NCCED’s 10th Annual National Policy Conference: Official True and False Quiz!

Questions

1. True__ False__ The Fiscal Year 2004 budget process may be the most important in changing the direction of federal spending since 1981.
2. True__ False__ Grantmakers from leading national foundations will participate at the Conference.
3. True__ False__ Federal program administrators will discuss tips and guidelines for winning federal grants.
4. True__ False__ Six Fannie Mae Foundation’s James A. Johnson Fellows will discuss high impact market approaches to community revitalization.
5. True__ False__ Leading CED practitioners will share successful and replicable program strategies
6. True__ False__ NCCED’s 10th Annual Washington Policy Conference is THE place to be to ensure high-impact investment in your community!

Answers

1. True! President Bush’s proposed 2004 budget, if enacted as proposed, would replace competitive community economic development programs with Block grants - giving Governors nearly total discretion over an ever reducing pot of money. According to the Federal Assistance Monitor, GOP funding policy has often included trade-offs: stable funding for block grants in exchange for cuts in competitive grant programs. President Bush proposes big changes including eliminating economic development grant programs at HUD, relying more heavily on loans in place of grants at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and decreasing funds for new housing construction in urban and rural areas while supporting greater reliance on private sector homeownership strategies. The proposed dividend tax exemption is expected to reduce utilization of tax credits. The Community Economic Development Expertise Enhancement Act will be reintroduced right before the conference. Make sure your community’s position on federal priorities in community revitalization is heard!
2. True! Representatives from The Fannie Mae Foundation, Surdna Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Bank of America, will be there!
3. True! Staff from the CDFI Fund; USDA RCDI & Rural Development; HUD (HOME, HOME CHDO TA, RHED, CDBG), Appalachian Regional Commission, and many more will be there!
4. True! Leaders of nationally recognized high performing community development organizations share their strategies and approaches: David Arizmendi, Executive Director of Proyecto Azteca (TX); James Capraro, Greater Southwest Development Corporation (IL); James King, Avondale Reinvestment Group, (OH); Lorna Bourg from Southern Mutual Help Association, (LA); Lynette Lee, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (CA); and Chuck Gatson from Community Builders, (MO) will be there!
5. True! Strategies to recapture a portion of the subsidy for your home purchase or weatherization programs upon resale to create a flexible funding stream will be highlighted by Karl Pnazek of CAP Services (WI)! Rural Opportunities Inc of OK (the nation’s largest IRP lender) will share proven strategies for job creation in rural areas! Leading CDCs will discuss their NMTC plans! Patrick Morrissy from HANDS in Orange, NJ will discuss high impact CED strategies!
6. True! Very, very true! Don’t miss the chance to position to your agency for the new political environment. Register now at [ www.ncced.org ].