Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center (NTAC)
A collaborative
project of the East St. Louis Enterprise Community (EC),
St. Clair County
Intergovernmental Grants Department (IGD) and the
University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Summary
Neighborhood
Organizations assisted – 10
Faith
Based Organizations assisted – 10
Municipal
Agencies assisted – 4
Non-Profit
Organizations assisted – 8
Other
–
3
Introduction
On March 10th, the
Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center released the February/March edition of
Neighborhood News. We are happy to report that this edition was
16-pages full of updates from two dozen organizations and general information
regarding the Enterprise Communities.
Our distribution for this newsletter was approximately 300. The newsletter is a mix of articles written
by neighborhood leaders, agency representatives and NTAC staff. Over the years, the newsletter has been a
very popular program activity of the NTAC.
The Faith Based Organizing
Initiative greatly increased the number of requests we receive for 501c3
application assistance. As of January,
2000, we are no longer directly assisting new organizations apply for 501c3
status. Instead, we are compiling a
"step-by-step" manual that should help any group get started on the
process. We are also encouraging all
interested organizations to partner with existing non-profits rather than
creating new entities. The manual does
not in any way replace the technical assistance or legal counseling that an
organization may need to work through the process. The manual is scheduled for completion by early April. This is an example of the NTAC's focus on
training and capacity building in an effort to fight dependency on the NTAC.
In February, the NTAC also
completed contract negotiations with the St. Clair County Intergovernmental
Grants Department. We truly appreciate
their grant of $30,000.
The NTAC continued to work with
the Enterprise Community on our Year 2000 Open Proposal for funding. We are looking forward to finalizing this
work very shortly.
Aldersgate Church
The NTAC is working with
Aldersgate Church (a pending 501c3 faith-based organization) on the final
paperwork for their 501c3 application.
Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc.
The NTAC attended the monthly
meetings of ASNI in February.
At the request of ASNI, the
University of Illinois’s School of Architecture has devoted an architecture
studio to working with residents on possible designs for elderly housing. The proposed housing is mix of assisted and
independent living located at 22nd and Market. The designs have been reviewed and changed
twice so far by members of ASNI. The
students will make a third presentation on April 14th at Bride of
Christ Church in Alta Sita.
The NTAC staff is making final
revisions to construction documents for the new deck in Alta Sita. The deck will be built by University
volunteers and Alta Sita residents during the next work weekend on April 14th
and 15th. The deck will be
built in the Alta Sita mini-park at 29th and Virginia Place.
Alternative Spring Break
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 and work with the YouthBuild students from Emerson Park
Development Corporation.
The first group from Wartburg
College in Iowa came to East St. Louis during the last week of February. The twelve volunteers worked with EPDC,
Uni-Press Kindercottage, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House and the
Christian Activity Center.
BarnabAs Group
The Bethel Christian Worship
Center has a new community outreach organization called the Barnabas
Group. The NTAC worked with this new
organization on completing their 501c3 application.
Carver Community Center - CDBG
Grant
The NTAC continued working on the
renovation of the center’s HVAC system, wheel chair lift and entryway. The assistance included site observation,
drafting field reports, construction administration and correspondence with all
partners. 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 project is scheduled for completion by
March 31, 2000.
Census 2000
The NTAC is serving on the
Community Organization Sub-Committee for Census 2000. To promote the Census, NTAC staff is making presentations at all
of the regular neighborhood association meetings. NTAC and ESL CAN have also created an informational flyer and
have mailed stacks of the flyers to every neighborhood association in the
Enterprise Community.
Citizens for a Decent Community –
Washington Park
The NTAC is working with CFDC on a
proposal for a Scholarship Program to serve low-income youth between the ages
of 12 and 18 in Washington Park.
The NTAC also made a presentation
at the February 21st meeting of CFDC. The presentation focused on
the technical assistance provided by NTAC and how churches and community-based
organizations can partner on projects.
Citizens for the Future
The NTAC worked with Citizens for
the Future on two housing proposals in support of their revolving loan fund to
rehab CFF properties. The proposals
were made to the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Campaign for
Human Development. NTAC staff completed
“Scope of Services” on four deteriorated structures and assisted with proposal
writing.
City of East St. Louis – City Council
The NTAC attended City Counsel
meetings during the month of February as part of our ongoing effort to
disseminate city information to our neighborhood partners via the associations’
regular meetings.
Community Mission Neighborhood
Advancement, Inc.
The NTAC is working with CMNA to
identify possible funding sources for their Youth Entrepreneur Program. NTAC staff identified six possible sources
of funding.
Corp of Engineers and City of East
St. Louis
The NTAC continued working with
the Corp of Engineers, Jesse Walker of the East St. Louis Public Works
Department, the East St. Louis Community Action Network and City Councilman
Russell on possible changes to state legislation that would enable the City of
East St. Louis to leverage limited infrastructure funds with a 75% match from
the Federal Government for sever repairs in the city. The NTAC has assisted in preparing for the February 7th
Town Hall Meeting, collecting a flood survey and mapping flooding problems.
Eagles Nest of St. Clair County
The NTAC attended Eagles Nest’s
February meeting. Based on information
provided by NTAC, three board members of Eagles Nest attended Lakefront SRO
supportive housing training in Bloomington, IL.
East St. Louis
Planning Commission
The NTAC
conducted all research and prepared all materials for Planning Commission Case
Nos. 99-010. The NTAC facilitated the
Public Hearing on February 9, 2000 in which thirty residents attended to
provide public comment.
East St. Louis Community Action
Network
ESL CAN
is focusing their attention on the flooding problems caused by inadequate
sewers and development on the bluffs.
