So, over the last two weeks I have been playing catch up with my reading. Ever since I left behind my beloved (in hindsight) PATH and Subway commute in NY/NJ and traded it in for a 30 mile one-way 40 minute trip in the car, I have been slipping. One of things I have been missing out on is reading my favorite business rag–Fast Company, which describes itself as a place ”Where People and Ideas Meet”.
As I was skimming over the covers of the issues from the last four months, lo and behold, what did I find but one of my favorite actors (and secret crush though he’s a bit on the short side for me) Ed Norton and reference to his “$9 billion dollar housing project”. * Being as keenly in tune with housing as I am (or purport to be) I knew the statement could only be about Enterprise Community Partners (Eprise)–his family’s business. (You see ’ole Ed is the grandson of Enterprise’s founders the late Jim Rouse and is dynamic and wonderful and very much living wife Patty,)
So, as you have probably guessed, I put the article about the fastest growing dating service in another issue aside to read the article. I have to tell you, seeing all the things Eprise does to “git ‘er done” when it comes to community revitalization–and housing specifically is astounding. And since I am such a nice person, I thought I’d break some of the coolest stuff down for you and include some nifty links that will keep you occupied for hours.
It May Not be Easy Being Green–but they sure try!
With the first nation-wide green criteria for building residential units, Eprise was ahead of the curve. Green Communities not only helps developers figure out how to build green but also encourages it by providing small grants as well.
Through the Solar Neighbors Program with BP, famous folk and others who are interested have installed solar power systems on their homes and for each installed system BP donates a system to a low or moderate income homeowner.
And of course no Green outreach is complete without a Carbon Footprint Counter (as you would guess, mine is not small–I wish I could get someone I know to encourage telecommuting–but that’s for another day).
And if you want more, Enterprise purports that its National Conference earlier this fall was carbon neutral. (though I am quite unsure of how that is possible.)
Holding the Hill’s Feet to the Fire
None of the Green Communities stuff, or the various financial tools (like did you know that the former Chairperson Bart Harvey was instrumental in bringing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to life) if Enterprise did not consistantly rally the troops and lobby the Hill (which for you non-political types is Capital Hill). The past 8 years has not been for the faint of heart in this business–and Enterprise has demonstrated its “Terminator” like strength frequently. With the prowess of its public policy team, and the leadership of the affable and “way smarter than your average bear”, Doris Koo, Enterprise has fought the good fight–and often won. From Ms. Koo’s testimony and presentation of a $10 billion dollar request as a part of the Housing and Economic Recovery act to fund a program to help stabilze communties rampaged by foreclosure, came the $3.9 billion dollar Neighborhood Stabilization Fund. (How it will work is a conversation for another day) And with a change in the wind, Enterprise is poised to go back and ask for that $6.1 billion that was left off the table.
Here’s hoping they can get some fixes to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit or who knows if any affordable housing projects will get done!
As a matter of fact, how ’bout we all write are Congress person or Senator and help them out?
Innovation Station
These days, whenever I here the term “innovation”, all I see is the dude dressed up like a superhero with an “I“ on his chest.
Eprise might as well be a hyper 18-year old with an iPhone and Mac Powerbook in its messenger bag. If you want to know what’s up with Eprise, not a problem.
They Twitter.
They FaceBook.
But Three Times. (In three different ways)
They are LinkedIN.
They Podcast from time to time on the nonprofit channel (you have to check out the podcast of Donna Brazille–brilliant!)
And whatever “Squiddo” is? They do that too.
Wheew! That made me tired. They’re a busy little bunch aren’t they?
Now, go forth and be productive…or don’t and spend some time fiddling with the links I just gave you!
* K Nicole is an employee of Enterprise-but she is not writing this for her job. She just thinks they are cool! ( Most of the time!)
