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Skilling South Sudanese Refugees In Bidibidi Settlement Restores Lost Hope

Kisseka Umar

August 07, 2019 |

Things That Work Uganda |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Bidibidi

The Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda offers refugees a chance to learn a skilled trade at the Yoyo Youth Vocational Skills Center. At no cost to them, students can learn brick laying, carpentry, tailoring and cutting garments, hair dressing, environmental protection, and more. Since its opening in 2018, most of its students are making a living off of their acquired skills, and many testify to how the center changed their lives.

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Three Big Lessons From One Small Town

James Fallows

July 18, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Danville, Virginia

The town of Danville, Virginia survived the downfall of the mill industry by using creative financing and investing in solid economic infrastructure that will remain sustainable into the future. The town has invested in broadband and used funds from a tobacco settlement to re-install city money into local institutions.

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Fully fund the state's PILOT program

Matt Pilon

July 08, 2019 |

Hartford Business Journal |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Hartford, Connecticut

Connecticut's PILOT program was created to partially reimburse cities and towns for state-owned, tax-exempt properties and take some financial burden off smaller towns. The PILOT program, however, is voluntary, making it easier for state legislators to disregard the reimbursement requests in tough financial times. Now, state officials are urged to make the PILOT program mandatory to keep the response working for the small individual towns and cities around Connecticut.

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A Worker Cooperative and a Community Land Trust Bought a Building Together

Oscar Perry Abello

June 18, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Cooperative ownership provides an avenue through which local nonprofit organizations and businesses can retain ownership of real estate. In Oakland, California, the Oakland Community Land Trust uses federal grants and donations to then acquire and retain ownership of commercial and residential properties. In cases where funds offered by the Trust or from crowdfunded donations are not sufficient, as with the Hasta Nuerte worker owned co-op coffee shop, offering up equity in the venture to private investors can help raise capital.

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How West Oakland Financed Its Own Grocery Store

Oscar Perry Abello

May 30, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Public investment campaigns can raise capital and attract larger institutional investors. In the neighborhood of West Oakland, the Community Foods Market opened its doors by raising funds through a Direct Public Offering (DPO). In addition to using traditional grant funding and so-called “angel” investors, the Community Foods Market turned community members into investors, giving them partial ownership of their local grocery store.

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Changes Coming To Housing Program For Former Inmates

Edward O'Brien

April 15, 2019 |

Montana Public Radio |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Missoula, Montana

The state of Montana helps former prison inmates find and pay for stable housing and to improve their job-hunting skills after their release. The pilot program is praised both by former inmates, for the support they received, and landlords, who now have an incentive to rent to this population.

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Can Community Investment Trusts Help Slow Down Gentrification?

Brendan Seibel

April 15, 2019 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

In East Portland, Oregon, a new Community Investment Trust is working to ensure that low-income residents have the opportunity to build equity by investing in their real estate. The program is limited to four zip codes with a maximum contribution of $100 to ensure that the investments stay open only to the members of the community it's intended to serve. More than 95% of investors have kept their money in the trust, but the model might be difficult to scale nationally without effective partnerships.

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Telluride isn't immune to Colorado's high country housing problem. But it's finding a solution in diversification

Jason Blevins

March 18, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Telluride, Colorado

While towns across the Mountain West struggle to provide affordable housing, Telluride looks to diversification of housing to build sustainable, economically beneficial houses and apartments. From tiny homes to dormitory-style apartment buildings, the city's developments leave room for singles and families alike, and easily afforded with government bonds and subsidies.

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The Street Corner Answer

Bruce Katz Ross Baird

March 14, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

Access Ventures, a community development organization founded in a Louisville neighborhood, uses a comprehensive investment approach that encourages funds to be dispersed in all issue areas. Instead of creating one "affordable housing fund" or "homeless services fund," the group interweaves investment strategies, making sure to look at the bigger community picture when laying out an investment plan.

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Local nonprofit fosters West End growth

Amy Peters

February 28, 2019 |

The Watch |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Nucla, Colorado

With the help of the nonprofit West End Economic Development Corporation (WEEDC), communities in Southwest Colorado use creative financing and collective action to rebuild their economies after the downfall of the coal mining industry. One town, Nucla, invested in a coworking space, business classes. and other tools to help community members start and maintain small businesses.

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