CUED

Federal Priorities for Community Development:
Recommendation to the Clinton-Gore Administration

Memoranda detailing the recommendations for individual federal departments have been sent to the Clinton-Gore Transition team and the Secretary/Administrator Designate for each agency. The present report is being distributed to the Illinois Congressional delegation and all organizations which have participated in the process to use in their contacts with federal agencies and legislators.

The priorities listed here are based on the experience of hundreds of community organizations in housing, economic development, job training, and development policy. Implementation is crucial to the continuation of the essential work of these organizations and their counterparts nationwide.

Development from the bottom up: Community-based organizations are rooted in the needs and strengths of America's low-income communities. The proposed priorities will enhance the ability of organizations to promote self-help, responsibility, and indigenous leadership.

Ability to deliver: Over 2,000 community development organizations nationwide have developed 320,000 housing units and created or saved 90,000 jobs. Given the proper programs and tools, these organizations can expand their development role, provide essential services and help create vital neighborhoods.

Cooperative development: Community organizations have learned how to use precious public resources to leverage increased private investment. Partnerships between community organizations, governments, and the private sector now reach into thousands of poor communities nationwide.

While the participating organizations have their individual priorities, they all agree that rapid action on the items discussed here will be of great benefit to the residents and communities of Chicago.

This website is maintained by Cedric Williams, Manager System Services,
UIC-Center for Urban Economic Development