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:59:32 GMT

This Spring, Purdue Extension is offering a course on preparing grant proposals in eight communities around the state. The 2-day workshop, Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing, will give grant writers of all skill levels the information and resources they need to submit proposals with confidence.

The two-day interactive workshops take place from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM local time on both days listed below:

• Floyd County, New Albany Floyd County Public Library, 180 W. Spring Street, New Albany, IN 47150, Wednesday, February 8 and Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

• Hendricks County, 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Center, 1900 E. Main Street, Danville, IN 46122, Tuesday, February 21 and Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

• Allen County, 4001 Crescent Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46815, Thursday, February 23 and Thursday, March 23, 2017.

• Putnam County, Putnam County Fairgrounds,191 US-231, Greencastle, IN 46135, Wednesday, March 8 and Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

• Marion County, 1202 East 38th Street, Discovery Hall Suite 201, Indianapolis, IN 46205, Friday, March 10 and Friday, April 14, 2017.

• Tipton County, 1200 S. Main Street, Tipton, IN 46072, Thursday, March 16 and Thursday, April 20, 2017.

• Harrison County, 247 Atwood Street, Corydon, IN 47122, Tuesday, April 11 and Tuesday, May 2, 2017.

• Tippecanoe County, 3150 Sagamore Parkway South, Lafayette, IN 47905, Thursday, April 20 and Thursday, May 18, 2017.

During the workshop, participants develop their ideas into written proposals. They learn how to find funders as well as strategies for successful grant implementation.

"Over the years, participants of the Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing workshop have gone on to win millions of dollars in grant funding, bringing vital programs and services, equipment, infrastructure, and amenities to communities all across Indiana," said Kris Parker, Regional Community Development Educator with Purdue Extension.

Registration is $175 per person and includes a workbook, reference materials and lunch both days. Professional review of a draft proposal is also included.

Additional information and a registration form are available by going to http://bit.ly/2gdgXFu. Or, by contacting Kym Schwinkendorf at 219-386-5232, or kschwink@purdue.edu.

2017 Session of General Assembly Convenes

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 00:58:47 GMT

Prosperity Indiana's policy team is already hard at work in the halls of the Statehouse trying to advance critical priorities. To read our 2017 policy agenda and state policy priorities, click here. We hope our members will join our advocacy efforts by attending our Statehouse Day on Tuesday, Jan. 31^st. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

This blog will elaborate on progress already underway in working towards our 2017 state advocacy goals below, but as we referenced in our 30^th Anniversary and Prosperity Indiana Summit policy sessions, it is important to understand the context of broader policy priorities dominating legislators’ attention.

Top General Assembly Priorities from Legislative Leaders

House Agenda:
House leaders unveiled their top priorities for this session during Organization Day last November. The plans were elaborated on in the House Republican’s “Investing In Our Future Plan.” Speaker Brian Bosma has outlined the following as the key focus for House leadership:

Passing a balanced state budget
Passing a 20-year infrastructure plan, including a gas tax increase, new special fuel and motor carrier surcharges, and a new annual fee on all vehicles to address the more than $1 billion in additional funding per year needed to maintain roads and bridges
Expanding education opportunities – while not favoring a universal expansion of pre-k, the Speaker did express support for expanding Indiana’s existing pre-k pilot program and for improving testing in the state’s classrooms
Expanding job creation and workforce development- the Speaker referenced the Department of Workforce Development’s estimate that the state will need to fill 1 million jobs by 2022. He pledged that House members will advance policies to meet the training and educational needs to fit employee/employer needs.
Addressing the opioid and heroin epidemic and public safety needs- Speaker Bosma committed to focusing on “efforts to expand substance abuse and treatment options.” He also called for an increase in Indiana State Police salaries.

Senate Agenda:
January 10, Senate leadership unveiled their agenda, which largely mirrors priorities of their House counterparts with some minor additions and some differences in their approach. Senate President Pro Tem David Long listed the following as specific priorities:

Passing another balanced, two-year state budget
Creating a long-term road funding plan – Sen. Long would not commit to a specific figure on how much taxes should be increased to pay for roads, but did indicate the Senate would start to work with the House blueprint and identify new sources of funding.
Passing a balanced budget amendment that would “prohibit state spending from exceeding state revenue unless two-thirds of the General Assembly deems it necessary to use emergency spending measures”
Fighting opioid abuse through prevention, enforcement, treatment and data collection measures
Addressing educational needs by replacing the ISTEP exam, improving career and technical education in the school funding formula, and fixing the overall structure of workforce development
Fixing Indiana’s e-liquids law by reforming regulations for e-liquids manufacturers

Top Administrative Priorities

On Monday January 9, Governor Eric Holcomb and Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch were sworn in during inaugural ceremonies. Last week, however, on January 5, then Governor-elect Holcomb and Lt. Governor-elect Crouch unveiled their Next Level 2017 Agenda. The proposals referenced a number of the key legislative priorities put forth by legislative leaders and include some additional ideas. Those proposals include:

Investing $1 Billion to make Indiana an innovation hub over the next 10 years through investments in high-growth early stage and mid-cap Indiana companies, continue resources for the Regional Cities program, and creating entrepreneurship grants to support programs and partnerships with Indiana higher education institutions and communities
Creating a 20-year plan to fund roads and bridges, mirroring on legislative leaders’ plans
Improving workforce readiness, which includes an appointed Secretary of Education beginning in 2021 to replace the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as doubling the state’s investment in pre-kindergarten
Addressing the drug epidemic by creating the position of Executive Director for Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement in the Governor’s office, giving local officials the authority to establish syringe exchange programs, limiting controlled substance prescriptions and refills, and enhancing penalties for pharmacy robberies
Improving government service by modernizing the state Department of Revenue computer system, raising pay for Indiana State Police, upgrading Indiana State Police labs, analyzing waste, fraud and abuse in Indiana’s Medicaid and unemployment insurance programs, exempting military pensions from the state income tax, and expanding the nurse-family partnership to combat infant mortality.

