Clearinghouse CDFI Chief Production Officer Brian Maddox served on the City committee responsible for securing this designation
Henderson, NV – May 17, 2016 – The city of Henderson, Nevada has been selected by Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to take part in the new Invest Health initiative, an innovative 18-month program. Invest Health aims to transform leadership in mid-size American cities by encouraging city leaders to work together to assist low-income communities. Each of the 50 winning cities will be awarded a $60,000 grant to kick start the implementation of several health initiatives. These initiatives will promote wellbeing by increasing safe and affordable housing, providing places to play and exercise, and creating quality jobs. Clearinghouse CDFI’s Chief Production Officer, Brian Maddox, served on Henderson’s city-appointed committee that prepared the application.
Henderson was selected as one of 50 finalists from more than 180 teams that applied to the initiative. Cities with populations between 50,000 and 400,000 were asked to form five-member application teams. These teams included representatives from the public sector, community development, and an academic or health-related anchor institution. Maddox served on Henderson’s team as the community development representative.
“It is an honor to serve as a team member with the City of Henderson. It is the perfect intersect between my professional and personal life, as a practitioner of community development at Clearinghouse CDFI and as a resident of the City of Henderson,” said Maddox. “Our goal is to bring about transformational change for a healthier Henderson,” he added.
Mid-size American cities face some of the nation’s deepest challenges with poverty, poor health, and a lack of investment. Invest Health will harness the economic potential of these cities, and address common drivers of health, including jobs, housing, education, community safety, and environmental conditions.
“With a long history in community development finance, we are excited to help create a pipeline to channel capital into low-income communities through public and private investments,” said Amanda High, Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Reinvestment Fund. “Our goal is to transform how cities approach tough challenges, share lessons learned, and spur creative collaboration.”
Henderson’s projects will explore a broad range of ideas, from creating mixed-use and mixed-income housing, to community gardens in connection with local elementary schools. Project teams will travel to Philadelphia for a kick-off meeting on June 7th and will meet regularly to share lessons learned throughout the 18-month project. The program will connect teams to a community of highly skilled faculty advisors and coaches who will guide their efforts toward improved health.
“Public officials, community developers, and many others have been working in low-income neighborhoods for years, but they haven’t always worked together,” said Donald Schwarz, MD, MPH, MBA, Vice President, Program at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Invest Health aims to align their work and help neighborhoods thrive by intentionally incorporating health into community development.”
A full list of awardees and more information is available at www.investhealth.org.
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About Reinvestment Fund
Reinvestment Fund is a catalyst for change in low-income communities. We integrate data, policy and strategic investments to improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods. Using analytical and financial tools, we bring high-quality grocery stores, affordable housing, schools and health centers to the communities that need better access—creating anchors that attract investment over the long term and help families lead healthier, more productive lives. Learn more at reinvestment.com.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.
About Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution
Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (Clearinghouse CDFI) addresses unmet credit needs in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Sovereign Nations in the Western United States. Rated ‘AA’ Stable by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Clearinghouse CDFI is an industry leader helping to bridge the gap between conventional lending standards and the needs of low-income and distressed communities. Over the course of 19 years, Clearinghouse CDFI has funded $1.2 billion in total loans for over 1,650 projects which have created or retained more than 13,800 jobs and benefit over 1 million individuals. Clearinghouse CDFI is also a B Corp—a certification received from the nonprofit B Lab. B Corps are companies who meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and use business as a force for good. Currently, Clearinghouse CDFI has over $270 million in assets. More information is available at: www.clearinghousecdfi.com.
Media Contact:
Ron Demeter, Partner
Vectis Strategies on behalf of Clearinghouse CDFI
Phone: 310-614-1059
Email: rdemeter@vectisstrategies.com
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