Monthly Report – August 1998

# of Neighborhood Organizations assisted: 4

# of Faith-Based Organizations assisted: 0

# of Municipal Agencies assisted: 3

# of Non-Profits assisted: 3

This report is the final monthly report due to CDBG Operations Inc. under our current contract. An annual report will be forwarded to Robert Betts, Program Manager. Since the Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center is due to receive future funding from the Greater East St. Louis Enterprise Community all future reports will be handed in to that body.

As Director of the NTAC I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Diane Bonner, CDBG Director, and Mr. Robert Betts, CDBG Program Manager for their support and assistance over the past two years of NTAC operations.

NTAC staff worked with Ms. Reeves of ASCDC on the final budget revision for Urban Resource Partnership grant. Ms. Reeves has been awarded $25,000 for landscaping improvements for Virginia Park. NTAC pledged volunteer recruitment assistance.

NTAC provided computer access to the Director of Citizens for the Future, David Wilson. Mr. Wilson used word processing applications to draft letters and used Internet access to research potential funders.

The NTAC Community Planner, Patricia Nolan, conducted an outreach session to local employers asking for their input on the Housing Authority’s plan to develop 361 new units of public housing. The session was facilitated by NTAC and University of Illinois staffs.

NTAC staff attended the ESL-CAN meeting and facilitated the ESL-CAN retreat and strategic planning program.

NTAC staff researched Requests for Proposals used for comprehensive plans in cities similar to East St. Louis. A committee of the Planning Commission will use this research to create a Request for Proposals and solicit bids for the East St. Louis Comprehensive Plan.

NTAC staff created maps of the Emerson Park neighborhood delineating areas of interest for future housing development. In addition NTAC staff assisted in modifying zoning maps for the Emerson Park Development Corporation’s strategic plan. NTAC staff created a St. Clair County Auction information sheet for Emerson Park Development Corporation describing the auction process for Emerson Park residents. NTAC staff conducted a workshop on Tax Increment Financing for the Director and President of Emerson Park Development Corporation. A sample Tax Increment Financing budget was created for the development of 100 new single-family homes. NTAC staff created a table of Emerson Park parcels including the assessed value of property within the neighborhood’s boundaries.

The NTAC staff created a community outreach plan for the Empowerment Zone in conjunction with FOCUS St. Louis. The East St. Louis Enterprise Community will be compensated $2,192 for NTAC staff time devoted to the Empowerment Zone. These funds can be reprogrammed for NTAC projects and core functions. NTAC staff began implementation of the community outreach plan by facilitating and documenting an August 22^nd East St. Louis Empowerment Zone public engagement session. The session was attended by over 40 East St. Louis residents, business representatives, and elected officials. NTAC staff generated maps and conducted a spatial analysis of the churches, safe havens, and schools within the Empowerment Zone boundaries. NTAC staffed the first Riverfront Project team meeting on August 21^st , the first Downtown project team meeting on August 27^th, and the first Emerson Park project team meeting on August 28^th. NTAC staff took primary responsibility for documentation and recording. Finally, NTAC staff completed all census data generation for the East St. Louis Empowerment Zone.

Craig Miller, NTAC Architect executed the final drawings for the Katherine Dunham Artisinal village, an Urban Resource Project funded undertaking. Mr. Miller also completed final closeouts for the Dunham Plumbing Project, a CDBG funded undertaking. In addition staff attended and facilitated the Dunham Advisory Board Meeting.

NTAC staff created a fundraising letter for the Senior Citizens Activity Center for the 2^nd Annual Fundraiser. Eleanor Gregory, Director of the Center used the letter to solicit funds from local residents, businesspersons, and others to support the Center’s core programs for senior citizens of St. Clair County.

NTAC Design Specialist, Craig Miller, conducted an assessment of the WIPNO 1240/1242 building and ascertained that the project was 70% complete. Mr. Miller also served as liaison between the WIPNO Board and CDBG staff.

*See attached receipts and time sheets.