Parity Baltimore, Inc.
Parity is an equitable development nonprofit organization launching in Harlem Park, one of Baltimore’s many culturally and historically rich African American neighborhoods. Parity intends to acquire vacant houses and renovate them for sale to new homeowners. Parity has cultivated a cohort of pre-committed and pre-qualified homebuyers. Grant funds will be used for four homebuyer purchase incentives of $10,000 each to support redevelopment and reduce the cost of each house purchase.
Innovation Works, Inc.
Innovation Works is the urban domestic strategic partner of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, a leading global accelerator for enterprises. The organization addresses social entrepreneurs’ needs through a five phase pipeline strategy. It recruits and encourages members of disinvested communities to build and own successful social enterprises. These entities will create sustainable neighborhood economies and reduce Baltimore’s neighborhood and racial wealth divide. Innovation Works will expand and support its mentor network, a highly committed and mission-oriented group of Baltimore-based executives and Founders who provide weekly mentoring and pro-bono support. This grant will support staff costs associated with support of entrepreneurs along each stage of the IW pipeline.
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Inc.
ICIC will offer its entrepreneurship “Mini MBA” training program, Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC, ) to Baltimore businesses. The business technical assistance program started in 2005 to help urban entrepreneurs better position themselves to access capital, increase revenues, grow their businesses and create jobs. The program specifically targets companies located in low to moderate income areas, companies owned by people of color and by women, and businesses that draw 40 percent of their employment from low to moderate income communities.
Civic Works, Inc.
Civic Works’ Retrofit Baltimore program offers weatherization, home energy efficiency and health & safety improvements to low and moderate income households to improve safety and comfort and reduce utility bills. Utilizing competitive Maryland Energy Administration funding, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development grants and BGE utility rebates, the program expects to complete 350 energy audits, energy efficient weatherization improvements in 70 homes, as well as screen all households for property tax credits, water bill discounts and federal nutrition benefits. The grant covers expenses for staff to promote the program, screen applicants for benefits, establish scopes of work, manage contract implementation, and ensure quality control.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Chesapeake Climate Action’s “Rebuilding Baltimore’s Workforce” initiative will advocate for a domestic Marshall Plan to create new jobs for unemployed and newly unemployed residents in Baltimore City. The initiative builds on their track record of success in creating local jobs and job training efforts that address the global crisis of climate change. Massive urban investments to weatherize low-income homes, plant trees, and train workers for the solar and wind power and cleaner transportation jobs is intended to restart the economy and provide living wage jobs.