Top Prosperity Indiana Priorities

As referenced above, the Prosperity Indiana public policy team, which includes Kathleen Lara, Andy Fraizer, Steve Hoffman (the President Prosperity Indiana’s Board of Directors and the Public Policy Committee Chair), and Ice Miller, LLP representatives (Prosperity Indiana's lobbying partners), is already tracking and analyzing a number of bills to support and oppose in this legislative session and accordingly, meeting with legislators to advance and oppose a variety of legislative proposals.

For Prosperity Indiana’s comprehensive bill tracking list and link to more information about legislation, click here [Member Access]. This list is exhaustive of all introduced legislation that pertains to any Prosperity Indiana member issue area.

For a more refined review of key legislation in critical areas for members, review Prosperity Indiana’s top priority bill tracker by clicking here [Member Access]. The identified bills on that list are most likely to proceed at the State House or of greatest concern to Prosperity Indiana’s policy team. Please keep in mind that the deadline bill filing is Thursday, January 12, so our tracker information will be updated as additional bill information becomes available.

Prosperity Indiana has four key affirmative priorities for the 2016 Indiana General Assembly and one key area of defense thus far.

Affirmative Priorities:

Clarifying Charitable Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption:
SB 559 PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Eckerty, D) - Provides a property tax exemption for affordable rental housing property when the property does not otherwise qualify for a property tax exemption. Provides that, in order to qualify for the exemption, the owner must meet the criteria applied by the Internal Revenue Service in determining if an organization that provides low income housing is considered charitable because it relieves the poor and distressed. Clarifying state code on property tax exemption for non-profit owned affordable housing. For background on this issue and a summary of the proposal to be introduced this session, click on the following one-pager summaries below.
Background on Property Tax Exemption Issue
Summary of Current Proposal
Protecting Consumers, Promoting Economic Stability Through the Extension of the Foreclosure Filing Fee:
We have worked with two legislative leaders to introduce bills to extend the Foreclosure Filing Fee, which helps fund statewide foreclosure counseling training, extensive counseling services and court coordinator-assisted mortgage workouts for Indiana borrowers at risk of losing their homes. Those bills include:
- SB 227 FORECLOSURE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION FEE (Merritt, J) - Removes a provision providing for the July 1, 2017, expiration of the $50 mortgage foreclosure counseling and education fee that must be paid by a party filing an action to foreclose a mortgage.
- HB 1097 FORECLOSURE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION FEE (Burton, W) - Extends from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2019, the date for the expiration of the $50 mortgage foreclosure counseling and education fee that must be paid by a party filing an action to foreclose a mortgage.
Empowering Low-Income Hoosier Families Through the Removal of the Asset Limit Test for SNAP Eligibility:
SB 154 REMOVAL OF ASSET LIMITS FOR SNAP ELIGIBILITY (Merritt, J) - Requires the division of family resources to: (1) implement within the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) an expanded eligibility category, which does not consider an individual's value of assets in determining SNAP eligibility; and (2) notify the United States Department of Agriculture of the implementation of expanded categorical eligibility under SNAP.
This is critical to help low-income families as the current asset limit test disincentivizes savings, which is a critical step toward self-sufficiency.
Empowering Low-Income Hoosier Families Through the Expansion of Pre-K Educational Opportunities:
One of our top state legislative priorities in 2017 is expanding economic opportunities for Hoosier families, including childcare resources and pre-k expansion for low-income households. As part of that effort, we are partnering with the All IN 4 Pre-K campaign. A number of bills have been introduced this session aimed at pre-k expansion and are included in our bill trackers, but Prosperity Indiana’s policy team is still examining those proposals before endorsing a specific approach. Stay tuned to this blog post for important updates.

Defensive Priorities:

Protecting Consumers, Promoting Economic Stability Through Opposition to Predatory Lending Expansion:
SB 245: LONG TERM SMALL LOANS (Holdman, T) - Provides that a lender that is licensed by the department of financial institutions to engage in small loans may enter into a transaction for a long term small loan with a borrower. Defines a long term small loan as a loan that: (1) is entered into by a licensed small loan lender and a borrower; (2) has a principal amount of at least $605 and not more than $2,500; and (3) is payable in installments over a term of not more than 24 months. Provides that with respect to a long term small loan, a lender may contract for and receive a monthly loan finance charge that: (1) does not exceed 20% of the principal; and (2) is earned by the lender on a daily basis using the simple interest method.
One of Prosperity Indiana’s central 2017 advocacy priorities is preventing the predatory loan products and practices that disproportionately affect low-income consumers. That is precisely what SB 245 would do. The proposal offers a longer-term installment loan carrying interest rates rate exceeding 200% APR. For example, a $1,000 loan due in 6 months will carry a 230% APR and on a $2,500 loan due in 24 months, a borrower will pay back over $12,000. These rates are significantly higher than other installment loans already offered in Indiana and would hurt vulnerable consumers. Click on the summary one-pager below to learn more about the detrimental impact the proposal will have on low-income consumers.
SB 245, By the Numbers

Please stay tuned to our blog for critical action alerts and legislative updates as the 120^th General Assembly session continues. Prosperity Indiana is grateful to our members for their work, advocacy, and partnership!

