Shaw, Tower Grove South and Southwest Garden Neighborhood Leadership Joining Forces to Increase Resources and Enhance Resident Services.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 30, 2013

Media Contact: Sean Spencer Executive Director Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation (314) 583-9436 seanspencersnhc@att.net www.shawhousing.org

Shaw, Tower Grove South and Southwest Garden Neighborhood Leadership Joining Forces to Increase Resources and Enhance Resident Services.

Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation, Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation (Tower Grove South) and Southwest Neighborhood Housing Corporation (Southwest Garden) have approved a resolution to submit a joint application for HUD Funding through its Community Block Grant Program. The resolution creates the opportunity for these groups to serve a combined neighborhood population of more than 28,000 people and increases the chance of continued funding of housing development and neighborhood improvement initiatives with an emphasis on activities that support low- to moderate-income individuals.

If funded, Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation, Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation and Southwest Neighborhood Housing Corporation will review combining operations to enhance their ability to benefit the neighborhoods they’ve served for decades, expanding the variety and depth of services by pooling resources, increasing organizational efficiency and reducing expenses.

Proposed activities for 2014, funding for which will be requested via the joint grant application, will include a Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP), a Minor Home Repair Program for Seniors, Form-Based Code Planning and Shaw Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Planning.

“HUD Funding through the Community Development Block Grant Program has decreased by over 22% in the last two years. Funding levels are expected to continue to decline in 2014,” stated Sean Spencer, executive director, Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation. “The result is a sharp increase in competition for funding, leaving smaller staffed, single neighborhood community development corporations at a disadvantage.”

According to Robert Reed, president, Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation, “HUD encourages collaboration and consolidation of organizations like ours to create larger service areas encompassing multiple wards and neighborhoods with common goals. Our resolution to submit a joint application greatly increases our chances of approval with funding at a higher level than we could have achieved individually.”

“The joint application and intent to merge signify a major strategy change with regard to community development in the City of St. Louis,” stated Alderman Steve Conway. Alderwoman Jennifer Florida, who supported the combining of resources, stated, “For the first time, we are crossing borders and working together to leverage resources and increase service levels.

“If funding is secured, we plan to continue to seek partnerships with other neighborhood organizations and service providers to further maximize our impact. This activity is only one of many ways we plan to continue providing community development service to the City of St. Louis. In addition, we plan to aggressively pursue housing development for low to moderate income individuals in our service area,” added Spencer.

Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation, Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation and Southwest Neighborhood Housing Corporation are not-for-profit organizations that promote responsible development, affordable housing, diverse character and vibrancy in the Shaw, Tower Grove South and Southwest Garden neighborhoods of St. Louis.

You can download the press release here Joint Application Press Release 7 30 13 ###