Press Releases

LOWELL, MA - Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced $827,000 in federal funding to three NeighborWorks network organizations in Massachusetts’ Third District. The organizations are listed as follows: Coalition for a Better Acre in Lowell will receive $220,000, NewVue Communities in Fitchburg will receive $300,000, and Lawrence CommunityWorks will receive $307,000. 

“I am thrilled that the Coalition for a Better Acre, NewVue Communities, and Lawrence CommunityWorks are recipients of NeighborWorks funding this year,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “These three organizations provide critical support to their communities and are actively working to keep families healthy and housed during these challenging times. Strengthening our community-based partners is more important than ever as we continue to navigate this pandemic, and I am proud to see these outstanding organizations receive this critical support.” 

The funding will support efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods, and create jobs in Massachusetts. All three organizations are part of the national NeighborWorks America network. NeighborWorks America is a nonprofit organization, established by Congress in 1978 as the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (Public Law 95-557). For over 40 years, NeighborWorks America has supported local solutions to community development and affordable housing challenges in urban, suburban and rural communities by providing organizations with financial support, training, technical assistance, organizational assessments, technology tools and other services.

“Coalition for a Better Acre is honored to receive NeighborWorks of America’s support alongside all manner of housing advocates from across the U.S. Throughout its existence, Coalition for a Better Acre has responded to community need, and in 2021 these needs are resounding due to COVID-19. Funding from NeighborWorks’ not only supports our workforce training, financial education, and youth programs in Lowell, but allows us to engage deeply with our neighbors to promote health, grassroots leadership, and racial equity,” said Yun-Ju Choi, Coalition for a Better Acre’s Executive Director. 

“NewVue Communities thanks Congresswoman Trahan for her support for NeighborWorks America and NewVue Communities,” said Marc Dohan, Executive Director of NewVue Communities. “This has been a very difficult year for many residents of our community.  This flexible funding from NeighborWorks America will allow NewVue to help residents overcome the financial challenges of the pandemic, stay in their homes, and help struggling small businesses survive.” 

“Lawrence CommunityWorks (LCW) remains deeply committed to our membership in the NeighborWorks America network, and grateful for the crucial assistance it has consistently provided to bolster our vision of family economic mobility for Lawrence residents,” said Jessica Andors, Executive Director of Lawrence CommunityWorks. “Over the last year, NeighborWorks’ thoughtfulness and flexibility allowed us to pivot our efforts quickly, and respond to the urgent needs of the community generated by the local health and economic fallout from COVID-19. This funding, and Congresswoman Trahan’s legislative leadership and advocacy, directly supports LCW’s continued goal of providing immediate relief while building long-term resilience for Lawrence families.” 

Background: 

This federal funding is available as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which became law in December 2020. Congresswoman Trahan supported investments in local communities as a part of this legislation. The Consolidated Appropriations Act allowed for NeighborWorks America to award more than $74 million in flexible grants to 239 nonprofit organizations. For more information about NeighborWorks America please visit http://www.neighborworks.org/About-Us. To learn more about the network organizations in Massachusetts, please see the network directory: http://www.neighborworks.org/Our-Network/Network-Directory. 

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