2016 has been a year of highs and lows.
Thanks to you and our hardworking staff, Travois has much to celebrate as we look back on our shared accomplishments this year. We received a $50 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation for economic development in Indian Country thanks to the efforts of our tribal advisory board, we won Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) to build or rehabilitate more than $92 million worth of housing, including the first tribal LIHTC project in Nevada, and we hired several very impressive new employees, including Marzha Fritzler (see more here)!
This year also was one of great change for me personally. Many of you know my father, David Bland, and my mother, Marianne Roos. Together they founded Travois more than 21 years ago. They decided to enjoy more time with their grandchildren and traveling around the world and both retired this year. Their example of compassionate leadership is one I aspire to follow as the CEO of Travois.
The last two months of the year, though, have made me feel bewildered and uncertain about what the future may hold. The unexpected results of the 2016 presidential election and the very real chance of tax reform (as I explained earlier this year here) have created turmoil in the tax credit investment world which results in less money for your tax credit projects. The announcement of Dr. Ben Carson, someone with no industry experience and who has spoken out against fair housing, as the nominee for HUD secretary is a scary thought for many of us. And, unfortunately, NAHASDA has still not been reauthorized, more than three years after it expired.
At Travois, we strive to help you do more than just the day to day of your developments. We also work hard throughout the year to keep you up to date on the critical issues of the various funding programs that are key to our shared success.
We will continue to provide you with information for you to advocate for these vital funding programs. We created a video (check it out here) to provide you with a quick and easy way to explain the LIHTC program to your stakeholders and, hopefully, get you the commitment you need to create real change in your communities.
We work hard to stay on top of the details, but we never lose sight of what this is all about —providing economic opportunities and homes for your tribal members.
We begin 2017 with significant concerns about what lies ahead. One thing I am certain of, however, is that together we will work hard and fight for the funding programs and priorities that are vital to Indian Country.
Happy holidays from our family to yours.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Glynn
CEO