2008 Annual Report Executive Summary
Empowerment Alliance of SW Florida
The Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida is dedicated to building better lives through homeownership and education. Education and Job Training Outcome: Participants are prepared and trained for living wage jobs Indicators: An indicator of the measurement of
success in this area has been the number of barriers successfully removed so that participants can take part in these training programs.
The Alliance of Southwest Florida EC continued to make significant progress in 2008 as they assisted with affordable housing, and education and training. The EAS is seeing an increase in the need for foreclosure prevention counseling and has started providing this on a limited basis as well as providing homebuyer education counseling leading to housing rehabilitation and homeownership. In 2008, the EASF leveraged $3,182,259 in funding to provide programs and services and provided services to 388 individuals and families; between 1999 and 2008 the Empowerment Alliance leveraged a total of $37,841,423 in grants and loans into the Enterprise Community; provided homebuyer education for 259 individuals to educate them on the process of purchasing a home. Of those, 102 received one-on-one credit or homebuyer counseling, with 10 completing the process and purchasing a home; rehabilitated 11 homes; completed the 26-unit subdivision, Milagro Place; began infrastructure on an 18-unit subdivision and completed permitting for a new 60-unit subdivision; provided scholarships for 30 individuals to complete their vocational training, bringing the total served to 207; and provided one-on-one tutoring for 66 students. A total of 18 single-family units are planned for the subdivision which will be called Hatchers Preserve. The Alliance will also receive a Predevelopment Loan from the State of Florida in the amount of $374,000 for predevelopment expenses. A local architect has offered to donate his time to develop plans for this development, which also will meet ‘green’ requirements to receive state funding. A total of 60 single family units are anticipated in this development. Over the past two years, EASF has shifted its focus to housing as a means to sustain itself. Unfortunately, the housing market in Florida is not stable and foreclosed homes sell for far less than the amount for which a new home can be constructed. This will be a challenge for the Empowerment Alliance for the next few years until the housing market recovers. Currently, EASF is exploring other programs such as foreclosure prevention counseling, purchasing and reselling foreclosed homes, and general grant writing to help to increase revenues until the housing market improves.