On January 16, the Independent Cities Financing Authority (ICFA) sponsored the half day seminar “Housing Programs That Work in the Post-Redevelopment World” at the Luminarias in Monterey Park. The Seminar featured several distinguished speakers covering topics including mobile park home financing, single-family home ownership and affordable housing strategies. “It was wonderful to see so many of our associates together in one space,” said ICFA Program Administrator Debbie Smith. “It was a unique opportunity to gather great minds and discuss what options are available to the professionals in our industry now that redevelopment has been dissolved. I’m very grateful to our presenters for bringing their ideas.”
After the 2011 passage of AB 26 and AB 27 and the subsequent State Supreme Court decision effectively ending redevelopment agencies, cities found a significant source of funding severed while community demand for such projects was growing in a time of economic fragility. “With the elimination of redevelopment, cities need alternative tools to fuel economic development. ICFA is one of those tools. By providing efficient alternative financing to infrastructure and capital assets that benefit communities, ICFA can be a partner with local governments in their economic development plans. Today’s seminar is focused on a key issue: continuing affordable housing projects. ICFA is taking the lead in bringing city staff and elected official together to innovate city housing programs.” said ICFA President Mike McCormick.
Featured presenters included Pam Newcomb and Janees Williams of the Newcomb De Dios Financial Group, George Turk of Millennium Housing, Vaughn Irons and Chapman Walsh of APD Solutions, John Raymond of the City of Palm Springs, Matt Duke of Avant Strategic Partners, Ryan Warburton, Fredrick Olsen and Preston Olsen of Ballard Spahr, Matt Callahan of Civic Center Home Loans, Walter Zhovreboff of First Home Inc, and Remoun Said of ReNew Real Estate Sales.
“This Seminar shows that those of us that work in the municipal world need to do a better job of sharing ideas that work” said Wesley Wolf, former city administrator and owner of Wolf and Company. The Seminar was followed by a lunch reception where attendees and speakers networked discussed the solutions presented in the Seminars.
Click here to view photos of the event. To learn more about ICFA visit their website at http://www.icfauthority.org