NTAC assisted ESL CAN by geocoding areas reported by residents that
exhibit flood problems, organizing for their February 7, 2000 town meeting,
preparing information packets and doing outreach to raise awareness about the
flooding issues.
The NTAC
attended the February monthly meeting of ESL CAN.
NTAC
staff completed all final paperwork on the ESL CAN / UIUC Urban Resources
Partnership grant, Clean Sweep II.
Emerson Park
Development Corporation
As part
of NTAC’s ongoing support of the YouthBuild program, NTAC worked with EPDC to
locate a construction manager and a journey carpenter. NTAC also helped with the program’s
orientation by making a presentation on volunteerism and community
service.
The NTAC
attended the February monthly meeting of EPDC.
Fairlawn Neighborhood Association
– Citizens for Community Concerns (CCC)
The NTAC helped facilitate the
February meeting of the CCC Action Panel that was set up to address the most
pressing issues facing the Fairlawn neighborhood.
The NTAC joined members of CCC in
a meeting with Ameren U.E. to discuss lighting problems and their Smart Lights
grant program.
Frank Holten State Park
The NTAC participated in a meeting
regarding future planning of Frank Holten State Park. At this meeting, NTAC was asked to consider a collaboration
between the University of Illinois Department of Landscape Architecture and the
Friends of Frank Holten State Park. All plans are tentative.
Golden Garden, Inc. – Centreville
NTAC and GGI began working on the application for 501c3 tax-exempt
status. NTAC also participated in GGI's
African American Heritage Celebration at the Callie Boyd Center in Centreville.
The NTAC staff continues to strategize
with this new organization for the re-use of Golden Garden School as a
community center.
Greater St. Louis Empowerment Zone
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.
Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts
and Humanities
The NTAC worked with the Dunham
Centers on gathering information regarding Lead Abatement Programs.
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance
Foundation
The NTAC was asked by L of L to
conduct an assessment of the Carter residence in East St. Louis. The case involves a possible wrongdoing by a
contractor who was paid for work not rendered on Ms. Carter’s home. The NTAC staff evaluated the work done on
the building, created a cost estimate of needed repairs and got alternative
assessments from a local contractor.
Lansdowne Neighborhood
Steering Committee
The NTAC attended and helped
prepare for the February meeting of the LNSC.
Mt. Calvary Church of God in
Christ – Washington Park
One of the original sixteen
churches to take advantage of the Faith Based Organizing Initiative changed
their mind about applying for 501c3 status.
NTAC was able to fill this slot with Mt. Calvary Church of God in
Christ.
Mt. Sinai Church
The NTAC is working with Mt.
Sinai, the New Salem Baptist District and Fannie Woods of HUD on their Section
202 Elderly Housing Proposal.
Assistance includes mapping, creating a survey of elderly needs and advising
Mt. Sinai along the proposal process.
Significant time was spent by the
NTAC staff researching the Section 202 Elderly Housing program.
Neighbors United for Progress –
Centreville
Phase II of the Neighbors Place One project is scheduled
for implementation on April 14 and 15.
NTAC staff is programming for this project. This is an URP funded project.
New Beginnings Outreach Ministries
The NTAC is working with New
Beginnings (a pending 501c3 faith-based organization) on the final review of their
501c3 application.
Olivette Park Neighborhood
Association
The NTAC attended the February
monthly meetings of OPNA.
Set the Captives Free Ministry
Set the Captives Free Ministry is a new
contact for the NTAC. During February,
the NTAC assisted the organization by providing them with general information
on NTAC, non-profit groups in the ESL area and filing their articles of
incorporation.
South End New Development
Organization
The NTAC attended SENDO's February
monthly meeting. At this meeting, NTAC
staff made presentations on the importance of Census 2000 and on the possible
planning process that SENDO may like to follow as they develop their
comprehensive plan. NTAC staff
volunteered to serve on SENDO’s Comprehensive Plan committee.
Southern Mission Church
The NTAC is working with Southern
Mission (a pending 501c3 faith-based organization) on a two-year proposed
budget and the application for tax exempt status.
Starship Connection - Washington
Park
The Starship Connection is a new contact
for the NTAC. Their mission is to
promote positive change by motivating children and adults toward positive goals
that emphasize education. The group has
requested maps and help in identifying possible funding sources to support a
speaker’s forum. They have also
requested assistance with 501c3 application.
The NTAC will provide them with a "step-by-step" manual.
St. Louis 2004 Citizens
Information Network
The NTAC met with Debra Moore of
St. Louis 2004 to discuss collaboration on the Citizens Information
Network. NTAC staff provided Ms. Moore
with the NTAC mailing list and information on the Faith Based Organizing
Initiative. Future meetings will be scheduled between neighborhood associations
and St. Louis 2004.
Uni-Press Kindercottage
The Uni-Press recently moved into
their new building next to the Gemm Center.
The NTAC assigned Alternative Spring Break students from Iowa to work on
moving and cleaning at Uni-Press.
Urban Resources Partnership
NTAC attended the URP Advisory
Board meeting on February 23rd.
Wesley Bethel Church
The NTAC prepared a scope of work
and cost estimates for the interior and exterior renovation of the church
basement. The detailed cost estimates
included input from heating and cooling contractors.
|
Vendor |
Budget Category |
Amount |
|
Cathy Klump, Director |
Salary |
$3,166.67 |
|
Craig A. Miller, Design
Specialist |
Salary |
$2,915.00 |
|
LaTonya Webb, Community Planner |
Salary |
$2,666.67 |
|
U of I Benefits |
Benefits |
$1,860.82 |
|
C.L. Wicks |
Rent |
$750.00 |
|
Ameren UE |
Utilities |
$113.25 |
|
Illinois Power |
Utilities |
$90.27 |
|
|
TOTAL |
$11,562.68 |
* See attached time sheets.