Wells Fargo UrbanLIFT SMCommunity Grant Program awards $11.4 million to strengthen distressed neighborhoods in 25 cities

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Grant program from Wells Fargo to help local communities with rehabilitation and neighborhood improvement projects

DES MOINES – December 20, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Wells Fargo, the nation’s leading home mortgage lender today announced that 59 nonprofits were awarded grants totaling $11.4 million from the UrbanLIFTSM Community Grant Program to help strengthen neighborhoods in 25 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).

“These grants will help advance community stabilization in cities that were significantly impacted by the housing downturn,” said JK Huey, senior vice president of asset management and preservation with Wells Fargo Home Lending Servicing. “We look forward to seeing how the projects, funded by the UrbanLIFT community grant program, help create safer and sustainable neighborhoods.”

The UrbanLIFTSM community grant program, funded by Wells Fargo and administered by NeighborWorks America®, is designed to provide support to local nonprofits for neighborhood revitalization projects in 25 MSAs with diverse populations that were impacted by foreclosures.

Grant recipients participated in a competitive application process administered by NeighborWorks America. Awards were determined based on the applicant’s capacity and demonstrated experience.

Approximately $458,600 is available for each of the 25 communities. Local, regional and national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations will receive grants to support four types of projects: single-family housing rehabilitation, single-family demolition, neighborhood improvement and housing-related site improvements.

Nonprofits awarded grants include:
Phoenix: Greater Phoenix Urban League, Inc. and Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona.
Bakersfield, Calif.: Boys & Girls Club of Kern County and Self-Help Enterprises.
Fresno, Calif.: Boys & Girls Club of Central Valley; Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission; and Habitat for Humanity Fresno, Inc.
Los Angeles: Century Villages at Cabrillo; Los Angeles Conservation Corps; Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust; and Los Angeles Parks Foundation.
Modesto, Calif.: Habitat for Humanity, Stanislaus and Self-Help Enterprises.
Riverside, Calif.: Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Inc. and Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services.
Sacramento: Sacramento Habitat for Humanity, Inc.; Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.; and Yolo County Children’s Alliance.
San Diego, Calif.: Community HousingWorks and National Community Renaissance.
Santa Ana, Calif.: KidWorks Community Development Corporation and NeighborWorks Orange County.
San Jose, Calif.: Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, Inc.
Stockton, Calif.: Bounce Back to Homeownership, LLC and Stocktonians Taking Action To Neutralize Drugs.
Vallejo, Calif.: Community Housing Development Corporation and Fighting Back Partnership.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Habitat for Humanity of Broward, Inc. and Housing Enterprises of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Tampa, Fla.: Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. and Florida Home Partnership, Inc.
West Palm Beach, Fla.: Boynton Beach Faith Based Community Development Corporation and Neighborhood Renaissance, Inc.
Austin, TX: Foundation Communities and Frameworks Community Development Corporation, Inc.
Houston, TX: Avenue Community Development Corporation; Covenant Community Capital Corporation; and Wheeler Avenue Triangle Ministries Incorporated.
San Antonio, TX: Avenida Guadalupe Association and Housing and Community Services, Inc.
Detroit: Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation; Henry Ford Health System; Matrix Human Services; and Southwest Detroit Business Association.
Kansas City, MO: CHWC, Inc. and Swope Corridor Renaissance/Upper Room, Inc.
St. Louis, MO: Beyond Housing; LCMS National Housing Support Coalition; St. Louis ArtWorks; and Unlimited Play, Inc.
Las Vegas: Nevada H.A.N.D., Inc. and Outside Las Vegas Foundation.
New York/New Jersey: La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc.; New Jersey Community Capital; MHANY Management, Inc; and West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing.
Memphis, TN: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis and United Housing, Inc.
Virginia Beach, VA: Community Housing Partners and Portsmouth Development Corporation.

The UrbanLIFTSM Community Grant Program is the most recent commitment by Wells Fargo through its LIFT initiatives including the NeighborhoodLIFT® and CityLIFT® programs, a combined $180 million effort for 22 housing markets impacted by the housing crisis. Since its launch in February 2012, LIFT programs have helped create more than 5,000 homeowners with the support of down payment assistance and homebuyer education in collaboration with NeighborWorks America®, members of the national nonprofit’s network and local city officials.

About NeighborWorks America
For 35 years, NeighborWorks America has created 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.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.5 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, and the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support the bank’s customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2013 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at blog.wellsfargo.com.

Media
Chris Hammond
415-222-4106

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