Neighborhood Organizations assisted – 13

Faith Based Organizations assisted – 13

Municipal Agencies assisted – 2

Non-Profit Organizations assisted – 6

Other – 3

During the month of October, the Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center continued to follow-up on the grant proposals submitted on September 30^th to the Enterprise Community and to the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department. The NTAC received a list of questions regarding our EC proposal on October 10^th and prepared a complete response on October 17^th, 1999. The NTAC is looking forward to a favorable response from the EC and St. Clair County.

The NTAC also began our fundraising efforts for year 2001 funding. The NTAC Director attended a "Meet the Funder Day" sponsored by the Missouri Association of Philanthropy and the East St. Louis Community Fund. At this meeting, initial contacts were made with both Alandra Byrd of the Community Fund and a representative from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Both organizations appear to be a great match for the services provided by the NTAC. We will follow-up with both of these organizations and others in the coming months.

The NTAC’s design and construction management projects also moved forward this month with Phase I of the Neighbors Place One project completed in mid-October. Unfortunately, Phase II of the project is on hold due to a funding delay from the Urban Resource Partnership. If the funds are released to Neighbors United for Progress before bad weather hits, then the project will be completed this season. The NTAC also continued working with the Carver Community Center and CDBG on the renovation of the Center. The NTAC Design Specialist is working with the project’s architects and contractors on the execution of this project. Two participatory design charettes have been held with the Carver Center board to develop the URP-funded landscaping project. This will be implemented in early spring.

October 22^nd and 23rd was the second University of Illinois work weekend sponsored by the East St. Louis Action Research Project. The NTAC worked with our local community partners to organize residents and students on several projects in the metro area. The Work Weekend made a major impact on several areas of the city and had a very high amount of resident participation. Forty University students and about two dozen local residents worked on the following projects. The next work weekend is scheduled for late February of 2000.

• Better Days, Inc. – Brooklyn

Continued the clearance and reclamation of the old cemetery on Bend Road

• Washington Park Emergency Organization – Washington Park

• Golden Garden, Inc. - Centreville

• Adventures in Motivation – East St. Louis

Continued to assisted in planning and clearing the recreation area behind the AIM office

• Carver Community Center – East St. Louis

Cleaned and made minor repairs to the interior and exterior of the Center

• Bride of Christ Church – East St. Louis

• Emerson Park Development Corporation – East St. Louis

• South End New Development Organization – East St. Louis

• Olivette Park Neighborhood Association – East St. Louis

• Winstanley Industry Park Neighborhood Organization – East St. Louis

• Alta Sita Development Corporation – East St. Louis

LaTonya Webb, Community Planner, returned from maternity leave on October 25^th. Progress on the Faith Based Organizing Initiative, funded by the EC, has resumed and we are working on the completion of the five remaining 501c3 applications. Upon completion, these applications will be sent to the University of Illinois Law Clinic for review. Eleven preliminary applications have been submitted to the Law Clinic.

As a follow up to the September 17^th ESLARP Work Weekend, the NTAC recruited and assigned six University of Illinois students to work with Mr. Scott on October 23. The students cleared the grounds of the recreation area behind the Center.

The NTAC Community Design Specialist met with Adventures in Motivation to continue the planning of a Wedgewood Wetland Park. The project team gained a new partner this month in Kathy Andria of ESL CAN who was recently awarded a $50,000 grant for a wetlands project in the Dayton / Wedgewood area. NTAC will continue to work on this project in the coming months.

On October 22^nd and 23^rd, fifteen University of Illinois volunteers planted trees and flowers, repaired playground equipment, removed graffiti and cleaned Virginia Park. NTAC staff pre-determined the correct location of thirty trees that were donated by Tree Relief of Missouri.

At the request of ASNI, the NTAC assisted one of their active members complete a CDBG Rehab program application. The NTAC also attended the monthly meeting of ASNI and is working with University of Illinois students and local residents to complete the 1999 Alta Sita Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.

In November, the NTAC will work with ASNI to prepare a proposal to the Quik Trip Foundation to fund entranceway improvements at McCasland and 33^rd Street.

The NTAC is working with seven Universities across the country who are planning trips to the East St. Louis metro area. In the Spring, the volunteers will work on community development projects that will be identified by local organizations.

At the request of Better Days Inc. and Mayor Cook, the NTAC assigned ten University of Illinois students on October 22^nd and 23^rd to work with Brooklyn residents on clearing and recovering the old Brooklyn Cemetery on Bend Road. This was a follow-up to assistance provided in September.

The NTAC is currently researching ways to upgrade the three public computers housed at the church and how to fund the improvements. If the computers are upgraded, Bride of Christ will open their Fellowship Hall to children after school who want to work/play on the computers. The NTAC will also sponsor "Computer Fun Days" for local children.

