NeighborWorks Great Falls

Street Address:
509 First Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59401-3604


Phone: 406-761-5861
Fax: 406-761-5852
Website: www.nwgf.org

Sheila Rice, Executive Director

Contact Name: Sheila Rice
Phone: 406-761-5861
Fax: 406-761-5852
Email: srice@nwgf.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 27    Part Time: 4

Background
NeighborWorks Great Falls was incorporated in 1980 as Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., of Great Falls. It was founded on the belief that a partnership among local residents, financial institutions, businesses and local government could stop neighborhood decline, promote reinvestment and restore pride and confidence in Original Townsite neighborhoods. NWGF has expanded to eight target neighborhoods, where the organization provides neighborhood revitalization services of rehabilitation and in-fill construction. Homebuyer education, lending programs and housing counseling are offered city-wide. In 2001, NWGF incorporated an affiliate, Montana HomeOwnership Network (MHN), a state-wide collaborative partnership that began with 14 service delivery partners, including eight Resource Conservation and Development Areas (of USDA), to provide homeownership services throughout Montana. Upon its incorporation Jan. 4, 1980, NWGF became a chartered member of the national organization now known as NeighborWorks America. MHN became a chartered member of NeighborWorks American on Aug. 29, 2006. MHN, now dba NeighborWorks Montana, partners with 27 on-the-ground service providers plus several government agencies and trade allies. It is a standalone NeighborWorks organization and has its own fact sheet. NHS kept its legal name but adopted the dba NeighborWorks Great Falls in January 2007.

Mission
To renew pride, restore confidence, promote reinvestment, provide affordable housing and revitalize the NeighborWorks neighborhoods through a partnership of local residents acting in concert with financial institutions, the business community, foundations, governmental and nonprofit agencies.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $1,363,436

 Lines of Business
  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management

  • Real Estate Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing
  • NeighborWorks Rural Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 222 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 3 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 60 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 0 rental units.
  • Invested $469,434 in the community through Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., of Great Falls's revolving loan fund, which leveraged $6,306,416 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $6,775,850.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    3/21/2007 Sheila Rice, Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Great Falls and the Montana HomeOwnership Network, recently received national recognition as Emerging Leader of the Year at the annual meeting of the National NeighborWorks Association (NNA) in Washington, D. C. Rice was chosen by her colleagues in NNA, the trade association of community development and housing professionals, as an outstanding leader who demonstrated innovative talent and dedicated commitment to the housing and community development industry. Rice’s work in restoring Great Falls neighborhoods and creating homeownership opportunities, coupled with her national work to increase resources available to local non-profit organizations, were recognized by the award. Her efforts throughout the state of Montana with Indian housing authorities, the Montana Board of Housing, financial institutions and local non-profits have created 3,660 homeowners in the past four years.

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Business/Merchant Relationship

  •  Clean-up Project

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Landscape and Neighborhood Beautification

  •  Leadership Training

  • Family Health Programs

  •  Christmas-Adopt a Family Program

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  •  IDA Savings Program

  •  Reverse Mortgage

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  •  Home Maintenance Training

  •  Home Safety and Security

  •  Lead Poison Prevention

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Center

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  HomeBuyers Club


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Russell BohamBoard MemberOtherLittle Shell Tribe 
    Linda DaggettBoard MemberResident  
    Jim DeaBoard MemberBusinessDahlquist RealtorsRealtor
    Brett DoneyBoard MemberLocal GovernmentGreat Falls Development Authority 
    Steve FeurtBoard TreasurerBusinessHeritage BankPresident
    Laura GoldhahnBoard Vice PresidentBusiness  
    Aaron HamiltonBoard MemberBusinessState Farm InsuranceOwner
    Judy HeldBoard MemberBusinessBenefis Health Care 
    Burt HurwitzBoard MemberBusinessChurch, Harris, Johnson, & Williams AttorneysAttorney
    John KoppelmanBoard SecretaryBusinessWells Fargo BankPresident
    Steve L'HeureuxBoard MemberResidentL'Heureux Pager Werner PCOwner
    Terry MillerBoard MemberResident  
    Cheryl NelsonBoard 2nd Vice PresidentBusinessStewart TitleManager
    Cheryl PattonBoard MemberLocal Government Assistant City Manager
    Jack ProtheroBoard PresidentResident  
    John RosenbaumBoard MemberLocal Government  
    Fritz SeitzBoard MemberResident  
    Frank ShawBoard MemberOther  
    Jim WeberBoard MemberResident  
    Ann WhittleseyBoard MemberResidentNeighborhood resident 

    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:  Rocky Mountain
    Name:  Josie Martinez-Littig
    Phone:  303-782-4805
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  303-782-5568
    Email:  jlittig@nw.org