WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Community Development Initiative has awarded $159,463 to the Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA), a Columbus-based membership association that supports housing and development organizations across the state. OCDCA will use these funds to provide technical assistance to 37 rural nonprofit community-based housing and development organizations statewide, including Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions in Yellow Springs and Yellow Springs Home, Inc.

“Ohio’s rural communities will benefit greatly from this investment and from the community development efforts guided by the Ohio CDC Association,” said Brown. “These federal funds will support the Ohio CDC Association’s critical work to help local organizations implement successful programs in their communities – building strong neighborhoods and enhancing residents’ opportunities.”

“The Ohio CDC Association is excited to receive this support from USDA Rural Development to provide assistance to 37 rural nonprofit community-based development organizations to improve their capacity to serve the needs of rural Ohioans in affordable housing, community facilities, and community and economic development,” said Nate Coffman, executive director of the Ohio CDC Association. “By focusing on attracting alternative funding sources, professional development, and placement of rural-focused AmeriCorps VISTA members we look forward to assisting dozens of rural community developers across the state serve their communities.”

Brown is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and, in 2014, he was part of the Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee that successfully negotiated a five-year farm bill that had been stalled for more than three years. Brown supported a strong Rural Development title in the 2014 Farm Bill to encourage economic development in rural communities.

The Ohio CDC Association is a statewide membership organization that fosters vibrant neighborhoods and improves the quality of life in all communities through advocacy and capacity building of our member agencies. Click here to watch a brief video about Ohio community development corporations (CDCs).

 

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