The NTAC continued pre-construction administration for the renovation of the center’s HVAC system, wheel chair life and entryway. This renovation project is funded by CDBG. The NTAC is working closely with the Carver’s Board of Directors, CDBG, the project’s A&E firm and selected contractors.

The NTAC is working with Citizens for a Decent Community on the development of a Washington Park Business Association. We will hold a training session on the opportunities available to small businesses through DCCA, TIF, EC and the Small Business Development Center.

The NTAC attended City Counsel meetings during the month of October as part of our ongoing effort to disseminate city information to our neighborhood partners via the associations’ regular meetings.

The NTAC assisted CACO in letter writing for their organization and planned out the Board’s future training needs.

The NTAC attended the second Public Hearing for the 5-Year Consolidated Plan.

At the request of CORO, the NTAC was interviewed regarding their perceptions of how Washington Park is advancing on its community development agenda.

The NTAC worked with Eagles Nest on preparing a presentation to the Ministerial Alliance and preparing a Casino Queen Grant proposal for a computer for the organization.

The NTAC attended and helped facilitate the October monthly meeting of ESL CAN. The NTAC also assisted ESL CAN with proposal development and strategizing on future fundraising.

The NTAC prepared Commissioner packets for the October meeting. The NTAC researched and drafted reports on Land Use Case Nos. 99-007 through 99-010.

EPDC was recently awarded a $300,000 Youthbuild "Tomorrow's Builders" grant. The NTAC serves on the Policies and Procedures sub-committee of the Youthbuild Consortium

As a follow-up to the ESLARP Work Weekend I on September 16^th and 17^th, University of Illinois students met with Emerson Park residents again on October 22^nd. The group discussed new single family home designs that they are working with at the request of EPDC. The students took the input of the residents back to campus to incorporate into their house designs. At the end of the semester, the University studio will create ten sets of construction documents for ten new single-family homes to be built as part of Parsons Place Phase II.

The NTAC attended the October monthly meeting of EPDC.

The NTAC facilitated the October meeting of the CCC Action Panel that was set up to address the most pressing issues facing the Fairlawn neighborhood. The NTAC and CCC representatives finished the "Precincts of Fairlawn" booklet and distributed it to residents of Fairlawn. The booklet includes maps and information on all seven of Fairlawn's precincts.

NTAC and GGI completed the organization’s by-laws and is now working on completion of their 501c3 application. We are strategizing with this new organization for the re-use of Golden Garden School as a community center.

Students from the University of Illinois worked with local residents from Golden Garden on October 23^rd. The group administered a survey door-to-door to determine the community's interest in an organization and to assess a vision for the community.

The NTAC continued to serve as a "Community Information Center" for the Empowerment Zone. Residents can visit the NTAC and pick up information on the Empowerment Zone.

The NTAC attended the recent meeting of the Empowerment Zone board.

The NTAC facilitated a meeting with members of the LNSC to discuss the future of the organization. The NTAC also worked with the group to create a neighborhood survey to assess residents' concerns.

The NTAC is working with Morning Star on grantwriting and applying for 501c3 status.

The NTAC advised Mt. Calvary on how to obtain 501c3 status and developing their board of directors.

Phase I of the Neighbors Place One project was completed in mid-October. NTAC staff prepared the site for plantings, administered the grant on behalf of Neighbors and recruited volunteers. Unfortunately, Phase II of the project is on hold due to a funding delay from the Urban Resource Partnership. If the funds are released to Neighbors United for Progress before bad weather hits, then the project will be completed this season.

The NTAC worked with Toya Nash of New Spirit to plan outreach projects for volunteers from Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on October 16^th and 17^th.

The NTAC attended the October monthly meeting of OPNA and worked at the organization’s Annual Halloween Party. The NTAC worked with OPNA to research how Olivette Park can get designated as a historic district through the State of Illinois. On October 22, students from the University of Illinois did interior and exterior surveys of seven structures to start the process for historic designation.

The NTAC attended SENDO's October meeting. On October 23^rd, the NTAC and SENDO executed a major recruitment effort in the neighborhood to get more residents involved in the neighborhood organization. This effort included students and residents administering a door-to-door survey of all households in the South End. The NTAC also prepared maps of the neighborhood.

In October, the NTAC attended one planning meeting for the Youth Opportunity Grant. The NTAC has committed to helping formulate the Citizens Advisory Committee and is distributing "Taking Stock" forms to all local faith based organizations, neighborhood groups and non-profits.

The NTAC and WIPNO conducted an outreach effort on October 23^rd. The goal was to increase participation in their organization and recruit interested residents to help with the re-opening of the East St. Louis Farmers Market.

* See attached bills and time sheets.