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Autumn
News from Valley CDC
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With New Funding for
Easthampton Homeownership & Financial Literacy Programs, CDC
Hires an Additional Homebuyer Counselor
Valley
CDC was awarded over $165,000 to fund a First Time Homebuyer Program,
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling, and Financial Literacy Workshops and
Counseling to Easthampton residents. Funding is provided through the
City of Easthampton by DHCD with ARRA CDBG-R Program funds.
Thanks to these grants, Valley CDC will be able to provide services for
60 Easthampton residents through the Foreclosure Prevention and
Financial Literacy Program and 32 Easthampton residents through the
First Time Homebuyer Program. Funding includes $76,000 for
mortgage
subsidy and down payment and closing cost assistance.
Valley
CDC welcomes Fern Selesnick as Homebuyer Counselor to its
staff. Fern
will provide first time homebuyer counseling, and financial literacy
counseling and workshops which are available to all
Easthampton residents. She will continue to
facilitate and coordinate Valley's
monthly First Time Homebuyer workshops. For more info or to
schedule an appointment click on Fern Selesnick
Michele Morris, Homeownership Director, will be responsible for the
provision of foreclosure prevention counseling. Michele
continues to
counsel first time homebuyers in Northampton. For more info or to
schedule an appointment click on Michele Morris
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Huff Wins 2009 MACDC Award
Jennica
Huff, Assistant Project Manager for Housing Development at Valley CDC
(second from right), was presented a Rising Star Award at the MACDC
Annual Meeting in October. The award honors CDC employees with
demonstrated potential to become major leaders in the Community
Development field. Having joined Valley CDC in 2008, Jennica has worked
tirelessly since. She helped plan for the acquisition of a property on
King Street, Northampton which will be developed into 10 ESRO (enhanced
Single Room Occupancy) units. Jennica was also instrumental in securing
a contract to conduct a feasibility study for the Town of Amherst; the
study assessed the suitability of a supportive housing development for
homeless individuals. |
Clean Sweep for Valley Millbank
On
October 25th, Valley CDC held a Fall Clean Up at Valley Millbank
Apartments in Northampton. Volunteers turned out to maintain the
detention pond - a "green" and sustainable landscape feature - so it
can continue functioning efficiently.
Thanks go out to Home Depot in Hadley and Bertucci's in Amherst for
their generous support.
More
about detention ponds...
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News From the Annual Meeting
Our
21st Annual Meeting on November 19th was brimming; roughly 50 people
attended. Our guest speaker was Pamela Schwartz, Director of Regional
Coordination at Western Mass Mass Network to End Homelessness. She
spoke about the Housing First initiative.
To learn more...
We welcomed two new Valley CDC Board members: Felicity
Hardee, Amherst resident and attorney with Bulkey, Richardson,
&
Gelinas, LLP and Rachana Crowley, Northampton resident and housing
project manager at TCB...and bid farewell to Northampton resident
Lionel Romain, past Board president and Easthampton resident Ojae Beale.
Also of interest was a presentation by small business owner, Angie
Gregory, who owns Mother Herb, an organic diaper laundering service in
Northampton.
Mother Herb website
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Valley
Gets Commonwealth Corps Volunteer
Valley CDC is enjoying working with our new Commonwealth Corps
volunteer, Sarah Hills. Corps members are addressing areas of critical
need across the Commonwealth. We welcome Sarah's service in Housing
Development and Small Business programs, as well as her commitment to
the community. For 10 years Sarah worked as an Educational
Administrator serving low-income students. Recently, she received a
MALD from CSLD and has embarked on a career as a Landscape Designer.
For Sarah, Valley CDC is an education in Housing Development and Small
Business operations.
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Be a Part of the 2010 Census Team
The
U.S. Census Bureau is currently hiring. These temporary, part
time
positions offer flexible hours and good pay. The Census Bureau may be
reached toll free 1-800-861-2010 or
http://www.2010censusjobs.gov
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Building
Community Through Housing & Business Development
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| Fall
Clean Up |
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Tom
Kegelman, ED of Home City Housing, cleans up the detention pond at
Valley Millbank Apartments.
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Joanne Campbell
Executive Director
jc@valleycdc.com
Richard
Ochs, Jr.
CFO
do@valleyccdc.com
Patrick
McCarthy
Housing
Project Manager
pm@valleycdc.com
Michele
Morris
Homeownership
Director
mm@valleycdc.com
Gene
R. Talsky
Director
Small
Business Development
grt@valleycdc.com
Jennica
Huff
Assistant
Project Manager
jh@valleycdc.com
Fern
Selesnick
Homebuyer
Counselor
fs@valleycdc.com
Amy
Christian
Bookkeeper
ac@valleycdc.com
Sarah
Hills
Community
Relations Specialist
sh@valleycdc.com
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Equal Housing Opportunity