Community Development Corporations
American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) www.aicho.org
AICHO was created to provide supportive and affordable housing to American Indian households. They operate a five-unit transitional housing facility and an emergency shelter program for homeless women and their children. The facilities are located in the Central Hillside. Duluth LISC contributed to the expansion of the shelter and has provided Board training support. Sherry Sanchez Tibbets, Executive Director. Phone: 722-7225
Center City Housing Corp. (CCHC) www.centercityhousing.org
A housing developer providing affordable housing to low-income individuals and families. CCHC owns and manages 227 units of housing in the Central/East Hillsides, West Duluth and Duluth Heights. Involved in the “At Home in Duluth” initiative, CCHC preserved an existing 70-unit apartment complex, Windwood Townhomes with LISC support. They are working on development of the 70 unit New San Marco Apartments that will provide supportive housing for homeless and at risk individuals. CCHC has received extensive support from Duluth LISC for operating support, staff training and housing development and are involved in housing advocacy citywide. Rick Klun, Executive Director. Phone: 722-7161
Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) www.chumduluth.org
CHUM is a church-based organization, overseeing the Duluth Hunger Project and administering a daytime drop-in center, emergency shelter, emergency food shelf program and homeless outreach services. With Duluth LISC support CHUM expanded the drop-in center and emergency shelter. They also developed a business plan leading to the opening of LifeCyclers, an electronics recycling program that trains and employs CHUM clients. Jim Soderberg, Executive Director. Phone: 720-6521
Habitat for Humanity-Duluth www.habitatduluth.org
Incorporated in 1989, Habitat-Duluth has completed over 30 housing projects with others in the planning stages or under construction. In addition to Duluth, Habitat sponsors chapters in three areas outside the community: Proctor, Hermantown and Two Harbors. Habitat-Duluth has relationships with over 55 local churches and has actively pursued new funding options for housing development and staffing. LISC has provided training resources and recoverable grants. John Miller, Director. Phone: 722-3875
Hillside Business Association (HBA)
A neighborhood business organization revitalizing the Central and East Hillside Business Districts. HBA is part of the “At Home in Duluth” initiative. HBA focuses on economic development, crime prevention and safety, storefront renovation and business retention efforts. HBA has received operating support, training and project support from LISC. Bruce Wyman, Executive Director. Phone: 940-4751
Life House, Inc
Provides transitional housing, supportive services and youth center for homeless youth. Operates facilities in Proctor and Duluth. Life House purchased and rehabilitated a downtown building – Lifeline - that houses a youth center, emergency shelter, Teen Parent Program, and Health Clinic housing for homeless youth which is in collaboration with Lutheran Social Services. LISC provided predevelopment funds and gap financing. Rachel Kincade, Executive Director. Phone: 722-7431
Lincoln Park Business Group (LPBG)
A neighborhood business organization revitalizing the Lincoln Park business districts. LPBG focuses on storefront renovation, streetscape improvements, marketing, business retention and other initiatives designed to improve the business community. Duluth LISC provides operating support and training resources. They are part of the LISC Commercial Corridor Improvement Program and “At Home in Duluth”. Damon Anderson, Executive Director. Phone: 727-6573
Neighborhood Housing Services of Duluth (NHS Duluth) www.nhsduluth.org
Created to promote housing and neighborhood reinvestment, NHS Duluth is active in the Central/East Hillside, Endion and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. They operate a revolving rehab loan fund, provide purchase/rehab financing, homeownership counseling and training, exterior renovation matching grants and other housing and neighborhood improvement initiatives. NHS Duluth administers HHIP and HOPE in Lincoln Park programs and the “At Home” Storefront Enhancement Pilot Program with support from Duluth LISC. They have initiated a Purchase/Rehab/Resale program with Duluth LISC support, are developing the Lake View Condominiums and are a lead partner in the “At Home in Duluth” initiative. Duluth LISC provides operating support, technical assistance and project funding to NHS Duluth. George Garnett, Executive Director. Phone: 727-8604
Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. (NEFI) www.entrepreneurfund.org
A business development service to help start, stabilize or expand small businesses. They provide extensive counseling and technical support, as well as low-interest loan programs and a Women’s Business Network. Based in Virginia, MN serving Northeast MN and Douglas County, WI. Duluth LISC has provided funding for their “Growing Neighborhood Businesses” loan program. Mary Mathews, President. Phone: (800) 422-0374
Northern Communities Land Trust (NCLT) www.landtrustduluth.org
NCLT was created to acquire and permanently hold land for the benefit of the community’s low-income residents. Their focus is the creation of affordable homeownership having assisted over 90 homeowners. NCLT’s HOMELAND Program includes purchase and rehabilitation. NCLT also provides affordable homes through new construction in partnership with the Lake Superior College Construction Program, Women in Construction and other builders. They are a partner of the “At Home in Duluth” initiative and have recently created an affiliate, Common Ground Deconstruction Program and Reuse Center. Duluth LISC has provided training, technical assistance, operating support and project funds to NCLT. Jeff Corey, Executive Director. Phone: 727-5372
Spirit Valley Citizens' Neighborhood Development Association (SVCNDA) www.svcnda.com
Founded by West Duluth residents in 1979, SVCNDA is initiating housing, civic and economic development projects in West Duluth. SVCNDA’s projects include: the West Duluth Home Start Program, which has resulted in 34 new single-family homes; the Exterior Matching Grant Program, the Storefront Enhancement Loan program, oversight of West Duluth plan implementation and development and implementation of the Ramsey Village and West Duluth Business District plans. SVCNDA has secured extensive training, technical assistance, operating support and project funding from Duluth LISC. Kris Ridgewell, Executive Director. Phone: 624-2317
Women’s Community Development Organization (WCDO) www.wthc.org
Created in 1988, WCDO, formerly known as, Women’s Transitional Housing Coalition, has a dual mission of building a woman’s self-confidence and the development of a range of affordable housing options for and with low-income women. WCDO was recently selected as the new name and Parent Corporation for the organization to more accurately reflect the diversity of the organization’s housing services. The organization has developed 98 units of housing. They developed the Women in Construction Training and Women in Construction Company to provide low-income women with the skills necessary to become self-sufficient. WCDO provides development assistance to other organizations interested in the provision of affordable housing. WCDO has received training, operating support and project funding from Duluth LISC. Wanda Sayers, Board Co-Chair. Phone: 728-6437
Women in Construction Company (WiCC) www.womenworking.org
WiCC and Women in Construction Training Program (WiCTP) was established by WCDO as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in 1994. WiCC has three primary goals: 1) Teach women the skills needed in construction; 2) Utilize women crews on renovation or new construction projects; and 3) Assist women in entering jobs that pay livable wages. The training program it developed includes 400 hours of hands-on training on all aspects of construction. WiCTP has expanded to include Lindy’s DreamBUILDERS, a construction business that works with WCDO and WiCTP to build and renovate housing for low-income families. Home Girls provides outreach and education to girls about construction as a career, providing them with hands on experience. Michelle LeBeau, Executive Director. Phone: 733-1451.