Enterprise Community Partners Inc. (Enterprise) has announced the 2024 recipients of the USVI Housing
Ecosystem Development Grants Program. Launched in 2023, the program provides funding, training and technical assistance to support organizations in the U.S. Virgin Islands providing affordable housing for residents.
Enterprise will host a community roundtable event on Aug. 20 (more event details below) to recognize the 2024 grantees and inform attendees about challenges and opportunities related to affordable housing development in the territory. The USVI Housing Ecosystem Development Grants program is made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY).
2024 Grant Recipients
This year’s USVI Housing Ecosystem Development Grant winners represent all three major islands in the USVI (St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John) and will each receive a grant of up to $100,000, along with training and networking programs to expand organizational capacity and support the development of more affordable homes in the territory. The selected grantees are:
340 Integrated Project Team: A St. Croix-based community development organization focused on construction design, build management and training.
AC Development LCC: A developer serving the St. Thomas community.
Love City Strong: A nonprofit organization serving the residents of St. John
Our Town Frederiksted Inc.: A nonprofit organization serving the Frederiksted community on St. Croix.
Event Details and Registration
Enterprise and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York invite developers, community leaders, and members of the public to the Housing Our Community event on St. Thomas, USVI. This event will provide an opportunity to learn about the funded projects and network with key stakeholders in the housing sector.
Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 2-5 p.m. (AST)
Location: The Westin at Frenchman’s Reef, 5 Estate Bakkeroe, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802
Registration: The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Please register by clicking here.
Since 2017, Enterprise has actively supported housing recovery and resilience efforts in the USVI. The organization’s central focus is on empowering community-based organizations, supporting community development and promoting resilience goals. This focus is crucial to the islands, especially as they continue their recovery from the devastating 2017 Category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria.
While the Virgin Islands government largely handles affordable housing, encouraging more private engagement in local housing and community development efforts can help address the significant need remaining for affordable homes. With the help of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s grant, Enterprise will provide funding, training and other assistance to strengthen these local organizations, enabling them to offer more much-needed affordable housing for residents.
“The Enterprise team is extremely excited to launch the second grantee cohort under the USVI Housing Ecosystem Development Program,” said Jelani Newton, senior director of Advisors at Enterprise Community Partner. “We are thankful to FHLBNY for the ongoing partnership and support, and we are greatly appreciative of the amazing partners in the U.S. Virgin Islands working every day to serve our community.”
“The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York is thrilled with the success of the Housing Ecosystem Development Program and looking forward to the positive impact this year’s grant recipients will continue to make in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said José R. González, president and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. “We congratulate Enterprise Community Partners on this effort and thank Enterprise for continuing to focus on creating more avenues to the creation of affordable housing.”