Job Opportunities: Riley Area Development Corporation

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 17:58:48 GMT

Riley Area Development Corporation (RADC) is a non-profit community development corporation that has used affordable housing to transform urban neighborhoods in and near downtown Indianapolis.

RADC is currently hiring for these two positions:

Mass Avenue/Brookside Industrial Corridor Program Manager

The Program Manager is responsible for the development, facilitation, execution and administrative support of the Mass Avenue/Brookside Industrial Corridor Program. The Program Manager must be professional, entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well organized and capable of functioning effectively in independent situations. The Program Manager is the primary contact person responsible for coordinating all Program activities and Program implementation, coordination of select projects and any other responsibilities deemed appropriate.

See full job description for more details.

Development Project Manager

The Development Project manager is responsible for project development and implementation and communications; shaping, managing and driving the implementation of community development projects and directing the implementation of an effective outreach and communication campaign to educate and cultivate support for projects. The Development Project Manager is a full-time professional position. However, if an outstanding candidate requires a part-time position, the Executive Director may negotiate a reduced scope of responsibilities. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

See full job description for more details.

If you are interested in either position please submit your resume including attached letters of recommendations to the following email address: strickland@rileyarea.org

Job Opportunity: Prosperity Indiana Seeking Administrative Assistant

Wed, 04 Jan 2017 18:08:50 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is seeking a part-time Administrative Assistant. The position of Administrative Assistant reports to the Associate Executive Director and supports the Prosperity Indiana staff with tasks that build the capacity of Prosperity Indiana, its members, and partners. The position will provide administrative support for the organization and Prosperity Indiana’s training program. The successful candidate will be customer service-oriented, write well and communicate effectively, and understand bookkeeping. Attention to detail and accuracy are a must in order to successfully juggle and accomplish multiple tasks.

For more details, click to see the full job description.

Interested in joining our team?

E-mail and/or mail resume, cover letter, and recommendations to

Jessica Love, Associate Executive Director, jlove@prosperityindiana.org
Prosperity Indiana
202 East Market Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Year-End Reflections

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 17:48:49 GMT

Year-end is timely to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and survey the coming year. Having celebrated Prosperity Indiana’s 30^th Anniversary in November, reflection also includes the many years of impact. If you missed the celebration and Prosperity Indiana Summit, where we unveiled the new brand identity, I invite you to watch the commemorative video.

For 30 years, the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development has focused on the assets of local people, mobilizing collective action to advance Indiana’s communities. Now doing business under a new name, Prosperity Indiana, our mission hasn’t changed; we are still dedicated to supporting a network of organizations that build resilient families and vital communities. The new brand embodies a more authentic and approachable way to convey our vision and comprehensive work to strengthen Indiana communities.

As you think about the highlights below, remember Prosperity Indiana delivers services in four ways to members: advocate, community builder and connector, capacity builder, and funder.

As an advocate, the Prosperity Indiana policy team was a coalition partner to improve Indiana’s Individual Development Accounts (IDA) program. With member engagement, including diligent efforts by the TRI-CAP staff, policymakers added vehicle purchase as an eligible use of savings in the IDA program. Partnering with the City of Gary Redevelopment Commission, the policy team also advocated for experimental tools for Lake County to better address the issues of vacancy and abandonment, including challenges of 1) serial tax delinquency, 2) the tax sale process, and 3) disposition of redevelopment commission owned properties.

Again in coalition, the policy team stopped the expansion of predatory payday lending. As the policy team looks ahead, 2017 will again require mobilization on this issue of payday lending. Other priority issues for the year ahead include uniform property tax assessment for mission-based affordable housing and continuation of the mortgage foreclosure filing fee as a source of funding for housing counseling and mortgage foreclosure prevention. At the federal and state administrative policy junction, the policy team worked with the National Low Income Housing Coalition to deliver a webinar and generate member feedback to inform Indiana’s use of the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF).

As a connector, we delivered the Prosperity Indiana Summit. Over 200 people attended with 36 percent attending the placemaking sessions, 26 percent participating in the policymaking sessions and the balance attending some of each track. Sixty-six (66) percent of attendees reported extreme satisfaction with the content and logistics. The annual awards luncheon honored leadership and program impact in the following winners:

John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award
Charles Heintzelman, Milestone Ventures
Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award
James Taylor, John Boner Neighborhood Centers
Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award
Gladys Muhammad, South Bend Heritage Foundation
Key Award for Services Program of the Year
Back Home in Indiana Alliance, Indianapolis

Another connecting strategy is our role in providing staff support for the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network. In 2016, the Network was selected to participate in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Your Money, Your Goals cohort and trained 98 organizations and 150 people on this financial capabilities curriculum. Thanks to generous support from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network also built partner capacity for asset-building strategies in Northwest Indiana (NWI) with the Porter County United Way.

We also convene communities of practice, or affinity groups, to provide members opportunities to exchange resources, information, and ideas to bolster each other’s work. The details and discussion notes from the various affinity groups are documented on the forum pages.

