Baltimore Integration Partnership Update - September 2013

Governor O’Malley Issues Executive Order to Promote Workforce Development and Community Hiring
As part of the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s ongoing focus on job training, Governor Martin O’Malley has issued an Executive Order directing State agencies to promote apprenticeship programs and encourage hiring in priority areas. Many thanks to the Governor’s Office for their ongoing leadership in workforce development. This Executive Order comes in the midst of the state’s efforts roll out the new EARN grant program to support job training. Press Release/Executive Order

Regional Plan For Sustainable Development moves forward; TRF part of selected consultant team.
The Opportunity Collaborative, hosted by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, announced that it has selected GCR, a New Orleans based consulting firm that is teaming with The Reinvestment Fund, and Hodges Development, LLC to craft a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD). The plan will incorporate workforce, housing and transportation elements and represents a significant joint and sustained effort by the governments and significant non-governmental organizations in the region to collectively address regional planning issues. More on the RPSD

Development Projects Continue to Move Forward
Area reinvestment projects, driven by a range of BIP partners, continue to move forward in Baltimore fostering new energy and investments. Earlier this summer, the Chesapeake Restaurant opened creating more than 40 new jobs for area residents.BIP partners assisted with hiring which was supplemented with a grant to help train new employees. Phase 1D of New Barclay Homes is also moving forward. This TRF and Healthy Neighborhoods financed phase features 15 rehabbed homeownership units and began construction this summer. On the other side of Central Baltimore, Seawall Development is finishing work on 10 new for sale homes with construction financing from TRF. All the homes are sold or under contract. All told over the past 2 and half years, TRF has helped finance 12 projects which will yield $136 million in new investment when completed.

BIP in the News
A few of our projects, partners, and colleagues have made the news lately. Below are a few key articles:

• "Food stamp rise belies economic recovery,” 9/20 - USA Today
• "Md. must make sure transit investments create jobs here” Op-Ed 9/18 – Baltimore Sun
• "Put Baltimore Back to Work” Op-Ed 9/1 Baltimore Sun
• "Chesapeake Restaurant's revival shows power of partnerships” 8/13 Baltimore Business Journal

Request for Proposals – Demonstration Projects
A second and final round of funding for demonstration projects is available through the Opportunity Collaborative new RFP. The prior round supported several key projects by BIP partners including the Last Mile Initiative by Central Maryland Transportation Alliance examining gaps in access via public transportation to jobs in three key areas. It also supported Central Baltimore Partnership’s work linked to the Homewood Community Partners Initiative. More information on the RFP including the approaching deadlines can be found here.

Redefining the Rust Belt
The Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond, Cleveland, Chicago and Philadelphia, partnering with the Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities and the National League of Cities, will be hosting the second in a series of mini-conversations entitled "Redefining the Rust Belt: An Exchange of Strategies by the Cities of Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.” The next event, hosted by Cleveland, is scheduled for October 25^thfrom 8 a.m. to Noon. For Baltimore registrations, please visit: http://www.cvent.com/d/s4qngw

The BIP 2.5 Year Impact
Below is a brief snap shot on BIP investment and hiring activities to date:

• Total development projects financed: 12
• Projects in Pipeline: 4
• New Leveraged Investment: $136 million
• Job Training Opportunities: 384
• Total Job Placements (projects, training orgs, and workforce access points): 699 and counting

BIP Moving Towards 2.0
The BIP’s initial round of work is drawing to a close. Through the leadership of our partners, an amazing array of project and system related outcomes have been achieved. We are in the midst of moving towards a potential second round of work that will continue to advance economic inclusion approaches in Baltimore. More details will be forthcoming.

Maryland Philanthropy Network Project, The Baltimore Integration Partnership (BIP) is a collaborative effort to expand opportunities for low-income residents and communities in Baltimore by unifying job opportunities with revitalization investment.