N.C. Initiative announces $1.9 million in grants for 2012

JAN. 31, 2012 — The N.C. Community Development Initiative will award $1.94 million in grants to 27 N.C. organizations during 2012 to catalyze economic growth in the state’s poorest and most distressed areas.

“These investments flow directly to local community organizations that are creating green, affordable homes, vibrant commercial areas and safe spaces for children, counseling entrepreneurs and business owners, and teaching working families how to save and join the financial mainstream,” Initiative CEO Abdul Rasheed said. 

“By promoting economic growth and prosperity in our state’s most resource-constrained communities, the state’s community economic development sector helps strengthen our economy overall,” Rasheed said.

Recipients of 2012 Initiative grants are: 

• Brick Capital Community Development Corporation, Sanford
• Cape Fear Regional Community Development Corporation, Wilmington
• Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, Fayetteville
• Cleveland County Community Development Corporation, Shelby
• Community Housing Development Corporation of Mooresville/South Iredell, Mooresville
• Davidson Housing Coalition, Davidson
• Durham Community Land Trustees, Durham
• East Carolina Community Development Inc., Beaufort
• EmPOWERment Inc., Chapel Hill
• Goler Community Development Corporation, Winston-Salem
• Housing Assistance Corporation, Hendersonville
• HandMade in America, Asheville
• Kingdom Community Development Corporation, Fayetteville
• Lexington Housing Community Development Corporation, Lexington
• Liberty Community Development Corporation, Winston-Salem
• Monroe-Union County Community Development Corporation, Monroe
• Mountain Housing Opportunities, Asheville
• Northeastern Community Development Corporation, Camden/Elizabeth City
• Outer Banks Community Development Corporation, Kill Devil Hills
• Passage Home, RaleighProsperity Unlimited, Kannapolis
• Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corporation, Goldsboro
• Robeson County Community Development Corporation, Rowland
• Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corporation, Rocky Mount
• UDI Community Development Corporation, Durham
• Unity Builders, High Point
• Wilson Community Improvement Association, Wilson

The Initiative’s annual grant program competitively awards funding for day-to-day operations as well as special projects of nonprofit organizations that focus on low-income and underserved community economic development. 

A pioneer in the core grant concept, the Initiative has provided such grants continuously to community development organizations for the past 19 years. Core operating grants of up to $100,000 provide a stable funding source so grantee organizations can focus more of their resources on local community development projects. Targeted Investment Fund grants of up to $40,000 help organizations pursue projects that demonstrate new approaches to community economic development or generate revenue to become self-sustaining.

The grant program is made possible in part by financial support provided by the state of North Carolina, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and other public and private investors.

The N.C. Community Development Initiative leads North Carolina’s collaborative community economic development effort, driving innovation, investment and action to create prosperous, sustainable communities. For more information, visit www.ncinitiative.org or call (919) 828-5655.