California Community Economic Development Initiative (CCEDI)

Project Development Training, Direct Technical Assistance, Project Finance Structuring

CCEDA’s current focus is on training and technical assistance.  CCEDI brings the best nationally recognized technical assistance organizations and training programs to California’s non-profit community development corporations (CDCs).  Recognizing market nuances and local need, CCEDI addresses the human capital needs of California CDC’s, resulting in stronger, technically competent and sustainable organizations and projects located in underserved California communities.  CCEDI leverages national, regional and local resources to provide access to state of the art organizational and project development assistance through distance training (electronic), classroom training, seminars and direct one-to-one consultant services.

To meet the demand for project based, direct one-to-one technical assistance, CCEDA engages local development consultants, organizational development experts along with experienced development organizations to provide the necessary coaching and direction that will augment training which supports stronger, feasible community development projects.  Projects include affordable housing, retail and office commercial, industrial, health care, child care, charter schools and other important community facilities.

 Accomplishments (2002):  Supported by Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual, Bank of America and California Bank and Trust, key results of this inaugural year include:

·         Training in classroom/seminar settings was provided to over 500 community development practitioners covering 14 different topics;

·         Extensive direct technical assistance was provided to nine (9) community development organizations and targeted to 14 development projects;

·         Short term direct technical assistance provided to over 15 organizations;

·         Referral (e-mail and / or phone) to over 40 organizations and individuals;

·         Partnerships established with over 20 regionally-based technical assistance, finance and government entities; and

·         Partnerships were established with seven (7) national organizations and government entities.

 Benefit and Geographic Target:  The program supports and enhances skills and capabilities of non-profit community based development organizations, local government and other organizations serving low and moderate income communities located in California (HUD Definition).  Included are multicultural, underserved urban and rural communities.  All training and technical assistance is available to CCEDA members.  (For more information on becoming a member, click on Membership.

 Expected Outcomes for 2003: CCEDA’s partnerships with regional and national entities will allow CCEDI to grow its technical assistance and training capabilities for 2003-04.  CCEDI has established the following goals for 2003:

Specific Program Activities:  CCEDI partners identified specific geographic and community needs.  These partners and programs include:

·         Bay Area:  In partnership with the Development Training Institute and LISC, this program is an intensive six-month training and technical assistance program focused on community development organizations in Oakland.  Funding for this project includes local and national foundations.  Start Date: May, 2003;

·         Los Angeles County:  CCEDA along with LISC is developing a 6 month training session for the Housing Division of the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission.  The program is targeted to CDCs and LA County staff.  (Currently under development)

·         Riverside and San Bernardino Counties:  Initiated by the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and a County Supervisor for San Bernardino, CCEDA has been requested to help design and implement a series of targeted quarterly training sessions focused on faith based and local community development organizations.

·         Northern / Central California:  CCEDA is working with the OCC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of Thrift Supervision, to develop a series of targeted community development training sessions in northern and central California. (Currently under development)

·         Financing Relationships:  CCEDI will continue ongoing meetings with the lending and investment staff at institutions supporting CCEDI and its partners.  CCEDI will continue to assist CDCs in project financial structuring and development of financing pro formas for projects to meet the criteria and underwriting guidelines and for lending and investment.

Qualifications: 

·         Ralph Lippman, Executive Director:  Ralph has been in the community development for over 35 years working in local government, non profit development and as a consultant. Ralph served as the Los Angeles Director for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, lectured at USC and Pepperdine University, and is on the board of the National Congress for Community Economic Development and Housing California. Ralph received his doctorate in Public Administration from the USC in Public Administration.

·         Glenn Sanada, Project Manager:  Glenn was the development director for a non-profit community development organization for 13 years before joining the Bank of America.  In his 13 years with the Bank, he served as a Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for the Bank in affordable housing lending, and over the last three years focused on community based lending and investments.  Glenn received his BS in Urban Planning and graduated from the Development Training Institute in Baltimore and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.