NeighborWorks America Draws More than 1,800 Community Development Professionals to Cincinnati to Participate in Training Institute

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Weeklong Training Focusing on Affordable Housing Results in an Estimated $2 Million in Economic Impact Citywide

Cincinnati, OH – August 9, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Today NeighborWorks America, which creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities, announced it will hold its quarterly Training Institute in downtown Cincinnati August 13-17, 2012. The weeklong event will provide training to more than 1,800 affordable housing and community development professionals from around the country. The Training Institute is expected to deliver an estimated $2 million in economic impact citywide.

NeighborWorks America selected Cincinnati for its Training Institute in order to highlight the work of NeighborWorks America and the NeighborWorks network, which consists of more than 235 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, that offer free and low-cost advisory services to thousands of individuals and families, and to support Cincinnati’s economic development. The Training Institute is open to community development professionals, housing counselors, realtors, and others from nonprofit and for-profit organizations. All levels of professionals, including veterans of the community development field, are expected to attend. Nearly 250 community leaders have registered for a special mid-week symposium, “Young Professionals: The Future of Community Development.” The NeighborWorks Training Institute in Cincinnati is supported by a variety of partners, including The Atlantic Philanthropies, Bank of America, CDFI Fund, Citi and the Citi Foundation, Capital One, Fifth Third Bank, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and Wells Fargo Housing Foundation.

The following NeighborWorks organizations are in Ohio: Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc.; East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, Inc; Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.; Neighborhood Development Services; Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield, Inc.; Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland, Inc.; Neighborhood Housing Services of Hamilton, Inc; Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo, Inc; and St. Mary Development Corporation.

Numerous challenges continue to face the community, including a slowly recovering economy and a high foreclosure rate. Ohio ranks among the 10 highest states based on foreclosure activity with approximately 1 of every 100 homes in foreclosure in the first half of 2012. NeighborWorks organizations in Ohio provided 29,300 people with pre- or post-home purchase education or foreclosure counseling over the last five years.

“We anticipate having stimulating discussion on the state of community development at this Training Institute, particularly on the contributions that younger professionals can make towards building vibrant and strong communities. We feel fortunate to be in the city of Cincinnati where we and our member organization Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. have partnered successfully to create significant economic impact,” said Eileen Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America.

“This is a well-respected event with top quality training. We are always pleased to have community development professionals from around the country come to Cincinnati for education and the sharing of ideas. It is also an honor to showcase local solutions and activities as a part of the experience,” said Rick Williams, president and chief executive officer of Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.

Courses offered at the Training Institute focus on supporting environmental sustainability, such as Green Building Fundamentals for Affordable Housing; homeownership education, such as Counseling Clients Seeking Rental Housing; and foreclosure counseling, such as Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling Certification.

NeighborWorks America has held national Training Institutes since 1987. In 2011, NeighborWorks America’s national Training Institute trained approximately 13,000 professionals from more than 3,400 organizations, and awarded more than 22,000 training certificates.

For more information about NeighborWorks America, and to register for the Training Institute, visit www.nw.org.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

Media Contact

For all Media Inquiries:

Douglas Robinson

202-220-2360

Lindsay Moore

202-220-6317

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