LISC Announces John Moon as President of LISC Green, LLC

On October 17th, John Moon was named President of LISC Green LLC, a new affiliate that will spearhead LISC's Green House Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) activities and investments. John is tasked with implementing LISC's GGRF award as part of Power Forward Communities (PFC), a coalition that was awarded $2 billion from the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund.

“These resources will help expand affordable housing to address our national housing crisis, expand income and wealth-building to offset local economic challenges, and make our communities healthier and more resilient." - John Moon, President, LISC Green LLC

John previously served as senior vice president/sustainability philanthropy leader at Wells Fargo, where he focused on grants and investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support racial equity and advance economic opportunity. He previously helped drive community affairs strategies at both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Celebrating 10 Years of Community Connectors

In October, LISC launched its 10th year of the Community Connectors Training Institute and Network, a civic engagement and workforce development program which equips resident leaders with the skills for trauma sensitive and responsive community development, community organizing, cross-city strategies for neighborhood improvement, and project management best practices.

Community Connectors and Connector Managers from Impact Services Corporation, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM), New Kensington CDC, HopePHL, and HACE CDC completed a training series earlier this month, and on October 18th, we celebrated their graduation at the Community College of Philadelphia. The group is looking forward to reconnecting in the new year at monthly Think Tank Tuesdays for continued professional development, community building, and collaborative planning.

We were thrilled to be joined at graduation by Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who helped to create the Community Connectors program when she was a LISC program officer.

Preservation Network Fall Convening

On October 24th, the Preservation Network hosted its fall 2024 convening. Highlights included presentations from City of Philadelphia officials on local preservation initiatives, followed by presentations from Cicada Architecture and Community Ventures on their respective efforts to integrate energy efficiency into preservation projects. The capstone was a presentation from Michael Salgueiro, National Underwriter, LISC Green Projects, on lending opportunities available through LISC and Power Forward Communities as part of their $2 billion National Clean Investment Fund award. Loans can support the decarbonization of publicly assisted affordable rental housing properties, and are subsidized below market rate.

LISC Philadelphia invites commercial corridor managers from across the city to attend a two-part Corridor Management Advanced Training Series on November 15th and 22nd. 

This training series provides continued professional development for experienced corridor managers for improved service for their corridors, support their career stability and growth, and encourage peer-to-peer knowledge-building. The frameworks and tools participants explore will enhance their ability to act proactively, strategically, and within the values of their community. The series strives to equip corridor managers and their community organizations with resources to realize inclusive economic development in their corridor districts.

Ribbon Cutting at Arlene Thorpe Townhomes

In July, Women’s Community Revitalization Project celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Arlene Thorpe Townhomes in Grays Ferry, which offer 27 brand new deeply affordable homes. The development is named after Arlene Thorpe, who for over 30 years was a pillar of the King’s Village section of the South Philadelphia Grays Ferry neighborhood. LISC supported this project through a $500,000 predevelopment loan in 2021.

Governor Shapiro Announces New $10 Million Mixed-Used Development Program

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) announced the launch of the new $10 million PA Mixed-Use Housing Development pilot program to develop mixed-use projects with a residential housing component. DCED is accepting applications for the grant funding through December 6, 2024. 

The NeighborWorks Training Institute is returning to Philadelphia in 2025! As a member of the leadership committee, LISC will support NeighborWorks America, New Kensington CDC, HACE, and PACDC to bring together local partners and leverage the training institute for the benefit of the greater Philadelphia area. More than 1,500 practitioners from around the country will come to participate in 100 certificate courses and special workshops.

Save the date! After the success of last year's 2023 Partner Appreciation Celebration, we're ecstatic to announce our second annual event taking place on January 9th, 2025.  Join us as we honor and celebrate the work of our community-based partners, and express gratitude to our staff, Local Advisory Board members, and community development supporters from the philanthropic and public sectors. 

Thank you TD Bank, for your generous sponsorship!

Congratulations to Local Advisory Board Members Stephen Briggs and Bill Smith

On October 17th, esteemed LISC Local Advisory Board (LAB) members Stephen Briggs and Bill Smith were recognized at Entrepreneur Works's 35th Anniversary Celebration.  Stephen Briggs received the Empowerment Catalyst Award and Bill Smith accepted the Legacy Champion Award. Congratulations to Stephen and Bill for your contributions and dedication to supporting entrepreneurs over the years!

Grant Awards

LISC Philadelphia received $250,000 from PHFA - PHARE for the new Housing and Homeownership Acquisition Fund (HHAF), a citywide initiative to help CDCs and others to acquire and repair at-risk single-family houses, and then sell them at affordable prices to lower income homebuyers.

Wells Fargo's recent $100,000 grant will allow LISC and New Kensington CDC to support small businesses in Kensington.

We're also grateful to Citizens, Bank of America, PNC Foundation, JPMorganChase, and Verizon for recent program support.

LISC Philadelphia 2023 Annual Report

Thanks to our many funders and partners, we invested $19 million in Philadelphia in 2023, helping to create and preserve affordable housing, catalyze financial opportunity for individuals and businesses, and promote resident-driven community development.

We're Hiring!

LISC Philadelphia is seeking to hire an Assistant Program Officer to support its portfolio of affordable housing projects and programs in Philadelphia!