NALCAB 2011 Border Summit
Empleos, Empresas y El Desarrollo Económico
A Focus on Solutions for the Border Economy
July 13, 2011
McAllen, TX
Over 150 executive level asset building practitioners, funders and federal officials from across the country came together in McAllen, TX at a border summit to address pressing issues associated with the U.S.-Mexico border economy. The 2011 Border Summit: Empleos, Empresas y El Desarrollo Económico, A Focus on Solutions for the Border Economy tackled issues involving the investments of federal money in the region to help working families build wealth and assets.
The summit was hosted by NALCAB—the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, whose mission is to build financial and real estate assets as well as human and technology resources in Latino families, communities and organizations. With Citi as the lead sponsor and co-hosted by Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. NALCAB assembled leaders representing government, nonprofit and community in discussions to improve the lives of working Americans in the U.S. - Mexico border region.
Prior to the summit, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a two-day training session focused on community and economic strategies that create jobs, stabilize neighborhoods and support entrepreneurship.
The following is a summary of the activities:
Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12
Training Session
Community Economic Development
NALCAB presented a training prior to the summit designed for practitioners. An overview of community economic development strategies in the areas of real estate and business development, lending and building individual assets were presented. Participants were provided tools that can be used for developing strategies relevant in their target area. The training focused on professional development and skills-building. The experience also involved lectures, group discussions and break out group sessions which allowed participants to share and learn in more intimate settings.
Wednesday, July 13
SUMMIT OPENING
Welcome Remarks and Introductions
Presenters: Patricia Mejia, Deputy Director, NALCAB and Mark Nerio, Citi Community Development; Premier Sponsor
Morning Sessions
Border Report: The Current Status of Economic Development Along the U.S -Mexico Border
Presenter: Jesus Cañas, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Download presentation by Jesus Cañas (pdf)
Changing the Conversation about the Border: A Framework for Equitable Economic Growth
Presenter: Noel Poyo, Executive Director, NALCAB
Late Morning Session
Strategic Thinking: The Role of the Federal Government in Coordinating Economic Development Investments along the Border
Moderator: Noel Poyo, Executive Director, NALCAB
Presenters:
Mercedes Márquez, Assistant Secretary, Community Planning and Development, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Donna J. Gambrell, Director, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, U.S. Department of Treasury
Judith A. Canales, Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Jorge Ayala, Area Director, Economic Development Administration
Download presentation by Jorge Ayala (pdf)
Lunch Session
Networking Lunch Session
Afternoon Sessions
Border Economic Development in Action: Best Practices from Nonprofits Coordinating Federal Investments at the Local Level
Moderator: David Adame, Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc.
Presenter(s):
Eva Woodfin, Community Development Corporation of Brownsville
Download presentation by Eva Woodfin (pdf)
Rose Garcia, Tierra Del Sol Housing Development Corporation
Nils Urman, Nogales Community Development Corporation
Download presentation by Nils Urman (pdf)
Texas Legislative Policy Update
This session was presented by John Henneberger, Co-Director of the Texas Low Income Information Service and highlighted the impact of the 82nd Texas Legislative session on community development, with a special emphasis on colonia communities.
Closing Session
Border Economic Development: Efforts at the State Level targeted at the Border Communities
Presenters: Megan Beaman, California Rural Legal Assistance
Download presentation by Megan Beaman (pdf)
Representative Armando Martinez, District 39 State of Texas
Sandra Boughton, Senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant
Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture Water & Environmental Programs Rural Development
Thursday, July 14
US-Mexico Border Community Development Learning Session
Part I – A bus tour was coordinated for visiting federal officials so they could see first-hand the quality of homes developed by McAllen-based Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. and Proyecto Aztecta. Both organizations had the opportunity to demonstrate their high quality affordable homes and to highlight their successes and challenges. Officials also got to hear testimonies from the working families and individuals who are residents.
Bus Tour Activities
Affordable Homes of South Texas (AHSTI)
Background - For over 34 years AHSTI has placed thousands of families in quality, affordable homes, enhancing the quality of life of eligible families in the Rio Grande Valley. AHSTI receives NSP 1, NSP 2, HOME, CDBG, and CDFI funds.
AHSTI Tour Goals by Robert Calvillo, Executive Director:
- Discussed partnerships and funds leveraged towards completion of NSP homes.
- Explained population served: Low to moderate income working families
- Current market conditions: Over 750 families are on waiting lists for an AHSTI home.
- Outlined long term capital needed for innovative financing models
8:45 am Depart for Proyecto Azteca
Proyecto Azteca
Background - Over the years, Proyecto Azteca has gradually increased its production rate to 35 to 60 homes per year. Today, Proyecto Azteca is a nationally recognized, community directed, self-help housing organization that has financed and trained more than 600 families in the construction and first time homeownership in over 120 Hidalgo County colonias.
Proyecto Azteca Tour Goals by Anne Cass, Executive Director:
- Explanation of how successful self-help programs are as witnessed by our families experience; work with very low income families making 30-50% of the AMI.
- Outlined the need to connect transportation projects to the colonias; how lack of transportation affects school, work, health care, and jobs
- Discussed Proyecto Azteca’s position in support of policies that enable sustainable housing construction; not only eco-friendly construction but also construction of housing that can sustain weather events like hurricanes, hail storms, etc.
Part II. After the bus tour, federal officials, NALCAB member organizations and a select group of community development corporations convened in a smaller group setting to discuss specific strategies, challenges and best practices learned.
Discussion Highlights:
Introduction – Patricia Mejia, Deputy Director, NALCAB
12:20
Border Report: Jesus Canas, Federal Reserve Bank
12:45 pm
Presentation by Border Steering Committee members
- David Adame, CPLC (Arizona) – Topic: Real Estate Development as a tool for Economic Development
- Larry Garcia, El Paso CUSO (Texas) – Topic: Affordable Housing Finance
- Rafael Torres, Azteca Preservation & Economic Development Corporation (Texas) – Topic: Integrated Asset Building
- Maria Martinez, Del Rio Credit Union – (Texas) Topic: Access to Financial Services
1:25 – 2:55
NALCAB – Policy Implications and Developing Regional Capacity and Open Discussion
3:00 – 4:30
Presentation of Consolidated Plan– Megan Barclay, HUD
