NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont FundAssets Team ConferenceMain Library, Jacksonville, FLOctober 28-30, 2008

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

What we set out to do… Continue the team & add additional

members Narrow our geographic focus Prioritize the issues we identified at

Airlie

- Education for Employment/Charter Schools

- Affordable Housing/Affordable Rentals- Earned Income Tax Credits- Leadership Training

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

Our goals now are…

Determine the definition of and level of need for Affordable/Workforce/Elderly Housing

Launch “Education and Leadership for Strong Employment” initiative

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

What changed?

Let’s focus on one or two issues where we can make a difference and do it well

Education and Leadership are interwoven

An EITC program already exists Workforce housing is critical to the

quality of life in our community

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

Strategies pursued

Divided the team into two focus areas – Northern Neck Housing Study Group and Education Group

Expanded our thinking beyond the group that went to Airlie by including gov’t, business, education in the mix

Used outside, independent, knowledgeable resources to verify our “intuition”

Didn’t create a new organization but supported/motivated existing groups

Got the broader community behind us and excited about the issues

- Housing Summit Spring 2007- Marketing focus on education

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

How we’re organized… Core team meets periodically –

“informal” organization; sub-groups to address specific issues

Involved: Business community Local Government Private funders Education Churches Retirees

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

Signs of progress

Housing Held “Housing Summit” in Spring 2007 Funded RFP and signed contract for a

comprehensive housing study for 4 counties of the Northern Neck

Education and Leadership Introduced concept of a Leadership

Academy for business, gov’t, and education employees, gaining business and school support.

Inventoried community outreach activities in local schools

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

Challenges

No support staff – everyone is busy No “go-to” entity to make things

happen (Jessie Ball duPont Fund may play that role)

Demographics – wealthy/poor; old/young; rural and large geographic area

Unsure of Jessie Ball duPont Fund’s expectations

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

Looking ahead

Continued exposure to models/best practices that Jessie Ball duPont Fund has seen

Exposure to experts and successful programs from other national funders

Information on other projects Jessie Ball duPont Fund is funding in our area

Skills to have gov’t, business, churches, non-profits work collaboratively

Information on the need for bricks & mortar funding

NORTHERN NECK

Jessie Ball duPont Fund Assets Team Conference October 28-30, 2008

Anticipated next steps

Housing issues have been defined, and projects are being implemented as a result of the actionable data the Housing Study Group has provided the community

The first Leadership Academy Class has been nominated and programs are underway, resulting in increased involvement in the community by young professionals from all sectors

A marketing plan to get the entire community behind quality education has been developed, approved, and launched

NORTHERN NECK