LISC

LISC invests Tax Credits to help thousands at Houston Food Bank

www.lisc.org — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

With the help of LISC's $11 million in New Markets Tax Credits, the Houston Food Bank is now able to tackle a major issue among low-income families and seniors -- food security. The expansion of the food bank will make it possible to distribute 100 million pounds of food by 2018, while also creating much-needed jobs in the community.

After-school programs with neighborhood and school connections are best, says study

Edgar Mendez, Milwaukeens.org — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:30:00 GMT

A recently released study of Milwaukee after-school programs has found that kids get the most benefit from them if the programs reinforce day school learning. And programs located in the neighborhood provided a measure of convenience and safety to hard-working families. Overall, parents told researchers that after-school programs helped their children academically and socially. The study, conducted by the Public Policy Forum and partially funded by LISC Milwaukee, held focus groups for dozens of parents in schools across Milwaukee.

LISC names a top Chase banker to board of directors

www.lisc.org — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:45:00 GMT

LISC elects Sally Durdan, executive vice president and head of strategy and analytics at JPMorgan Chase, to its board of directors. “Sally is a great addition to our board,” noted Michael Rubinger, LISC president and CEO. “Her experience connects to so much of what we do...We will benefit greatly from her insights as we continue our work around comprehensive community development.”

LISC lights up Broadway

Beth Marcus, Senior Vice President for Corporate & Foundation Relations, LISC — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Beth Marcus, Senior Vice President at LISC, goes to check out LISC's name in the lights in Times Square, thanks to Bank of America, and reflects on what a place like Times Square means. It is a place to come together and celebrate the vibrancy of the city. LISC, and partners like Bank of America, have invested in places like this all across America (maybe without the lights and billboards); but in many local crossroads where people can have fun and be proud of their community.

LISC leads residents in planning for a new vision for Mott Haven

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:45:00 GMT

On a cool Spring afternoon in April, close to 75 people attended a Choice Neighborhood kick-off event in Mott Haven at the Betances Community Center. Long-time residents of public housing came to let their voices be heard and to participate in a community-driven planning process to develop solutions to preserve affordable housing in the tight-knit neighborhood. LISC and the New York City Housing Authority, who are partners in this process, hosted the workshop to work with community organizations, faith-based groups, parent associations, local residents and business owners to help craft a transformation plan for the neighborhood. These meetings will continue throughout the summer with the plan expected in 2014, to compete for millions of dollars in federal funds.

What does the budget say to nonprofits?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT

There have long been debates about the federal budget as a "moral" document that simultaneously reflects and molds our nation's priorities. Rick Cohen of the Nonprofit Quarterly analyzes the President's 2014 budget, specifically at programs that have traditionally helped low-income and disadvantaged people, and assesses its impact on nonprofits and their missions.

LISC fuels new Calif. fund to develop affordable housing

www.lisc.org — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 GMT

LISC is joining forces with the state of California to spur development and preservation of affordable housing in both urban and rural communities. The Golden State Acquisition Fund (GSAF), a new financing vehicle to help developers acquire property for multifamily rental or homeownership projects for low-income residents is supported by LISC, the California Department of Housing and Community Development and other CDFIs. "By participating in the fund, our capital goes further," said Mariano Diaz, LISC regional vice president.

An innovative new partnership to improve safety in Milwaukee neighborhoods

www.lisc.org — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:45:00 GMT

The recent announcement of a partnership between LISC Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is making big news. Reported in the Journal Sentinel, Fox6 News and the Milwaukee Courier, the unprecedented collaboration formally joins the police with community developers and residents to combat crime in five Milwaukee neighborhoods as part of a broad plan to improve the neighborhoods overall. "People want to open businesses and send their kids to school and shop in safe neighborhoods. It's impossible to talk about neighborhood revitalization without tackling public safety," said Leo Ries, executive director, LISC Milwaukee.

LISC's Leo Ries says Milwaukee is a model for police-community partnership that works

Leo Ries, Executive Director, LISC Milwaukee — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Police Chiefs are convening in Milwaukee next month to share ideas, tactics and solutions. In an op-ed published in the Journal Sentinel, LISC Milwaukee's director Leo Ries believes LISC's extraordinary partnership with the city's police department should be a model for fighting crime. "You can't just outmuscle crime, you have to outsmart it," states Ries, by bringing in partners from every corner or the community--parents, schools, business, activists and others--to work with the police on shared goals.

At Home in Duluth collaborative continues revival of historic Hillside

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:30:00 GMT

The At Home in Duluth collaborative of more than 20 city agencies and non-profit organizations, convened by Duluth LISC, continues its work restoring Hillside's historic buildings with the recent renovation of Fire House No. 1 and its annex, built in 1889 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now called Firehouse Flats, the historic buildings include 12 affordable apartments, two of which are reserved for chronically homeless persons.

LISC's Hugh Grefe honored by Toledo Fair Housing Center

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

As reported in the Toledo Blade, on April 25 the Toledo Fair Housing Center recognized LISC Executive Director, Hugh Grefe, as a "local champion of civil rights." "I don't think it's too much... to say it's nice to be on the right side of history. And this is the right side of history," said Mr. Grefe as he was presented with the center's annual housing development award. The Center has been fighting housing discrimination in Toledo for almost four decades.

Jamie Gauthier, formerly of LISC, set to run Philly's Sustainable Business Network

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Philadelphia's Sustainable Business Network (SBN), an advocacy group for local "triple bottom line" businesses, is getting a new executive director with some serious credentials: eight years running programs for LISC Philadelphia. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, SBN chose Jamie Gauthier for her "network and [the] know-how to successfully advocate for the needs of our members." While at LISC Philadelphia, she was instrumental in the Commercial Corridor project to revitalize and develop street-level local businesses. Gauthier will be the second executive director of the agency, which was started in 2001 and boasts over 400 members.

LISC and Milwaukee Police Department team up to fight crime

www.lisc.org — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Milwaukee's streets are about to get a little safer, thanks to a partnership between LISC and the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). Led by LISC, the city of Milwaukee received a $600,000 Department of Justice grant to implement community-focused policing and safety strategies over the next three years, based on the model created by LISC. The MPD also contributed $50,000 to help hire a Community Safety Coordinator who will implement these proven strategies, which have reduced crime rates in dozens of cities nationwide.

LISC taps New Markets Tax Credits to finance health care facility in GA, create jobs in ...

www.lisc.org — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:15:00 GMT

LISC is leveraging its federal allocation of New Markets Tax Credits to support a new health care facility in Brunswick, Ga., that will provide services focused on the needs of low-income residents. LISC partnered with Chase to invest $14.25 million to rehabilitate the Brunswick Medical Plaza into a Community Care Center and a four-story medical office building. An estimated 15,600 people annually--many of whom are low-income--will have access to health services.

In California, charter schools rely on LISC

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:45:00 GMT

When states juggle money to meet the bills, schools sometimes don't get the cash they need to operate. That's happening in California, where LISC has stepped in to bridge the gap--making sure the classroom lights stay on, the teachers get paid and the children keep learning. Read the Los Angeles Times' column lauding how LISC low-interest loans keep kids from feeling the brunt of fiscal balancing acts.