January 29, 2023 – The N.C. Community Development Initiative will invest $5.85 million in 28 N.C. nonprofits over the next three years to spark economic growth and job creation in some of the state’s most distressed areas.
“These grants will flow directly to organizations that are creating vibrant commercial areas, green, affordable homes 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 in announcing recipients of two new grant programs. “By revitalizing our state’s most resource-constrained communities, the community economic development sector helps strengthen North Carolina’s economy overall.”
The Initiative’s latest grants come from two new programs: Community Enterprise Fund and Capacity Building Grants. They are made possible with financial support from the state of North Carolina, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, BB&T Corp. and other public and private organizations.
The Community Enterprise Fund program will award three-year grants ranging from $210,000-$300,000 to help 19 nonprofit organizations implement strategic economic development plans in their communities. Here are the organizations selected to receive those grants:
- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Asheville
- Brick Capital Community Development Corp., Sanford
- Center for Applied Leadership and Community Development at Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte
- Cleveland County Community Development Corp., Shelby
- Durham Community Land Trustees Inc., Durham
- Eagle Market Streets Development Corp., Asheville
- East Carolina Community Development Inc., Beaufort
- EmPOWERment Inc., Chapel Hill
- Green Opportunities, Asheville
- Goler Community Development Corp., Winston-Salem
- Housing Assistance Corp., Hendersonville
- Kingdom Community Development Corp., Fayetteville
- Lexington Housing Community Development Corp., Lexington
- Mountain Housing Opportunities, Asheville
- Passage Home Inc., Raleigh
- Prosperity Unlimited Inc., Kannapolis
- Outer Banks Community Development Corp., Kill Devil Hills
- Monroe-Union County Community Development Corp., Monroe
- Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corp., Rocky Mount
The Initiative will award one-year, $40,000 Capacity Building Grants to help nine organizations expand their capacity for impact. They are:
- Cape Fear Regional Community Development Corp., Wilmington
- Community Housing Development Corp. of Mooresville/South Iredell, Mooresville
- Davidson Housing Coalition, Davidson
- HandMade in America, Asheville
- Liberty Community Development Corp., Winston-Salem
- Northeastern Community Development Corp., Camden/Elizabeth City
- Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corp., Goldsboro
- Robeson County Community Development Corp., Pembroke
- UDI Community Development Corp., Durham
For more information on the Initiative’s grant programs, contact Millie Brobston, program officer for grant investments, at (919) 835-6000 or mbrobston@ncinitiative.org.
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.