As a community builder, Prosperity Indiana continued work with the Legacy Foundation in Lake County to advance comprehensive community development through the Neighborhood Spotlight program. This year’s Neighborhood Spotlight communities were Gary’s Emerson neighborhood and Griffith, where Prosperity Indiana provided collective impact planning and capacity building support to residents and local leaders throughout the year.

Other community building strategies included a partnership with member the Indiana Cooperative Development Center to deliver a one-day conference on worker cooperatives as a community economic development tool for financial empowerment and a similar conference on Cooperatives and Communities of Color. The conference on worker cooperatives highlighted them as a business succession strategy to generate local wealth and revitalized downtowns. The Cooperatives and Communities of Color conference focused on strategies for equity and social justice from community ownership. Lastly, with support from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), Prosperity Indiana worked with member Fifth Third Bank to shape a community benefits agreement, which was announced last month to great acclaim for a robust and collaborative process.

Capacity building strategies included another year of robust training and technical assistance consulting. Trainings this year included Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Basics, Developing an Affordable Housing Project from the Ground Up, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Certified Green Professional, Effective Non-Profit Boards for Real Estate Development, Abandoned Housing Strategies, and Placemaking Basics. For 2016, the capacity building team delivered these courses in a series of "mini-institutes" that allowed participants to encounter more professionals in the community economic development field, learn from others through affinity groups and receive technical assistance from the training team in some cases. Training benefitted 123 participants across these classes, reporting high satisfaction. We also expanded our webinar offerings, covering a variety of topics and archived on the member portal. Looking ahead to 2017, the capacity building team is planning the training calendar now with our partner and funder, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. The team is also working with the board of directors to plan and implement a comprehensive community development institute, as outlined in Prosperity Indiana’s strategic plan. You will hear more about this in the weeks ahead.

Consulting work with members this year has included projects in organizational development, project and program development, and community and strategic planning. With a grant from member Vectren Foundation, Prosperity Indiana is supporting quality of life planning and convening in a neighborhood in Anderson. Through a partnership with the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders, the capacity building team supported leadership development in Sheridan in partnership with member Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development. In Huntingburg, the local public housing authority worked with the team to increase their housing development capacity through a non-profit development strategy.

Alongside member City of Michigan City, the team has supported neighborhood planning activity using a comprehensive community development strategy. Members also engaged the capacity building team for grantwriting and grant review, including Terramark and Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. Early in the year, Hope of Evansville engaged the team for strategic planning. Prosperity Indiana staff also assisted United North East Community Development Corp. with updating their housing strategy and providing data analysis services. In collaboration with member KW Consultants, the team is working on a housing needs assessment for the Town of Speedway. The capacity building team has also been working with Coburn Place to develop a housing strategy in light of changing funding.

As a funder, Prosperity Indiana continues to support members in local communities with a desire to collaborate in fundraising through Homeward Bound. Another 2016 accomplishment was our role in helping community development financial institution (CDFI) members Brightpoint and HomesteadCS establish Community Loan Centers^TM upon receiving grant funding from JP Morgan Chase PRO Neighborhoods to create an alternative to payday lending.

In 2017, the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network will make grants and provide technical assistance to five organizations participating in a learning cluster integrating financial capability. The Network has found lack of access to financial planning resources to be an obstacle to achieving financial stability. Research indicates that integrating financial capability – understood as knowledge plus skills plus resources – into existing programs is the best strategy for focusing on the family balance sheet. The following organizations are participating in the learning cluster: Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools. Connected by 25 creates paths of success for young people aging out of foster care. Families First delivers family and individual counseling services. Coburn Place provides transitional housing for those who have experienced domestic violence. EmployIndy provides workforce development. Participating organizations will develop theory of change, resource assessment, and planning logic models for intended financial capability strategies. The Network will develop case studies from organizations to understand lessons learned and promote achievements.

Prosperity Indiana will also reprise an updated version of its Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) grant program to fund solar photovoltaic projects and create community discussions about sustainability. Thank you to member Citizens Action Coalition, which has been a champion of the program and helped secure investment from Duke Energy. Prosperity Indiana recently hired Allyson Mitchell as Director of Sustainability to implement this program and build a portfolio of sustainability strategy support with members.

If you think there is a way Prosperity Indiana can aid your work and strengthen our communities, do not hesitate to call us at 317.454.8533 or email us at info@prosperityindiana.org.

Changing Post-Election Landscape for Affordable Housing: An Overview from NLIHC

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 15:25:05 GMT

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) recently presented a webinar, The Changing Post-Election Landscape for Affordable Housing, focusing on the work needed to move affordable housing policy in this new political landscape.

The webinar recording and PowerPoint slides are now available on their website.

Click here to read more of NLIHC's outlook on the political landscape for affordable housing policy under the new Administration.

Interested in other webinars from NLIHC? Click here to view their webinar offerings.

Legal Needs of Organizations Serving Hoosiers in Poverty

Tue, 06 Dec 2016 20:44:39 GMT

Member organizations of Prosperity Indiana are on the frontline in local communities tackling the causes and effects of poverty. In consultation with current member Indiana Legal Services Inc. and partner the Community Development Clinic at University of Notre Dame, we believe the support of a legal aid organization to support these member organizations is a missing resource that Prosperity Indiana may be able to support.

