About Ohio CDC
The Ohio CDC Association
The First 20 Years
Early History: OCDCA was organized in 1983-1984 through a grant made by
the George Gund Foundation through the National Congress on Community
Economic Development (NCCED), the national trade association for CDCs.
NCCED started four state associations in the early 1980’s, Ohio’s among
them. The local nonprofit organization that sponsored OCDCA during its
initial years, the NDC Association of Cincinnati, was a small
organization that sponsored OCDCA during its initial years, the NDC
Association of Cincinnati, was a small organization staffed entirely by
volunteers but with a charismatic board president, Don Lenz, Executive
Director of the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. Don hired
Patricia Barnes to direct the project charged with organizing OCDCA. She
became Executive Director of OCDCA in 1985 and continues in that role
today.
One of OCDCA’s first initiatives was the creation of the CDC Grant
Program. In Cleveland, Norm Krumholz, Director of the Center for
Neighborhood Development, agreed to head a Task Force for OCDC that
looked at state resources for affordable housing and community
development. Very little was available for community-based housing and
economic development at the state level and the Center urged the group
to ask the new Governor for a program dedicated to CDCs. Janice Cogger,
also with the Center for Neighborhood Development, developed the initial
program design for a statewide grant program for CDCs. Receptive to
OCDCA’s request, the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) agreed to
request $1 million in funding for housing and economic development
projects in low to moderate income communities. The request was included
in the Governor’s budget and in 1985 the legislature approved the “CDC
Grant Program” as a part of its biennial budget. ODOD’s Al Dietzel,
together with Marnie Shaul and Roberta Garber, helped make this program
happen.
OCDCA’s next project, creation of the Ohio Community Development Finance
Fund, was built on the successful experiences of CDCs in Lima and
Cleveland with the linked deposit model. Bob Hudecek, with AmeriTrust
Bank and a track record of arranging linked deposits, was very
instrumental in promoting the linked deposit concept and making it the
Finance Fund’s first product offering. From 1987-89, OCDCA organized a
statewide Task Force, led by Jon Moorehead, Director of Columbus
Neighborhood Housing Services, to guide the project. OCDCA raised
initial operating and program funds to get the new corporation started.
Roger McCauley of the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development was
an important partner and helped the project to obtain broad support.
With commitments in hand for linked deposits from the Cleveland and
Toledo and the Northern Ohio Episcopal Diocese, OCDCA convinced the
Administration and legislature in 1989 to provide matching public funds
through an expansion of the CDC Grant Program. Cindy Flaherty and Karen
Kerns Dresser at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency as well as David Baker
and Roberta Garber at ODOD played key roles in helping to start The
Finance Fund. State funding for the Finance Fund continues to this day
through the CDC Grant Program, in a set-aside in the Ohio Housing Trust
Fund.
1990-2000: During the early 1990’s, OCDCA participated in statewide
efforts to educate the public about Issue 1, a ballot initiative to
expand the state’s powers to finance affordable housing and participated
in discussions about the creation of an Ohio Housing Trust Fund. Over an
18 month period, as the enabling legislation for Issue 1 (House Bill
339), was drafted, OCDCA advocated for reduced state prevailing wages
for housing targeted to low-income households and was instrumental in
securing an exemption from state prevailing wage for nonprofit sponsored
housing development.
In the area of micro-enterprise, OCDCA initiated policy development and
programming that has built the capacity of over 50 micro-enterprise
programs, secured dedicated state funding for micro-enterprise programs
and training and technical assistance, and made it possible for welfare
recipients to start businesses and hold assets. Theresa Chelkiowsky, on
the staff of OCDCA, and Stephanie Bevens of CAC of Pike County provided
leadership in establishing micro-enterprise as an important business and
employment strategy at the state level.
Throughout the 1990’s, OCDCA provided intensive training for CDCs in
affordable housing development through a program called “Basic Skills in
Affordable Housing Development”, community economic development and
micro-enterprise. Key partners in the development of OCDCA’s training
programs include Richard Hendershot, Jorgelle Lawson, and Lana Vacha at
the Columbus HUD Field Office, many staff members from the Ohio
Department of Development and Ohio Housing Finance Agency, and such
trainers as Tom Zuniga, Paul Webb, Lawrence Anderson, Andrea Levere,
Theresia Pauuwe, Jackie LeBerth and Peg Barringer. To date, more than
1,500 CDC staff members have participated in OCDCA’s workshops, training
and technical assistance programs.
In 1995, OCDCA began a relationship with the Corporation for National
Service to provide VISTA members for community-based development
projects. This relationship expanded in 1998 with a special grant from
the housing Trust Fund that pays living expenses for VISTA members to
assist CDCs with affordable housing development. Paul Schrader and
Carolyn Bradley have been key supporters of OCDCA’s programs at the
Corporation for National Service while Amy Kuhn and Lisa Patt McDaniel
of ODOD’s Community Development Division and Rita Parise of the Oho
Housing Finance Agency have been supportive of the program as a Special
Project within the Ohio Housing Trust Fund.
