Travois New Markets, a nationally certified Community Development Entity (CDE) based in Kansas City, is a semi-finalist for the National Development Council (NDC) Academy 2013 Awards for its New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) project with the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska — Winnebago Educare. The project is one of six semi-finalists in the creative financing category. Projects were submitted by community economic development organizations across the country.
Winnebago Educare is the first Educare in a Native American community and will provide critical early childhood education to members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Educare is a comprehensive early childhood education program that helps children from low-income families close the educational achievement gap. NMTC financing was provided by Travois New Markets and Chase Community Development Banking. Additional funding was provided by several private funders, including the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, an Omaha-based organization that invests in public education where America is most under-invested: the first five years of life, which are the first five years of learning. The project is expected to create 59 full time jobs, 73 construction jobs and will serve 191 students and families.
“The Winnebago Tribe and Buffett Early Childhood Fund have used Travois’ assistance to do an amazing thing,” said Phil Glynn, vice president of economic development. “Travois is proud to have played a role in the development of Indian Country’s first Educare Center.”
Voting for the NDC Academy Awards will take place at the fifth biennial NDC Academy. The NDC Academy is a three-day training and networking event that will take place April 16-18 at the Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C., that brings together professionals in economic and housing development from all over the nation. The Academy’s theme is “Delivering Community Results in Difficult Times . . . More Important than Ever.” The focus will be on the latest financing tools and techniques used by industry professionals. Topics include federal financing tools, rural community development, job creation and wealth building, using tax exempt bonds to support community revitalization and more.
The NDC Academy 2013 Awards is a special feature of the Academy, which allows attendees to learn about innovative community development projects from the people who made them happen, and celebrate the important work done in underserved communities throughout the country. NDC has selected six projects in each category that exemplify work in creative financing, job creation, housing development and community development. Voting will take place during the Academy sessions, and attendees will be given the opportunity to vote for the project they believe to be most impactful. One project in each category will be awarded the top honor at an Academy 2013 Awards luncheon on Thursday, April 18. The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be the featured speaker at the luncheon.
“Response to the call for projects this year was overwhelming, and the quality of projects and work done to improve communities across the nation are truly impressive,” said Robert W. Davenport, President of NDC. “Congratulations to all of our semi-finalists. We are looking forward to the learning more about their projects at the academy.”
About NDC
The National Development Council is one of the oldest national non-profit community and economic development organizations in the U.S. It was founded in 1969 with one purpose: increasing the flow of capital for investment, jobs and community development to under served urban and rural areas across the country. Since that time, NDC has worked with thousands of communities in every one of the 50 states and Puerto Rico, providing technical assistance, professional training, investment in affordable housing, small business financing and direct developer services. Our work has taken many forms, but we have kept pace with the needs of our constituents, adding new programs and services or updating old ones. More information at nationaldevelopmentcouncil.org
About Travois
Travois New Markets, a nationally certified Community Development Entity (CDE), is dedicated exclusively to meeting the economic development needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in low income communities. Travois New Markets has invested a total of $180 million in New Markets Tax Credits from three allocations, which it received from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Private investor equity of nearly $50 million generated from these tax credits has helped finance infrastructure, health care, community centers, education facilities and other businesses. The Travois family of companies raises capital for housing and economic development in Indian Country and provides educational, environmental, architectural and asset management services. For more information, visit www.travois.com.