Untitled Document

Timeline

EPDC Timeline	Activities and Accomplishments
1985	• Ceola Davis of the Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, and a group of neighborhood men, women and youth, found EPDC to address the area’s social and economic decline.
1989	• State of Illinois recognizes EPDC as a non-profit corporation.
1990	• The Emerson Park Neighborhood Improvement plan is developed in partnership with the University of Illinois’ East St. Louis Action Research Project (ESLARP).
1991	• EPDC’s improvement plan wins a national planning award.
1992-1994	• EPDC’s Board of Directors undergoes capacity training. • EPDC partners with the East St. Louis Action Research Project (ESLARP). • Non-profit application is completed and grants are written, while more members are recruited to launch the non-profit organization once it receives designation. • EPDC focuses on neighborhood stabilization through clean-up projects of vacant lots and abandoned structures, land acquisition, demolition, clearing, and making absentee landlords responsible for their property.
1995	• EPDC is incorporated as a non-profit organization at the state and federal level.
1996	• Four new homes are constructed in partnership with the Neighborhood Based Family Housing Program. • Bi-State Development Agency, now known as Metro, agrees to change the MetroLink alignment to include “Park & Ride” station in Emerson Park.
1997	• East St. Louis Community Fund gives EPDC an operating cost grant. • Annie E. Casey Foundation assists EPDC in exploring the possibility of opening its own YouthBuild program. • Six owner-occupied units are completely rehabilitated through EPDC.
1998	• EPDC members renovate Cannady Park and develop a basketball court for neighborhood youth. • Talks begin with McCormack Baron Salazar to develop Parsons Place I. • EPDC assists 14 families in obtaining HOME funds for the rehabilitation of their homes. • EPDC certified as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) by CDBG Operations Corporation (City of East St. Louis).
1999	• EPDC develops its second neighborhood revitalization plan. • Parsons Place housing project, Phase I, is launched. • Emerson Park receives designation as a Sustainable Neighborhood by the Danforth Foundation. • Emerson Park is also designated as part of the Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone. • EPDC launches HUD’s Tomorrows Builders YouthBuild Program in East St. Louis.
2000	• EPDC is recognized in Focus St. Louis’ “What’s Right With The Region”. • YouthBuild participants build and frame all trusses, doorways and windows for 16 Habitat for Humanity houses. • National Neighborhood Coalition names EPDC as Neighborhood Leading the Way for Smart Growth, Better Neighborhood Initiative. • Ten YouthBuild participants successfully obtain their GED. • YouthBuild participants complete rehabilitation of two, low-income housing units in Emerson Park with assistance from the St. Louis RAMS Home Team.
2001	• EPDC wins HUD best practice award for YouthBuild. • EPDC hosts a ten-hour course on occupational safety and health administration for all YouthBuild participants. • CPR training, first aid training, drug tests and physical examinations given to all YouthBuild participants. • YouthBuild participants are given Illinois Department of Transportation’s “flagger” training. • Emerson Park MetroLink Station opens May 4, 2001. • Seven YouthBuild graduates obtain their GEDs and are placed in full time jobs in the construction industry. • EPDC constructs two new classrooms for the YouthBuild program. • Three-unit apartment building rehabilitated in Washington Park by YouthBuild. • EPDC certified as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) by St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department
2002	• Forty-two YouthBuild participants graduate with GEDs and are job-ready. • EPDC members assemble playground equipment for three neighborhood parks – Ceola Davis Park, Cannady Park and Parsons Park. • In partnership with McCormack Baron and Associates, EPDC completes Parsons Place Phase I. • Annual Smoke Out community barbecue is held for area residents, organization members and city officials. • EPDC purchases headquarters building at 1405 State Street from Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House. • Charter school opens. • Fresh Minds after-school program begins. • 3 Section 8 rental units rehabilitated by YouthBuild participants are leased and occupied by income qualified tenants. • Hallmark Cable Channel shoots a segment on EPDC for its show “Life Moments”. • Awarded the Outstanding Development of the Year Award by SWIDA for Parsons Place, Phase 1.
2003	• Funding for Parsons Place Phase II is secured and bid process begins. • YouthBuild grant is renewed for $700,000. • Emerson Park neighborhood is assigned two police officers through Weed and Seed and HUD support. • Organization undertakes partnership with C.F. Vatterott to begin River City Affordable Homes a 12- units, owner-occupied housing development project. • YouthBuild students begin rehabbing house on 51st street. • EPDC gets approved for $100,000 from Belleville’s Governor French Academy to purchase 24 new computers and PLATO literacy software. • YouthBuild Charter School creates Orr Weathers Community Space on eighth floor of Senior Housing Building. • EPDC members lobby to continue operations of recently burned down firehouse. Community wins effort and rehab on fire station begins. • New principal and program personnel are hired to staff the organization’s charter school. • EPDC is selected by the Nonprofit Services Consortium as one of 10 Metro East organizations to be involved in the “Building Capacity for Sustainability Initiative”, a program supported by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. • Christopher Lowell tapes a segment on EPDC for his “Do Gooders” show on the Discovery Channel.
2004	• Work on Parsons Place Phase II begins. • Tomorrows Builders YouthBuild Charter School and Charter Consultants are featured in Adventures in Charter School Creators.
2005	• 2005 Emerson Park Neighborhood Revitalization Plan is developed in collaboration with the East St. Louis Action Research Project • EPDC receives Star Performer Award from CDBG Operations Corporation for “Distinguished Service to the Community”. • Parsons Place Phase II is completed and lease up begins. • Ribbon cutting for the first three of the River City Place Houses is held. • EPDC survives its first year without HUD YouthBuild Funding.