We need data to better understand what legal needs exist in our membership and partnership networks and how Prosperity Indiana may address these needs as part of a comprehensive bundle of services. Please complete this five-minute survey on how your organization and your community partners use legal services in pursuit of community economic development and poverty eradication.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/commdevlegalneeds

We understand strategies for tackling poverty, creating assets and investment for low wealth communities, and meeting local needs can utilize a variety of incorporation strategies—nonprofit, cooperative, b-corps, and other social impact organizations and corporations. Please share this survey widely.

Prosperity Indiana is exploring a multi-pronged strategy. Hire a staff attorney able to meet the specific legal needs at a particular time on a discounted fee for service basis for member organizations. Also, identify a statewide pro bono pool of attorneys to meet the needs of community development organizations serving people and places experiencing poverty. We could coordinate and track volunteer attorneys to ensure the timely delivery of services. We envision recruiting lawyers across a diversity of practice areas (real estate, business, intellectual property, nonprofit, tax, finance, labor, etc.) to provide legal assistance to community-based organizations. Lastly, share information and model documents among attorneys.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Job Opportunity: Legislative and Communications Assistant

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:30:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana's partners at the Indiana Institute for Working Families are hiring a Legislative and Communications Assistant for the 2017 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Do you know someone with a commitment to Indiana's working families who'd like to gain experience learning the policy process in the Statehouse? This could be the job for them. The Institute is accepting applications through December 9, 2016.

Download the PDF job description here.

Collecting Affordable Housing Success Stories

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 14:48:40 GMT

Prosperity Indiana is the state partner and member of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed cutting federal spending for everything but defense over the next ten years—a plan that could decimate affordable housing programs and increase housing poverty and homelessness.

NLIHC and the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) are preparing a national report on the broad, positive impacts of Department of Housing and Urban Development and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) affordable housing programs to share with Members of Congress. As the state partner, we are helping to collect a wide range of success stories to demonstrate how these programs have helped low income families living in rural, suburban, and urban communities nationwide.

It is important that we collect Indiana success stories. Senator-elect Young, Represenatives Brooks, Bucshon, and Messer are key Members of Congress for messaging. Submit a success story here. The deadline to submit a success story is December 15, 2016. The report is slated for publication in early 2017.

Director of Sustainability Joins Prosperity Indiana

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 21:00:00 GMT

Prosperity Indiana announces Allyson Mitchell as the organization’s Director of Sustainability. Mitchell will lead the organization’s strategies to integrate environmental sustainability into the network of nonprofit, government, and other community and business leaders committed to comprehensive community development. Andy Fraizer, Prosperity Indiana’s Executive Director, said “Allyson joining the team brings additional perspective and expertise to our work. Prosperous communities are socially just, environmentally sustainable, and transformed by local initiative.”

The Director of Sustainability develops programming that engages, coordinates, and convenes members to help them integrate sustainability principles and practices into their communities and organizations. The position is a technical assistance resource on sustainability, including energy systems, green infrastructure, community resiliency, building sciences, food systems, and waste management.

Before joining the staff of Prosperity Indiana, Mitchell owned a sustainability planning and consulting company and worked with Prosperity Indiana on the development and implementation of the first phase of the Solar Uniting Neighbors Program. She has an extensive background in environmental sustainability, public policy, design, and law. Mitchell has worked in the fields of landscape architecture, commercial real estate development, nonprofit management, and higher education. Formerly, she was a founding member of the City of Indianapolis’ Office of Sustainability.

Mitchell graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Landscape Horticulture & Design and immediately went on to graduate studies at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources & Environment to complete a Master of Landscape Architecture degree. In 2012, she graduated from Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. In her spare time, Mitchell teaches a graduate-level course, Sustainability Assessment, at Indiana University Purdue University – Indianapolis’ (IUPUI) School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). Mitchell is from Greensburg, Ind. and lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two young sons.

Dr. Ben Carson Considering Offer to Lead Department of Housing and Urban Development

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 22:52:47 GMT

Status of the Appointment:

Despite a confirmation reported by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that Dr. Ben Carson had accepted the position of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the paper issued a correction statement quoting Alonso Williams, Carson’s spokesman, as saying “President-elect Donald Trump is considering Ben Carson to be the next secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A previous version of this article incorrectly said that he was offered and accepted the post, citing Mr. Carson’s spokesman. (Nov. 23)”

The premature announcement follows a Nov. 22 tweet from President-elect Trump, “I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I've gotten to know him well--he's a greatly talented person who loves people!”

That tweet was unexpected as many earlier articles speculated that candidates for the position at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) featured well-known names in the housing field such as Pam Patenaude, the president of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for Housing America's Families and Bob Woodson, the founder and president of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise.

One day later, Carson posted the following message on his Facebook account, fueling rumors he was likely to accept the post.

“Winning the presidential election was only the first step for those who love traditional America and do not wish to fundamentally change it. Now the hard work begins of restoring the values that made us great. We must bring back the compassion and the unity that empowers us and banish the divisiveness that weakens us. After serious discussions with the Trump transition team, I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly to making our inner cities great for everyone. We have much work to do in strengthening every aspect of our nation and ensuring that both our physical infrastructure and our spiritual infrastructure is solid. An announcement is forthcoming about my role in helping to make America great again.”

It now seems the candidate for the position will be taking the long Thanksgiving weekend to mull the decision, as he told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that he would be “thinking and praying over it seriously over the holiday. Our inner cities are in terrible shape. They definitely need some real attention. There have been so many promises made and nothing has been done. So it certainly is something that has been a long-term interest of mine.”

