State Farm-LISC Spirit of Revitalization Award Finalists

Recognizing Community Groups Implementing Economic Change

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping nonprofit community development organizations transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice. Encouraging investments on commercial corridors is a key component of this work. Urban Forum 2008 gives LISC an opportunity to honor those community development practitioners, community groups, and leaders who have helped to change the economic landscape of their community.

We have selected finalists from three different categories, Community Leadership, Development, and Place-making. All of the finalists have displayed innovative economic development strategies. Take a moment to read through the Commercial Advisor and learn about a few economic development trailblazers. The winners were announced on April 29th at Urban Forum. The winners of each category are as follows:

Community Leadership Category:

Cristy Johnston, Executive Director, Excelsior Action Group, San Francisco, CA
As Executive Director of the Excelsior Action Group (EAG), Cristy Johnson has provided consistent leadership and played a key role in organizing local stakeholders and garnering significant outside resources for her community. In the past three years, Cristy's leadership and forged partnerships have proved instrumental in attracting 71 new businesses and 156 new jobs to the neighborhood. She is also the lead organizer for the annual Excelsior Festival, now in its fifth year, which attracts between 8,000-10,000 people annually to the neighborhood. EAG's activities are credited with helping increase customer sales and strengthen local businesses.

Development Category:

The Unity Council - Fruitvale Public Market, Oakland, CA
The Fruitvale Public Market Incubator project is a 7,000 square foot indoor/outdoor retail space located in the heart of the Fruitvale Transit Village. The public market is a key piece of a broader community and economic revitalization plan for the Fruitvale community. The Unity Council's economic revitalization plan includes the Fruitvale BID commercial corridor program (formerly Fruitvale Main Street) that was established in partnership with LISC in 1996 and the Fruitvale Transit Village. Alongside strategies for economic improvements, the Unity Council supports several highly successful community festivals and events, as well as numerous youth development programs, affordable housing developments, and other community-building activities in the neighborhood.

Place-making Category:

East Liberty Development, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
East Liberty Business District Initiative (ELDI) was a collaboration among residents, businesses, City officials, faith-based and community organizations to successfully improve commercial and office space; adding a mix of affordable and market rate housing; and the creation of over 739 jobs. One of the major employers, Whole Foods Markets was a catalyst in reinvigorating this district. National commercial tenants on the neighborhood edges encircle a center of over 100 small, locally-owned shops, offices, restaurants, barbers and service providers. ELDI's attention has generated such clusters as Restaurant Row and new commercial development featuring national and local tenants; and many other interesting projects in the pipeline. Additionally, the district is home to two LEED certified buildings and several green home construction projects. ELDI's partnerships, strategic planning and community commitment, make this a sustainable business district.

Please email urbanforum@lisc.org for more information about the awards.