2000-2004: As OCDCA became more proficient in administering funding and
creating IDA programs, it applied for and received its second federal
Assets for Independence (AFIA) grant for $1 million in 2002. From 1996
through 1999, OCDCA promoted asset building through Individual
Development Accounts, securing provisions for IDAs in state TANF
legislation, a set-aside for IDAs and a private three-site demonstration
of IDAs, that led to receipt in 1999 to a 5-year commitment from the
Fifth Third Bank Foundation, OCDCA has helped more than 15 programs get
started and utilize AFIA funding for their IDA programs: and provided
continuing education to more than 30 programs statewide through
workshops and the IDA Network. A total of 164 low-income households have
saved an average of $39 per month towards purchase of a home, business
start-up or education. Another 246 households continue to save while
receiving financial education and training in their chosen asset goal.
In a vote of confidence for this unique model, the Ohio Housing Trust
Fund Advisory Committee recently committed a total of $250,000 in
matching funds that will allow 83 low-income households to save towards
home purchase through an IDA.
From 1993 to 2003, OCDCA was part of a successful statewide movement,
led by the Coalition of Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO), to
secure a dedicated and permanent funding source for the Ohio Housing
Trust Fund. OCDCA co-sponsored two Lobby Days with COHHIO to promote the
Housing Trust Fund and the housing line items and provided to
legislators and members on the importance of the Housing Trust Fund and
housing line items, including the CDC Grant Program. To thank
legislators, the Governor and the Administration for securing a
permanent and dedicated revenue source for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund,
OCDCA held a “Thank You Day” luncheon and program at the Statehouse in
May 2004 that was attended by approximately 150 legislators and
legislative aides, Administration representatives, members and
colleagues.
In 2003, recognizing the need for training among experienced CDC
affordable housing developers, OCDCA created a new intermediate-level
training series for CDC’s called “Beyond Basic Skills”. The series was
well received and has become an important part of OCDCA’s menu of
training in affordable housing development. With support for HUD, ODOD
and other donors, new training programs have been developed for 2004 in
the areas of project development, operating standards, asset management,
packaging state Housing Development Assistance grants, HOME compliance,
and lead-based paint hazards.
Rising interest among its members about technology prompted OCDCA in
2003 to organize a discussion group around the Governor’s technology
initiative, Third Frontier. The group brainstormed ways that
community-based organization, rural communities and small cities could
become more involved in this important initiative. The success of these
meetings led to presentation of a one-day conference titled, “Community
Development, Innovation and
Technology” attended by 170 in June 2004. The conference featured
workshops on ways CDCs are promoting technology through community
technology centers, small and micro-business incubation, broadband
projects, workforce development, the use of new construction techniques
and materials for housing development, and in their own organizations.
Amy Kuhn, Lisa Patt McDaniel and Pat Valente of ODOD have been
supportive of OCDCA’s interest in technology and community development
and have agreed to continue discussions about how to make state
technology and development strategies more inclusive of inner-city
neighborhoods and rural communities and the CDCs and local governments
active in those communities.
In 2003 the OCDCA published the “Community Development Corporation
Production in Ohio” report. This extensive report covered the production
of Ohio CDCs in the areas of affordable housing production, commercial
and business production, additional CDC services and funding sources.
Highlights included the fact that over 15,500 affordable housing units
had been produced by Community Development Corporations in Ohio since
the mid-1960’s, and nearly 10,000 of those housing units were produced
between 1995-2000. Nearly 600,000 square feet of commercial business
space had been rehabilitated or built by CDCs in Ohio from 1995-2000. In
addition to bricks and mortar production, Ohio’s CDCs are actively
involved in community organizing, homeownership counseling, public
policy and advocacy, community safety and jobs skills training.
Throughout most of 2004, OCDCA has been working closely with Rita
Parise and Barry Accountius of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) to
design an expanded CHDO Operating Support program. Anticipating a
continued need for capacity development of CHDOs, this initiative is a
proactive step towards continued performance and efficiency of Ohio
CHDOs. Training will be conducted by OCDCA in coordination with OHFA in
late 2004 for the first funding round.
Ohio CDC Association has held conferences annually since 1984 with the
help of our many faithful partners, including the list following this
historical overview. Over its 20 years history, Ohio CDC Association has
been listening to Community Development Corporations in Ohio and
responding with resources to help its members with capacity-building,
advocacy and public policy development with the mission of fostering
socially and economically healthy communities. Throughout the years,
OCDCA has worked with its members to come closer to the realization of a
community development environment that comprehensively improves life
opportunities for all residents. We’re proud to have been part of the
development of Ohio’s CDCs, and are looking forward to the next 20
years.
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Mission and Vision
The Ohio CDC Association is a statewide membership organization of Community Development Corporations that engages in capacity-building, advocacy and public policy development that fosters socially and economically healthy communities. OCDCA’s vision is the creation of a community development environment that comprehensively improves life opportunities for all residents.
Contact and Staff Information
For a listing of OCDCA staff with
telephone numbers and email address, please click
here.