If accepted, this would put Carson at the helm of the 50-year-old agency, charged with overseeing housing programs that affect over 5 million low-income households, through managing the Federal Housing Administration, public housing, low-income rental assistance, and homelessness programs, to name a few.

This offer under consideration by Carson poses a number of questions for housing and community development advocates as little is known about what the former presidential candidate’s specific positions on federal housing policies.

Background:

According to Carson’s autobiography, he was raised in a single-parent, low-income household in Detroit and later in life, became a renowned in the pediatric neurosurgery department at Johns Hopkins Hospital before eventually entering the political arena. In 2015, he entered the race to become the Republican nominee for President and after failing to secure the nomination, he became a highly visible surrogate for President-elect Trump.

Carson’s upbringing seems to have influenced a number of his social policy positions that may shed light on his views on federal programs designed to support low-income households. A 2015 article from the Washington Post quoted Carson as saying, “I don’t want to get rid of any safety net programs. I want to create an environment where they won’t be needed.”

A 2014 article from Politico provided additional detail on this stance, quoting Carson in a conversation surrounding education issues as saying:

“What I prefer is to create mechanisms whereby all people can move upward. If you happen to be in an affluent community, there’s a lot more money for the schools, better facilities, everything. All that does is perpetuate the situation. Wouldn’t it make more sense to put the money in a pot and redistribute it throughout the country so that public schools are equal, whether you’re in a poor area or a wealthy area?”

In yet another article regarding his economic policy positions from the Baltimore Sun in 2015, then candidate Carson was quoted as saying, "Most of the people that I have heard from in the political arena, they say, 'one of the big solutions to our problems is we have to remove the entitlements,'" Carson said. "And I say, no, what you have to do is fix the economy. ... When people have viable options, that's when you start pulling entitlements."

Beyond those references to economic mobility and federal social programs, the most specific information to be gleaned regarding his stance on housing programs is from a 2015 op-ed Carson wrote for the Washington Times on the Obama Administration’s efforts to address housing discrimination through the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule. AFFH is a federal rule stating that local governments and states that receive Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), as well as public housing agencies (PHAs) are required to affirmatively further the purposes of the Fair Housing Act. The regulation is aimed at strengthening local jurisdictions’ and public housing agencies’ fair housing obligations, through an improved structure and process whereby HUD provides program participants with guidance, data, and an assessment template from which they would complete an assessment of fair housing (the AFH).

Previous blog posts from Prosperity Indiana (formerly IACED) explaining AFFH can be found below:

From Carson’s op-ed stance, his appointment to the HUD post would be concerning for Prosperity Indiana, as our organization advocates to uphold AFFH on the grounds it better

provides fair housing choice, reduces ethnic and racial concentrations of poverty, improves access to transportation, and improves quality of life for all Hoosiers regardless of race, color, religion, disability, or familial status.

In that op-ed, Carson characterized the AFFH effort the following way:

“Undaunted by the failed socialist experiments of the 1980s, the Obama administration has recently implemented a new Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule designed to “desegregate” housing by withholding funds from communities that fail to demonstrate their projects “affirmatively further” fair housing.”

He went on to compare it to other seemingly well-intended efforts to decrease desegregation, such as busing to reduce segregation in schools as exacerbating the issues instead of improving them. Carson does point out that segregation and wealth disparity in the country’s communities were not entirely the result of forced integration, stating, “Other private and public housing policies such as redlining, restrictive covenants, discriminatory steering by real estate agents, and restricted access to private capital — all attempts at social engineering — exacerbated the suburban segregation in the 1970s and ‘80s.” It is clear in the article, however, that he views the AFFH rule as a government overstep that will not achieve its intended aims.

“It is true that the Fair Housing Act and other laws have greatly reduced explicit discrimination in housing, but significant disparities in housing availability and quality persist. To address them, The Obama administration’s new agency rules rely on a tortured reading of the Fair Housing laws to empower the Department of Housing and Urban Development to “affirmatively promote” fair housing, even in the absence of explicit discrimination. The new rule would not only condition the grant of HUD funds to municipalities on building affordable housing as is the case today, but would require that such affordable housing be built primarily in wealthier neighborhoods with few current minority residents and that the new housing be aggressively marketed to minorities. In practice, the rule would fundamentally change the nature of some communities from primarily single-family to largely apartment-based areas by encouraging municipalities to strike down housing ordinances that have no overtly (or even intended) discriminatory purpose — including race-neutral zoning restrictions on lot sizes and limits on multi-unit dwellings, all in the name of promoting diversity… There are reasonable ways to use housing policy to enhance the opportunities available to lower-income citizens, but based on the history of failed socialist experiments in this country, entrusting the government to get it right can prove downright dangerous.”

Prosperity Indiana’s policy team will continue to follow any new statements from Carson regarding this position and any revealing statements on a potential housing and community development agenda should he accept the role to lead HUD. Stay tuned next week for updates on this announcement and additional coverage of cabinet appointments likely to impact the work of Prosperity Indiana members.

What Our Partners Are Saying:

National partners of Prosperity Indiana have begun to weigh in on the announcement, given the President-elect’s stated strong consideration of Carson for the role. The following press release was issued Wednesday, Nov. 23, by Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition: http://nlihc.org/press/releases/7316. Read speculation on additional candidates for the HUD Secretary from Rooflines, blog of Shelterforce.

