Your Monthly Update
from the Community Development Partnership
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A Word from Jay...
This issue of our monthly E-news contains a wonderful story about the Reyes Cruz Family and their journey to achieving homeownership after living in one of the CDP’s affordable rental units. We need more stories like this with such happy endings. Unfortunately, the availability of affordable homeownership opportunities on the Lower Cape is even more challenging to find than affordable rentals.
Our Lower Cape communities have few tools at our disposal to create affordable homeownership units – deed-restricted homes that are affordable to residents with incomes below 80% of AMI (Area Median Income). Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has built over 180 affordable homes with the help of volunteers, town donated land and generous donors. However, there is no State funding to build affordable home ownership projects on the Lower Cape. The Town of Provincetown has created more than a dozen units through its inclusionary zoning by-law.
One of our policy priorities is to advocate that state subsidy funding be made available to all regions of the Commonwealth. A second policy priority is to encourage Lower Cape Towns to adopt inclusionary zoning similar to what has been in place in Provincetown and what was recently adopted in Eastham. Inclusionary zoning requires developers of market-rate housing to build a certain percentage of the units as deed-restricted affordable. Inclusionary zoning creates affordable housing that is subsidized by the market instead of government funding.
If you are interested in learning more about affordable home ownership and inclusionary zoning, please contact us. And join me in congratulating the Reyes Cruz Family on their new home!
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Jay Coburn
President & Chief Executive Officer
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Supporting Local Business |
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The CDP Helps Fishermen’s Cooperative Outfit Commercial Kitchen |
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“We needed that certification in order to sell our value-added products, and thanks to the CDP we were able to get it at no cost.”
–Brett Tolley, Board member, Chatham Harvesters Cooperative
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The commercial fishing industry is a significant part of life on the Lower and Outer Cape, both economically and culturally. According to a report by the Division of Marine Fisheries, in 2018, Chatham was the third most valuable port town in the state, behind only Gloucester and New Bedford. The Community Development Partnership has a long history of supporting local fishermen. When the Chatham Harvesters Cooperative needed funding to outfit their commercial kitchen, they knew the CDP would be a good partner.
The Chatham Harvesters Cooperative was formed in 2016. A group of local fishermen wanted to have more control over what happened with their catches. And, they wanted to connect residents directly with locally caught seafood. “A lot of people might not realize that most of what is caught by local fishermen is shipped to off Cape processors and distributors. Most of the fish you can purchase here isn’t local,” says Brett Tolley, Board member of the Cooperative.
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The CDP’s Affordable Rental Allows a Local Family
to Save for Homeownership
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“We are so grateful for the help we received from the Community Development Partnership. They provided support when we needed it immediately, and gave us the opportunity to save money and purchase our home when the opportunity presented itself.”
–Arelis Cruz, Former CDP Resident
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In a given year, the houses and apartments managed by the Community Development Partnership provide a safe, stable, and affordable place to live for over 200 residents. For some residents, this provides the opportunity to save money for a down payment, and eventually a bridge to homeownership. In the fall of 2022, local resident Arelis Cruz and her family became homeowners thanks to the CDP’s affordable rental housing and the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program.
Arelis and her husband Alfred Reyes were both born and raised in Puerto Rico. It is where they started their family and where they hoped to raise their kids. But, when Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017, the family was left with few opportunities at home. “We lost almost everything we owned and had no resources available. We knew we would probably have to leave.”
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Supporter Spotlight: Gail Sullivan |
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“It is about seeing people as whole beings, in need of housing, community, employment and recreation. This is critical in creating communities that are sustainable and viable in the long term.”
–Gail Sullivan, Managing Principal, Studio G Architects
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For Studio G Architects founder Gail Sullivan, community comes first. The firm’s vision is to build sustainable communities that encompass environmental, economic, and social sustainability. With the company’s philosophy so like the Community Development Partnership’s, it is no surprise she connected to the CDP’s mission.
Gail started her career in social services working with women who were victims of domestic violence. One of her key takeaways from this time was that many women return to abusive relationships because there is no affordable place for them to go. This is one of the driving factors that lead to Studio G’s community and people-centric mission.
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Nominations are open for our Annual Awards |
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Each year, the Community Development Partnership presents two awards to distinguished members of our community — the Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service and the Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. We are currently seeking nominations from the community for both awards. You can access both nomination forms on our website.
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The Gwen Pelletier Award
The Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service was created to honor former longtime Executive Director, Gwen Pelletier for her years of service to the Lower Cape Community. It recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations for their involvement and support for maintaining the economic diversity of the Lower Cape.
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2022 award recipients Alan and Fran McClennen |
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The Norm Edinberg Award
The Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship was created to honor former longtime CDP Board Member, Norm Edinberg for his years of service to the CDP and supporting small business development on the Lower Cape. The Award recognizes an established Lower Cape business owner who has utilized CDP business and credit services, and who has an established community connection through social responsibility, environmental sustainability, volunteer time or financial contributions.
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2022 award recipient Chequesset Chocolate |
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We are in search of two talented and committed professionals interested in helping us build a diverse year-round community of people who can afford to live, work and thrive on the Lower Cape.
Chief Advancement Officer
The Chief Advancement Officer will successfully lead and implement an integrated development, marketing, and communications strategy that raises the organization’s visibility and secures a diverse and sustainable revenue portfolio to support the CDP’s program growth and strategic goals.
This position manages and leads all major gift, direct mail, and event sponsorship functions currently raising $750K annually. It also identifies and pursues opportunities to build new revenue streams such as principal gifts, planned giving, donor and foundation prospecting and research, and special one- or multi-year fundraising campaigns.
The Chief Advancement Officer is a member of the organization’s senior management team and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. The successful candidate will have the support of a full-time administrative staff position, consultants, and a Board Development Committee.
Comptroller - Director of Finance
The Comptroller is a member of the organization’s Finance & Administration Team and reports directly to the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer. They have overall responsibility for all accounting tasks related to monthly account reconciliations and analysis and play a key role in supporting the organization’s program staff in order that the organization’s mission can be achieved.
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Check out the Lower Cape Housing and ADU Resource Center |
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Join us for a free virtual information session on February 15th from 10:30 - 11:30 AM. Learn more about the services offered by the Lower Cape Housing & ADU Resource Center and see if building an Accessory Dwelling Unit is right for you.
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Free Small Business Assistance
The CDP's Business & Credit program team is available for one-on-one technical assistance. Get the resources you need to make the most of the upcoming off-season.
Small Business Technical Assistance is available:
- Remotely via phone or video conference
- In-person at the Provincetown Commons, The 204 (Harwich Cultural Center), and Chatham Works
Click the link below to schedule a 30 or 60-minute appointment!
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Follow the CDP on Social Media |
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Additional Resources for Businesses |
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If you or someone you know is interested in receiving monthly updates from our Business and Credit Program, please sign up for our Inside Scoop. We'll send you useful tips targeted to small businesses.
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