Neighborhood
Technical Assistance Center (NTAC)
A
collaborative project of the East St. Louis Community Development Block Grant,
Inc.
and the
University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Summary
#
of Neighborhood Organizations assisted: 6
#
of Faith-Based Organizations assisted: 6
#
of Municipal Agencies assisted: 2
#
of Individuals assisted: 1
Introduction
The
month of September witnessed the first full month of design/architectural
assistance available from NTAC and new outreach efforts afforded to local
neighborhood partners and municipal agencies.
Mr.
Craig Miller, Staff Design Specialist, completed 4 architectural surveys,
executed 2 as-built drawings, conducted 2 design review sessions, and completed
1 construction project. Considering
that Mr. Miller also attended 5 neighborhood meetings to introduce himself to
neighborhood partners it was a successful month for kicking off that service.
Representatives
from Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc., the East St. Louis Community Action Network,
Emerson Park Development Corporation, and the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts
and Humanities were shuttled to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
on September 10. These community residents
were treated to a day of community development discussion where they discussed
their upcoming projects with University faculty, staff and students. Preliminary plans were made to work with
these organizations in the Fall semester on projects ranging from block
clean-ups to the execution of complex landscaping for Urban Resources
Partnership (URPS) projects.
In
September NTAC staff began to provide technical assistance to the newly formed
East St. Louis Planning Commission.
NTAC provided training packets, planning materials, and conducted a
training session in combination with CDBG staff.
Aldersgate Community
Development Agency
NTAC
staff assisted Reverend Marcheta McCoy of Aldersgate by attending a Weed and
Seed meeting and helped secure $12,000 in Weed and Seed funds for their activities
with neighborhood children.
Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc.
& Ms. Jacqueline Simmons
The
NTAC provided a dozen University of Illinois volunteers on September 26th and
27th to clean lots and make repairs to Ms. Jacqueline Simmons’ residence on
behalf of Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. Ms.
Simmons is a moderate income resident of Alta Sita who was chosen by the
neighborhood association to receive winterization and repair assistance. NTAC staff surveyed the property, developed
a scope of services and materials list.
Volunteers, led by Craig Miller, rebuilt a decaying porch and covered
decrepit windows with plastic to prevent heat loss and high heating bills.
Volunteers
also cleaned up Virginia Park and built sandboxes with local children as a new
playspace.
NTAC
staff attended a Weed and Seed meeting on behalf of Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc.
and secured $9,000 in funding for their housing rehabilitation work.
Carver Community Center
The
NTAC provided twelve University of Illinois volunteers to clean and paint the
Carver Community Center. Staff also
conducted two outreach meetings to gather feedback on possible URPS landscaping
proposals, and executed as-built drawings of the site.
Citizens for the Future (CFF)
NTAC
staff worked with the CFF Search Committee and hosted training for hiring
procedures to be utilized in their search for an Executive Director. Staff developed an advertising budget and
placed ads in local and regional newspapers and trade publications.
Community Development Block
Grant, Inc.
NTAC
staff assisted CDBG staff in reviewing respondents to an Request for Proposals
to provided architectural and engineering work for the St. Theresa’s
Transitional Housing complex. Specifically, staff reviewed
RFQ’s from five design and architectural firms who submitted RFQ’s. Three meetings with Nathelene Harper. One interview session with three candidates.
East
St. Louis Community Action Network (On behalf of Edgemont and Olivette Park)
NTAC
provided University of Illinois volunteers to clean sites in Edgemont and
Olivette Park as a part of the ESL-CAN URPS project.
East St. Louis Planning
Commission
NTAC
staff attended the East St. Louis Planning Commission’s first meeting on
September 11, 1997. We were asked to
provide additional training and materials for the next meeting. On September 25, 1997 NTAC staff, in
coordination with CDBG staff, conducted a training session for the East St.
Louis Planning Commission members, provided written materials, and answered
commissioners’ questions. The training
was well received and NTAC staff was invited back to future meetings in order
to provide additional training and feedback.
Edgemont Neighborhood
Association
The
NTAC provided eighteen student volunteers to canvass the Edgemont
Neighborhood. Volunteers passed out
flyers about the upcoming Edgemont meeting and succeeded in more than tripling
the attendance from the previous meeting.
The 15 residents who attended received presentation from University of
Illinois students about hosting a Homeownership Seminar where residents will
learn about winterization, rehabilitation, home loans, and other
housing-related subjects.
NTAC
staff attended a Weed and Seed meeting on behalf of Edgemont Neighborhood
Association and secured $9,000 in funding for their homeownership seminar and
winterization work.
Emerson Park Development
Corporation (EPDC)
NTAC
provided twelve University of Illinois volunteers for lot clean up in the
Emerson Park neighborhood.
Family Center
Sister
Carol Lehmkuehl requested assistance with painting and scraping of the Family
Center property at 705 Summit. This
area has been targeted by Neighborhood Based Family Housing Initiative as the
site for future new home construction.
Family Life Center
NTAC
staff created a sample scope of services and proposal for a multi-purpose
family life center and provided it to Reverend Bradford and his Family Life
Center board.
Katherine Dunham Centers for
Arts and Humanities
NTAC
staff assisted the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities by providing
twelve University of Illinois Volunteers to clean the site surrounding the
Dunham Centers for landscaping. This
work was executed as in-kind labor for an Urban Resources Partnership (URPS)
project.
NTAC
design staff also completed as-built drawings for the Dunham URPS project.
NTAC
staff continued to work with the Dunham Board on budget and finance issues that
led to the current debt that is plaguing the facility. An accounting system is to be set up by
January 1, 1998.
Lansdowne Improvement Association
NTAC
provided twelve volunteers to meet a request for assistance from the Lansdowne
Improvement Association. Volunteers
cleaned lots alongside Americorps volunteers as part of Lansdowne’s URPS
project.
Olivette Park Neighborhood Association
Assisted
the Olivette Park Neighborhood Association with preparing its “Self Development
of People Grant” This grant requests
$5,000 for the purchase of a lawnmower, supplies and stipends for youth
workers.
United Way Volunteer Center
NTAC
staff worked to initiate a volunteer center to coordinate volunteer activities
for non-profit groups in East St. Louis.
Staff attended four planning meetings, compiled a mailing list and gave
input on the center’s design, function and outreach program.
Winstanley/Industry Park
Neighborhood Organization
The
NTAC provided volunteers to clean, weed, and mow the East St. Louis Farmer’s
Market grounds. This beautification
effort came in the midst of the busiest season for the Farmer’s Market and was
requested by the Winstanley organization.
Volunteers
also cleaned and mowed the Illinois Avenue Playground.
Budget*
|
Vendor |
Budget Category |
Amount |
|
Damon Y. Smith, Director |
Salary |
$3,210.00 |
|
Craig Miller, Architect |
Salary |
$2,633.33 |
|
U of I Benefits |
Benefits |
$1,198.47 |
|
C.L. Wicks |
Rent |
$750.00 |
|
Union Electric |
Utilites |
$183.92 |
|
Illinois Power |
Utilities |
$19.47 |
|
|
TOTAL |
$7,995.19 |
*
See attached bills and time sheets