For Lindenlaub: Nonprofit management, like landscape architecture, is about finding solutions

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 20:41:35 GMT

The following is part of a special feature series to commemorate IACED’s 30th anniversary by highlighting past community development award winners. Mark Lindenlaub was the 2012 recipient of the Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award. IACED’s 30th Anniversary Celebration was held November 16, 2016 during the Prosperity Indiana Summit. During that celebration, IACED officially launched its new brand, Prosperity Indiana.

Mark Lindenlaub’s career may have taken some twists and turns – from landscape architecture to affordable housing to senior services. But there’s a common thread that has lured him to all of the work he’s done: finding problems needing a solution. And over the years, managing nonprofits has provided plenty of opportunities to do just that. Armed with degrees in environmental design, landscape architecture, and an MBA, Lindenlaub thought he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his career.

“I think everybody, when they’re in college, has a vision of what kind of change they want to make in the world and the impact that they want to have,” Lindenlaub said.

But the realities of the field and external influences, like the economy, made him think twice about his direction. So, he ultimately “traded in wingtips for work boots” and went to work in Columbus.

“The economy was not great in the early ’90s. It was a slow time. A lot of practitioners went into teaching. That was a turning point,” Lindenlaub said. “I really had made a decision to find something that would be personally fulfilling to me. And that was housing. It was an opportunity, I felt, to do work that would impact people in a positive way.”

But it was landscape architecture that first brought the West Lafayette native to Columbus, where the entirety of his career in affordable housing has played out. He worked on the Mill Race Park project in Columbus, which received two landscape architecture awards for its unique design that is accommodating to the annual flooding that the area experiences. When that work was winding down, he became aware of the opportunity at Housing Partnerships, Inc.

While he didn’t have a resume that touted experience in managing a nonprofit or affordable housing, he certainly had transferable skills that made him a good fit. He was hired as the executive director of HPI in 1993.

“You’ve got to be organized, read in detail, follow directions, and be a good problem solver. Depending on the role, those are all business management skills that go with running a small nonprofit. I didn’t have exact training,” Lindenlaub said. “But I think the design life I had before was helpful. Design is about solving problems. I think that background has been helpful in doing the work I’ve been involved with.”

The very first problem he had to solve when hired by HPI was to find funding. Describing the climate as being much different than today, his first order of business was to “find some grants to build some housing or you’ll be out of a job.”

Over the years, HPI did just that – found money and built housing.

Lindenlaub said, “Once we got good at it, we were pretty successful. At a time, we were getting $1 million in grants every year and were instrumental in Bartholomew County being really successful.”

But even in light of the organization’s successes in that regard, Lindenlaub and his board realized as HPI was approaching its 20^th anniversary that, while they had great organizational success stories and wonderful volunteer experiences, they “hadn’t really had as much community change as [they] would have liked.”

“We wanted to orchestrate neighborhood change and improvements. But when you look at housing development funding, it doesn’t really provide the flexibility to do that. It encourages it, but it’s not providing a lot of funding to do it, which resulted in a failure to execute change in our communities,” Lindenlaub said.

For HPI, the solution for addressing their concerns around funding for small housing projects and the desire to address the needs of the community beyond their housing concerns led to the merger of HPI with Aging and Community Services of South Central Indiana, Inc. to become Thrive Alliance. Lindenlaub said that several broader external factors also made the merger essential – the country’s economic collapse in 2008, growth of the federal debt, and an aging society, especially the ratio of retirees versus those in the workforce.

“It really impacts our industry and community that we may not have good solutions to address those issues. It gets back to the problem solving aspect. We have to reinvent how we do our work because there is not going to be enough money to do our work how we’ve been doing it.” He said, “How are we going to facilitate that change to make our mission more successful in the community?”

The combined services of the two groups Lindenlaub merged in Columbus address both the individual services and housing needs of their respective clients. In fact, Lindenlaub said that one-third to one-half of Thrive’s housing clients are also aging clients. So, although the consolidation of 12 HPI employees with the 115 staff of the area agency on aging took a couple of years and involved a steep learning curve, and Lindenlaub now “know[s] a lot more about Medicaid than [he] ever wanted to know,” he said it was the right decision.

“We had some overlap. But in terms of being intentional with connecting those services, we weren’t doing any of that previous to coming together. The main thing driving us now is: how do we integrate even more fully?”

Part of that integration plan is to determine what housing projects best line up with the organization’s primary client-base. Thrive is specifically looking to do more senior housing projects, but Lindenlaub knows they will face a funding challenge because the projects are generally too small for tax credits but too large to be entirely grant-funded. Lindenlaub said the organization is also working with clients now who seem to have additional barriers to improving their lives.

Thinking about concerns like the Cliff Effect, Lindenlaub said, “It seems like there is a systemically rooted set of barriers that make it really hard for families to move up the socioeconomic ladder. We’re seeing more families that are two or three generations stuck in poverty.”

And while Lindenlaub does not believe that housing is enough to create the community- or even family-level change they are seeking, two housing projects are what stand out to Lindenlaub as being some of his proudest moments of his career. One was a four-house infill project in the downtown Columbus area. He said, “It was pretty exciting to see something of that scale. For an organization that took 18 months to build its first house, that was a pretty big leap forward for the organization.”

