FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nadia Villagrán
nvillagran@lisc.org
760-641-3307
September 19, 2019 (Washington, D.C.)—Healthy housing initiatives across rural America have 457,000 new reasons to succeed thanks to $457,000 in grants provided to 31 community-based organizations serving 42 states. Rural LISC recently selected 31 partner organizations through a network-wide Request for Proposals process that concluded in August. The selected partners are poised to engage activities promoting healthy housing in rural communities in a variety of ways, such as lead-based paint removal, solar energy outfitting, the installation of smoke-free playspaces and gardens, and healthy new septic systems.
The partnership between Rural LISC and the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation began in 2015 with the inauguration of Rural LISC’s Healthy Housing Initiative, and Wells Fargo has remained a primary supporter of the Initiative, which serves low- to moderate-income families, over the past four years. “Wells Fargo’s support has been critical in sustaining this rural work throughout the years,” said Suzanne Anarde, LISC Vice President and Rural LISC Director. “The long-term positive impacts on generational health and education outcomes – impacts that result from having a safe and healthy home – are undeniable,” she said. “We are so thankful to have a partner like Wells Fargo Housing Foundation that recognizes this importance.”
A sampling of the 2019 grant award winners are:
Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. (HRDC); Bozeman, MT – HRDC plans to serve a diverse community through a modest and affordable home ownership program – building 63 units and a common house on the eight-acre parcel. Homes will be modest but high performing, ranging in size from 800 to 1500 square feet and containing one to three bedrooms, in a mix of clustered single-family and multi-unit housing types compatible in scale to single-family homes.
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation; London, KY – Kentucky Highlands will increase neighborhood stability, improve streetscapes and reduce slum and blight – radically improving the living conditions of people living in their service area who occupy unfit, outdated manufactured and mobile homes (especially units manufactured prior to 1976). They will decommission unfit units and replace them with eight owner-occupied, permanent, energy efficient, affordably financed homes.
The entire list of the 2019 grant award winners includes:
● Adams/Brown Counties Economic Opportunities, Inc. – Georgetown, OH
● Boys, Girls, Adults Community Development Center, Inc. – Marvell, AR
● Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation – Ventura, CA
● Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire – Great Barrington, MA
● Delta Community Development and Law Center, Inc. – Little Rock, AR
● Delta Housing Development Corporation – Indianola, MS
● Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. – Uniontown, PA
● Great Lakes Community Action Partnership – Fremont, OH
● Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association, Inc. – Greenville, MS
● GROW South Dakota – Sisseton, SD
● Highland Community Builders, Inc. – Elkins, WV
● Hilltown Community Development Corporation – Chesterfield, MA
● Homestead Affordable Housing, Inc. – Holton, KS
● Homestead Community Development Corporation – Honolulu, HI
● Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. – Bozeman, MT
● Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation – London, KY
● Lakes Region Community Developers – Laconia, NH
● Mercy Housing and Human Development, Inc. – Gulfport, MS
● North East Community Action Corporation – Bowling Green, MO
● Neighborhood Housing Solutions – Logan, UT
● Northern Cambria Community Development Corporation – Northern Cambria, PA
● NeighborWorks Umpqua – Roseburg, OR
● People Inc. – Abingdon, VA
● RUPCO, Inc. – Kingston, NY
● Rural Neighborhoods, Inc. – Florida City, FL
● Self-Help Enterprises, Inc. – Visalia, CA
● Self-Help Homes – Provo, UT
● Southern Mutual Help Association – New Iberia, LA
● Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership – Slayton, MN
● Total Concept, Inc. – Fowler, CO
● Tunica Community Development Coalition, Inc. – Tunica, MS
ABOUT RURAL LISC
Launched in 1995, Rural LISC is the rural component of the largest community development support organization in the country, called LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation). For 24 years, Rural LISC has listened to and partnered with rural communities, helping to forge innovative solutions that lead to prosperity and opportunity. Rural LISC provides a wide range of services, including financial support, training, technical assistance and information to help rural community developers address the problems rural communities face. This assistance comes in the form of loans and grants, national policy support and technical and management assistance. Since 1995, Rural LISC’s investments in rural America have totaled $1.25 billion in grants, equity and low-cost loan funds. Rural LISC has leveraged this investment resulting in close to $3.3 billion from public and private sources, to produce 35,000 affordable homes and apartments, create 4 million square feet of commercial and community space, assist 700 businesses, create 12,000 jobs and support 20 early childhood centers. By generating resources and investing in the grassroots efforts of its 86 partner community-based organizations, Rural LISC is committed to making rural communities good places to live, work, do business and raise children. Learn more at www.lisc.org/rural.