OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Our comprehensive approach to community development was recognized nationally by the America Planning Association in their "News & Views", a quarterly economic development journal.  Our recent accomplishments include:

• A two-year Northwood citizen planning process that laid the ground work for new affordable housing development and received the 1000 Friends of Florida's 2005 Community Steward Award;

• The "Renaissance Courtyard", a mixed-use residential and commercial redevelopment project that demonstrated new design standards for the Northwood business district and received the Federal Home Loan Bank's prestigious Urban EDGE grant;

• Model Block I and II, a national "best practice" that received 1000 Friends of Florida's 2005 Community Steward Award and the completion of newly built Community Land Trust homes.  These comprehensive neighborhood revitalization initiatives resulted in the construction of 30 homes and a private investment of over $7 million in Northwood.

• Homebuyer assistance and training that has helped 46 low income families to become homeowners; and

• Small business assistance resulting in the recruitment, start-up, and expansion of over 80 enterprises and the creation/retention of over 300 jobs.