Greenville Community Plan

Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program

Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small
portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation ... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope".
Robert F. Kennedy June 6th, 1967

Who Is Garden State Episcopal CDC?

Formerly known as Jersey City Episcopal CDC 25 Years of Operations in Jersey City serve 2,000+ through affordable housing programs, social services to special needs population and employment training programs Completed 208 units of affordable mixed income housing- redeveloping over 80 abandoned scattered sites, mostly in Greenville to create affordable housing for rent, for sale and for special needs. Redeveloped 18 foreclosed units 2011-2012 1st New construction on Monticello Avenue in over 20 years completed in 2011 Approach neighborhood based, scattered site 132 units completed in Greenville; mixed income, several types Mid City 1 and 2- 44 vacant lots, 2 family rentals in 1990s, redeveloped lots that were contaminated with chromium over a 10 block area Helped build a home ownership in Greenville with over 55 units in the past 6 years. Provides home buyer education free of charge More than just building Strategic direction to help improve quality of life Workforce development Economic development Social services Housing education Community Garden Policy and advocacy Neighborhood Planning Steering Committee member BCU 1st NRTC Project completed in Jersey City- 1st New Construction in Monticello Ave in 2 decades Provides space for BCU NRTC Job Bank Initiative Track record of success Willing to Commit our own resources Selected by the State of New Jersey in a competitive process Visit us at www.facebook.com/GardenStateEpiscopal

THE NRTC planning process is a year long introspection into the problems and solutions facing Greenville.
Funding- The NRTC brings in much needed funding for community projects and an opportunity to link waterfront capital to the inner city Momentum- The process provides a venue to build community support for innovative initiatives. Collaboration- The planning process encourages dialogue among stakeholders in Greenville to work towards the public good

WHY DO WE WANT TO DO THIS?

Flexibility-The NRTC funds can be leveraged in many ways that fill the gaps where other funding stops. It provides local control of investment strategies

Idea development- NRTC is an incentive for the community to collaboratively develop solid fundable programs

NRTC Background/Purpose
The Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program
The program enables companies to support local initiatives, identified in a collaborative community plan

Encourages the flow of corporate investment dollars into low and moderate income neighborhoods Provides 100% (Dollar for Dollar) state tax credit to businesses for the value of their investment in community development.
$

A state approved vehicle to bring Exchange Place dollars to MLK Drive. In Short, NRTC establishes:

Provides grant funding for nonprofits to carry out objectives of the neighborhood plan

A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FOR GREENVILLE BY GREENVILLE

OUR NRTC Foundation

As with any business or foundation; The NRTC collaborative must develop a programmatic focus based on community needs in addition to NJ Department of Community Affairs guidelines. Boundaries Projects must occur in the target area and conforms to objectives of the plan Steering Committee selects projects that receive funding $1Million per project cap Use of credit is competitive/time sensitive (statewide plans compete for funding) 60 % must be used for brick and mortar or economic development 40% on non-real estate programs GSECDC financial conduit, grantee Once certified, the plan and investment incentive lasts 10 years. Competitive process against a $10Million state wide tax credit pool ( we compete against other plans across NJ)

NRTC Planning Process

Requirements
Community stakeholders must drive a democratic process. Each participant gets 1 vote, majority rules on decisions Residents sit on Steering Committee Must comply with NJDCA guidelines The meetings must be regular and advertised The Steering Committee must be comprised of community stakeholders and residents within the target area Mandatory attendance and participation to remain in Steering Committee Community residents, businesses and local government must be informed of all decisions and points of participation in the planning process By-laws and a Memorandum of Understanding lays out the expectations for SC

Timeline
July 2011 August
September October November
Staffing, Consultant and Resources Administrative Structure Stakeholder Outreach Initial Stakeholder Meeting Needs Assessment Public Meetings Steering Committee (SC) Advisory Committee (AC) Memorandums of Understanding By-Laws Officer Elections Resident Representatives Visioning, Strategic Workshops Program development Community Events Letters of Support Draft of Plan Endorsement of Plan 30 Day Comment period Submission of Plan to the State Implementation

December January February March April May June July

October 2011- 2012

Roles of the Plans Contributors

The Steering Committees Role
Ultimate authority of the plan
Drives and decides objectives of the plan Establishes subcommittees to oversee objectives of the plan Selects the officers of the SC Establishes the By-laws of the Neighborhood Collaborative Selects projects/programs to implement the plan

Decision Makers

Parameters for the Steering Committee from the DCA

Persons/Organizations who reside in the area Persons/Organizations who own property, residential or commercial, in the area and support its continued improvement Persons/Organizations affiliated with businesses, organizations, and intuitions with a demonstrable interest in the area. Organizations and businesses which are located within the Plan boundaries.