Another project that gave HPI “some prominence and more respect in the community” was the adaptive reuse of an old armory, which is a project with only 25 units but made a big difference in the community and to its residents.

“In today’s world, we wouldn’t do tax credits for that project. We were too dumb to know it wouldn’t work. We actually found the investors ourselves and syndicated to local banks and general contracted it ourselves to make the budget work. We turned it into housing instead of a parking lot. It is a highlight and feather in our cap – we actually won an award for that. That was a neat project for us,” Lindenlaub said. “In terms of career high points, those are definitely two that helped set the foundation for achieving bigger impact and reaching more families.”

And at the end of the day, it’s going deep with families to address all of their needs that means the most to Lindenlaub. In fact, that’s exactly why he received the Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Organization in 2012. His personal reflection around HPI’s level of impact in Columbus had led him and his board to change the organization’s mission. Then through his role as a member, and past president, of IACED’s board, HPI’s local discussion ultimately fed into a larger conversation about addressing community development work more comprehensively across the state.

Similarly, his personal fight against losing property tax exemption for HPI’s affordable housing properties in Bartholomew County has led him to testify time and again on behalf of IACED’s membership to see that a single interpretation affirming the charitable purpose of affordable housing created by nonprofits is prescribed statewide. Still an issue to deal with during the upcoming legislative session, Lindenlaub said that what “started out of economic self-interest” is now “a community moral issue.” But for a problem solver by nature, it’s just another aspect of the work.

Lindenlaub said, “There are always new and growing challenges to address. It has always been what drives me. It’s kind of how my brain is wired. I like finding solutions.”

By Jessica Love, Associate Executive Director

Jessica Love is the Associate Executive Director for Prosperity Indiana, formerly known as the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development. She works with the Executive Director to provide team leadership for staff and is responsible for developing and managing organizational systems for Prosperity Indiana to ensure effective management and control. She also provides one-on-one technical assistance to Prosperity Indiana members, informed by her media and grants management background. With nearly 15 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector, Jessica’s consulting work focuses primarily on resource development and creating processes and tools for effective management and program compliance.

IACED Celebrates 30th Anniversary with New Brand Identity and Prosperity Indiana Summit

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:21:21 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – On November 16, the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED) hosted the Prosperity Indiana Summit and its 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing. In celebration of IACED’s 30th anniversary, the organization revealed its new brand, Prosperity Indiana. Additionally, during the summit’s luncheon, an annual award presentation took place to honor community and organization leadership and program excellence.

“For 30 years, IACED’s work has meant focusing on the key assets of local people mobilizing collective action to advance local places and our state. The new brand embodies a more authentic and approachable way to convey our vision and work,” said Executive Director Andy Fraizer.

The new brand, Prosperity Indiana, better embodies the comprehensive work IACED delivers to strengthen Indiana communities. The rebranding was generously supported in part by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Visit the new website at http://www.prosperityindiana.org.

The summit was made possible in part from the generous support of the premier sponsor the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, platinum sponsor PNC Bank and track sponsors Merchants Bank of Indiana and Vectren. PNC Bank, an IACED member and funder lent support in the re-branding effort.

“Community economic development is and always has been about prosperity development that focuses on people, places, and opportunity. Prosperity Indiana’s work champions this convergence. The new brand calls all Hoosier neighbors to engage in creating vibrant places and resilient families,” said Rachel McIntosh, Vice President of PNC Community Development Banking and chairperson for the Communications Committee who led the re-branding efforts.

During the 30^th Anniversary luncheon, IACED celebrated people and organizations that are strengthening Indiana’s communities with its annual award ceremony.

John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award
Charles Heintzelman, Milestone Ventures
Michael Carroll Community Economic Development Leadership Award
James Taylor, John Boner Neighborhood Center
Robert O. Zdenek Staff Member of the Year Award
Gladys Muhammad, South Bend Heritage Foundation
Key Award for Services Program of the Year
Back Home in Indiana Alliance, Indianapolis

The summit featured a number of expert panelists to discuss matters within its two tracks of content: policymaking and placemaking for building resilient families and vital communities. Panelists for the policymaking track included John Ketzenberger, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute and Ed Feigenbaum, leader of INGroup, State senators, Ron Grooms (R-Jeffersonville) and Doug Eckerty (R-Muncie). Other panelists included IACED, Ice Miller, LLP, the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Brightpoint, Indiana Legal Services, and Jewish Community Relations Council.

The second track, placemaking, featured national and state expertise. Mayor Brooks Fetters of Huntington discussed the community’s strategies for activation and economic development. Other panelists were featured from the Harrison Center for the Arts, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, IU Public Policy Institute, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Eyedart Creative Studio, Rundell Ernstberger Associates and Big Car Collaborative.

IACED launches its new brand, Prosperity Indiana, during its 30th Anniversary Celebration luncheon.

About Indiana Association for Community Economic Development D/B/A Prosperity Indiana
Community economic development is any local action that creates economic opportunities and improves social conditions, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged. Founded in 1986, the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED) is a statewide organization that supports a network of organizations that builds vital communities and resilient families. We advocate for public policies and assist the network in developing comprehensive solutions that engage local leadership to generate private and public investment.

For more information, please contact:

Jessica Love
Prosperity Indiana
317-454-8537
jlove@prosperityindiana.org

Amber Medwetz
Three Sixty Group
317-633-1456
amber@360grouponline.com

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