In 2004, before Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Inc. was created the organization served Stark County as a LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) office. The Stark County LISC office took residency as a component fund of The Stark Community Foundation. As a LISC representative the organizational mission was focused on our role as an intermediary, developing and strengthening local Community Development Corporations (CDCs). From 2004-2006 our organization served in this capacity.
In 2006 the local LISC office was forced to close. Under the direction of The Stark Community Foundation it was proposed that the current director of the Stark County LISC office, Joel Owens remain in his role in Stark County under a new organization. In 2006, LISC became Community Building Partnership of Stark County. The mission of the organization from 2006 to 2010 was to build the capacity of nonprofit community development organizations so they can help distressed neighborhoods once again become healthy neighborhoods of choice in Stark County-where residents invest their time, effort and financial resources where they live and work. As in our role as a Stark County LISC representative, CBP focused its role as an intermediary.
In 2010 it was suggested by Mark Samolczyk, President Stark Community Foundation, as well as CBP Chairman of the Board that CBP concentrate our efforts as the neighborhood revitalization organization of Stark County and lessen our involvement as a developmental intermediary. This approach was embraced by the CBP Partnership Committee and once again CBP changed organizational focus. Instead of developing and strengthening CDCs to do the revitalization work in neighborhoods, CBP has taken the reigns and focused our organizational mission solely on the promotion of revitalization of Stark County neighborhoods.
As an intermediary strengthening local nonprofits CBP provided the following resources and programming:
Summit Revitalization Plan: Lead partner in the creation of the Summit Revitalization Plan which resulted in the development of the Parade of Homes, Freed Housing Corporation and Weed and Seed.
Operating Support Program: Provided critical operating support for Community Development Corporations (CDCs) to expand staff capabilities and organizational capacity.
Technical Assistance: Provided a variety of training, consulting and organizational assessment services to CDCs with goals to increase their capacity and their effectiveness.
Real Estate Grants and Lending Program: Provided access to both real estate grants and loans. Our real estate grant program provided pre-development grants to organizations to investigate potential projects; down payment incentive grants to homebuyers who purchase CBP and CDC-sponsored homes, or gap financing for real estate endeavors by CDCs. CBP also provides access to real estate loans from CBP lender partners and through our relationship with Local Incentives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s largest community development intermediary.
Facilitation, Networking, and Technical Assistance to Cities and Organizations: CBP continues to serve on several committees assisting with planning and facilitation providing group facilitation and technical assistance to cities, foundations, and other stakeholders on community development policy formation and program development opportunities.