Advisory Committees Role

Technical Support/Coordinate Information
Assist the Steering Committee with technical support and resources for NRTC Planning efforts Coordination of planning efforts with existing plans and initiatives

Coordination

Preliminary Parameters for Advisory Committee

Government, redevelopment agencies, businesses, and organizations who do not meet the SC parameters, but wish to participate in the planning effort .

Roles of the Plans Contributors

The Consultants Role
Experience in the development of an NRTC Plans across NJ

Expertise

Accreditation to conduct visioning, objectives and strategic direction Primary writers of the community plans Technical advise Consultation on the best path towards plan certification

Garden State Episcopal CDCs Role

NJDCA Grantee and Plan Administrator
Responsible for helping move the process Provides administrative support, reports to SC Helps secure resources to complete and implement the plan Submits plan & proposals to the state on behalf of the Collaborative, after approval by SC Conduit for funding of NRTC planning and implementation process, meets reporting requirements Dedicates staff time, consultant hours, and in-kind resources to planning implementation

Coordinator/ Conduit

Benefits of Active Participation

As a Steering Committee Member..
The SC member is an united voice of the community that helps decide the focus of the plan and once complete, which programs are implemented . Its an opportunity to shape how and which projects in Greenville are funded.

Steering Committee Member Duties..

Attend regular SC meetings and committee meetings Comply with by-laws Organizations must designate a member to participate Assist in the development of the plan.

Public Participants
will help shape the plan based on their level of participation. The crux of the plan is community input. Everyone is given a voice.

Step 1 : Data
Data provides the proof that the community is in need of improvement, and provides a framework for analyzing and strategizing on the improvement that the community would prefer.

Public Canvass (400+Surveys) Technical Information

New Information
Census Information Housing Surveys GIS Maps About The Surveys seeks to quantify peoples perception of the community and aggregate ideas on community needs. Survey Distribution Local agencies Local Churches Online By Mail Door to Door Topics Crime Commercial Education Open Space Housing Employment Children New Ideas

Sourced Information Existing plans

City statistics Studies of the corridor Existing NRTC plans for guidance

Agency Canvass
Interview Community organizations to identify needs Take to community stakeholders about future plans Interview long time residents

Step 2: Public Meetings

The NRTC Planning Process calls for several public meetings as a means to quantify what publics vision on the focus of the plan.

Small Public Meetings

Under 20 people Frequent: Once every month or every other month During both the planning & implementation periods

Large Public Meetings

More than 20 people Several will include workshops Overseen by consultant 2 meetings (Sept/Oct)

Advertised in media and among stakeholders Essential to planning process Agenda set by steering committee

Open to general public

Some might constitute focus groups

Step 3: The Written Community Plan

The written community plan is the quantification and codification the communitys distress, issues, needs, desires, and outlook on the future. The narrative of our work.

Surveys Neighborhood Description Maps Interviews Housing Survey Mayors Letter

Implementation Programmatic Solutions to Community Issues Key features of Community Letter of Support

Charettes
Facts
Assembled by the Consultant Based on community feedback Certified by the Steering Committee Seeks to solve the issues

State 4: Funding a Certified Plan

The Plan reports
identified issues and develops programs from proposed solutions

The Steering Committee reviews

the request for program implementation.

A Group
approaches the steering committee to implement a program in the Plan.

The State
certifies that the plan meets state rules for programs and participation.

The State approves

the Steering committee request to fund a program in the Plan.

Corporations
approach the state to fund the approved program.

Meet the Funders!

Jersey City plans may be strategically attractive to existing investors and provides opportunities for new partners

Who has an NRTC Plan

Only abbot designated municipalities can participate Only at in-need neighborhoods may be part of the plan
Paterson The Oranges 2 Newark 5 Elizabeth 2 Jersey City

Newark Population 275,000 has 5 Jersey City Population 245,000 has 1

New Brunswick Asbury Park Trenton 2

Camden 4

To Date: Bergen Communities United has brought 1 million dollars of investment to the community.

Preliminary Geographic Area of Focus

We believe the geographic boundaries should cover most of the commercial corridor
The plans must have 60% infrastructure or economic development as a focus. By including a large area we provide flexibility but can set priority zones The area covers all four corners of any intersecting street to maximize impact.

Goals & Summary

The Community drives the plan through participation in the Steering Committee The process is democratic and inclusive This process will bring significant capital to Greenville and increase dialogue and coordination GSECDC is a conduit and only has 1 vote The Plan has seen success in several neighborhoods. Jersey City is strategically positioned to attract investment We hope you decided to join us!