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Strategic Vision For Change |
Empower New Haven, Inc. has a mission to facilitate or create processes and practice that provide sustainable measureable improvements in the economic status and quality of life of individuals, families and businesses within the Empowerment Zone communities. The Empowerment Zone provides direct support for sustainable economic development in six communities in New Haven including Dixwell, Dwight, Fair Haven, Hill, Newhallville and West Rock. Specific activities have been targeted toward the economic development of residents and businesses in the empowerment zone. Resident activities have focused on barrier removal, skills development and access to employment as a entrant and individual seeking advancement in the workforce. Addtionally, activities have targeted assest building for residents of the empowerment zone through homeownership to support the maintenance of a workforce within the community. Benchmarks have been approved and are in development for focused business development and expansion within the empowerment zone communities to increase the products and services available and provide some employment opportunities.
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Community Based Partnership |
The Empowerment Zone continues to operate with strong leadership from diverse sectors including the residents, non-profit sector businesses, private businesses, foundations and public officals. Empower New Haven, operates with two primary governance boards which overlap, the Program Council and the Board of Directors. The 30 member Program Council works as a whole and in committee to research, develop and review strategy which seeks to attain economic development goals. The Program Council makes recommendations to the 17 member Board for funding approval, which include 4 represenatives of that body. Corporate support continues to be provided by Yale University and United Illuminating. Other primary partners include the City of New Haven, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Workforce Board and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. This year Empower New Haven has developed contracts with over 13 different non profit and for profit groups who provide critical services to residents and/or businesses which support the economic development of the New Haven Communities.
As a result of our Health Benchmarking Project, The Enterprise Community has solidified a new partnership with Yale's School of Medicine to initiate a training model that enables community representatives and organizations to impact on the training of Yale's pediatric residents and in so doing improve the health and well-being of children in the community through program and advocacy initiatives specific to each of the six EC neighborhoods.
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Economic Opportunity |
Economic development remains the cornerstone for activity in the New Haven Empowerment Zone. This year a specific attention was given to the development of strategy to support the placement and retention of residents in employment. Specific benchmarks include Outreach, Job Readiness, Placement and Retention, Employer Assitance Program, Customized Training, 24/7 access to substance abuse treatment, Transportation, and a Construction Initiaitve.
Other efforts this year have been focused on business development for the creation, expansion and recruitment of businesses within and to the empowerment zone. Specific benchmarks include Business Services and Retention to provide consultation to businesses in the zone and a Brownfields Initiaitve to provide funds for remediation of sites within the zone communities.
The Empowerment zone has also been a key partner in the development of a strategy to meet the needs of inner city businesses. The strategy will provide a One Stop site within the city who will provide outreach to zone business and access to a range of services necessary for business growth in partnerhip with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the City of New Haven, the state of Connecticut and others.
Targeted efforts have been developed to match individuals with career opportunities in one of New Haven's growth industries, bioscience, in partnerhip with Gateway Community College, the Regional Workforce Board and others.
The Enterprise Community's Revolving Loan Fund contract has not yet been executed as we await guidance from HHS on national protocol to address the monitoring and restrictions on the " revolved" funds once the EC grant has terminated.
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Sustainable Community Development |
The Empowerment Zone desires to maintain a stable community of employees, therefore two intiaitives were approved to support closing and downpayment cost for residents who are employed and purchase in the Empowerment Zone.
The EC has purchased a second set of computers and printers for each of the six EC neighborhoods to facilitate outreach, communication and reporting requirments. Laptop computers have been made available for use by the Council co-Chairs and the Chairs of our four standing committees: Economic Development & Jobs,Strengthening Neighborhoods,Empowering Individuals and Families and Education Committees.
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Tax Incentive Utilization Plan |
Empower New Haven, Inc. in partnerhship with the Mayor of the City of New Haven and its economic development departments, the state of Connecticut Economic Development Organization, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and others each opportunity to meet with a business is used to share the full benefits of a zone location.
Empower New Haven has held two events to market the tax credits and support the growth of business in the Empowerment Zone. A event is in the planning stages with a local law firm to continue to market the tax benefits to a range of businesses. In addtion, through current outreach efforts and businesses services targeted support is given to businesses seeking use the tax benefits.
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Other Accomplishments |
The City of New Haven has extended its agreement with the State of Connecticut for the Enterprise Community to continue through June 30, 2002. It is anticipated that by then, all funds will be expended. Any and all fiscal reporting and monetary closeout requiremnents will be executed by the City's finance department and all programmatic reporting requirements are expected to become the responsibility of Empower New Haven Inc.
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