CommunityWorks Rhode Island

Street Address:
693 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02907


Phone: 401-273-2330
Fax: 401-272-7970
Website: communityworksri.org

Carrie M. Marsh, Executive Director

Contact Name: Carrie M Marsh
Phone: 401-273-2330
Fax:
Email: cmarsh@communityworksri.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 9    Part Time: 2

Background
Community Works Rhode Island is a community development corporation which recently formed from the merger of the Elmwood Foundation, and Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services. These organizations had a 30 year history in Providence’s South Side, and created a combined total of 1000 housing units and invested over $60 million dollars in the community.

Mission
We create opportunities for people within the neighborhoods we serve to live in affordable and healthy homes, to improve their lives and to strengthen their communities. We transform these underserved neighborhoods, rebuilding them to be more livable and sustainable. We work with people seeking stable, safe and affordable housing, especially low income residents, as well as business owners/employees and stakeholders in the communities we serve. For 30 years we have served the greater Elmwood neighborhood in Providence and we will continue a priority focus in this community. In addition we will explore opportunities to contribute to nearby underserved neighborhoods, to be determined following a market study.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $1,760,251

 Lines of Business
  • Asset and Property Management

  • Community Based Economic Development

  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Real Estate Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing
  • NeighborWorks Multifamily Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 0 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 13 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 1 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 119 rental units.
  • Invested $16,099 in the community through CommunityWorks Rhode Island's revolving loan fund, which leveraged $4,762,797 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $4,778,896.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    1/17/2001 Provided approximately 350 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling
    1/17/2001 Helped make more than 440 homes lead safe in the past seven years
    1/17/2001 Trained more than 100 persons for certification in lead abatement/construction related jobs
    1/17/2001 Invested more than $200,000 in commercial, micro business and residential loans over the past ten years; creating 74 micro businesses and 95 jobs; and training 400 persons to operate home businesses
    1/17/2001 Leveraged more than $2.5 million in new commercial investment as part of the SouthSide/Broad Street Project
    1/17/2001 Renovated 10,000 s.f. historic building that served as R.I.’s first Lead Safe Center
    4/24/2008 Completion of Adelaide Apartments- 10 properties consisting of 36 residential units. Total Development Cost 5.8 Million
    4/24/2008 Completion of Adelaide Homeowners- 5 properties totaling 11units consisting of 5 residential homeownership units and 6 residential rental units. Total development cost $2million.
    4/24/2008 51 Mitchell Street and 27 Whitmarsh Street-2 properties totaling 4 units consisting of two homeownership opportunites and two rental units.
    4/24/2008 Parkis Avenue Phase I- Three multi family dilapitated builings convertied into 16 condominiums to create a mixed income family friendly environment, which didn't previously exist. Total investment $4.5Million.
    4/24/2008 Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services exepted into the NeighborWorks America Community Building National Initiative for having a Community Building Department with dedicated resources, time and commitment to building a better community.

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Business/Merchant Relationship

  •  Clean-up Project

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Community Planning

  •  Landscape and Neighborhood Beautification

  •  Leadership Training

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  •  Neighborhood Festivals

  •  Small Business Development

  •  Tenant Organizing

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Disposition of Foreclosed Property

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  •  Renewable Energy Resources

  •  Sustainable Site Planning

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Rental Housing


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Michael AaronsonBoard Member  
    Vanessa BekkoucheBoard Member  
    Aarin ClemonsBoard Member  
    Aarin ClemonsBoard SecretaryResidentEntreprenuer 
    Delores De Los SantosBoard MemberLocal GovernmentRI Housing Resource Commission 
    Kas DeCarvalhoBoard Member  
    Anne GrantBoard Vice President  
    Chiv HengBoard MemberResidentProvidence Plan 
    Karen HughsBoard Member  
    Maryclaire KnightBoard PresidentOtherConsultantPresident
    Ardena Lee FlemingBoard Member  
    Evan MatthewsBoard Member  
    Stephanie O PrestonBoard TreasurerResidentBank RIBranch Manager
    George StamatakosBoard MemberLocal GovernmentProvidence PoliceLt of District 2
    Sally TurnerBoard Member  
    Michelle WilcoxBoard Secretary  

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  New England
    Name:  Frances Cinicola
    Phone:  617-585-5027
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  617-450-0427
    Email:  fcinicola@nw.org