Rebecca
Condon, Empire Zone Coordinator, Diane Pintagro, Chautauqua
Microenterprise Loan Fund Coordinator,
Roberta Keller, Executive Director, and
Jack Quinn, U.S. Representative. |
Jean Berry,
Homeownership Coordinator, Roberta Keller, Executive Director, Jack
Quinn, U.S. Representative |
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U.S. Representative Jack Quinn
visited Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. (COI) recently to recognize two new developments within the agency.Chautauqua Opportunities for Development (CODI), an affiliate
corporation of COI, was recently designated a Community Development
Financial Institution (CDFI).
As a CDFI entity, COI will be
able to expand its lending ability to low-income people for a
variety of needs.This
designation will also facilitate a broader range of investors to
partner with the organization, and will allow COI to offer financial
services to the community.
In addition to the CDFI
designation, Quinn also recognized the recent grant award of nearly
$50,000 to COI’s homeownership program.
Mike Yerico, COI’s Director of
Housing & Community Services, expressed his gratitude for the
funding. “We are delighted to receive the $49,853 grant. It is an
increase of almost $28,000 over last year’s grant the second
highest award in the state. We greatly appreciate HUD’s continued
support of COI’s Housing Counseling Program. The financial
assistance HUD provides is instrumental for us in achieving our
program’s goals.”
The HUD grant along with funding
from the City of Jamestown CDBG, Jamestown Housing Authority, HSBC
Bank USA, the Federal Home Loan Bank and other lending institutions
along with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation enable COI to
provide countywide HUD Certified Counseling Services.
The overall goal of the
program is to help low and middle-income families with the
information, instruction, and skills to aid them in learning to
control their finances by developing budgets and setting realistic
financial goals. Families are alerted to the concept of predatory
lending, thus avoiding the pitfalls of easy credit and poor
financial decision-making. If achieved, many of these families have
the potential to become eligible homeowners.
County Executive Mark
Thomas, Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey, and Councilman-at-Large James
Muscato also joined Congressman Quinn in recognizing COI’s
accomplishments.
To obtain additional information
about COI’s services, contact the Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.
Jamestown office at 661-9430 or its Dunkirk office at 366-3333,
Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit our website at
www.chautauquaopportunities.com.
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