Capacity Building

The Maryland ABCD Network offers a variety of programs designed to provide community organizations, local governments, and other organizations the skills to increase their capacity to carry out asset building and community development activities.  

We welcome feedback from members on their unmet training needs so we can develop additional programs and resources to help meet those needs.

Community Development Institute with NDC and BB&T

In 2009, the Maryland ABCD Network partnered with BB&T, the National Development Council (NDC), the Baltimore Neighborhood Collaborative, and Enterprise Community Partners to bring comprehensive community development training to Maryland.

Thanks to underwriting by BB&T, a series of four week-long programs in Housing Development Finance were presented, including a certification program under the National Development Council The courses were:

• Single Family Home Ownership Finance
• Multi-Family Housing Development Finance
• Computer Spreadsheet Analysis
• Problem Solving and Deal Structuring

Normally costing over $900 each week, the course were offered at $150 per week. Maryland ABCD Network’s role was promotion of the courses state-wide. We were pleased to have new Housing Development Finance Professionals certified by taking all four courses.

We hope to offer a similar series of certification courses in 2010, focusing on Economic Development. Details will be released on the website and in our newsletter as they become available.

Webinars

Each March we host a "Legislative Update" Webinar to let members learn about Maryland legislative progress at mid-session and to discuss federal legislation with our partner, NACEDA.

We anticipate increased use of Webinars to present information to members at a low cost. Upcoming Webinars will be announced in our newsletters.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 Technical Assistance

The Maryland ABCD Network is a Technical Assistance Provider under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, providing training by our consultant partners, through NACEDA and ICF. Our teams are dispatched when a nonprofit requests technical assistance from HUD.

Industry Report

In January 2010, we are beginning a process that will result in the first wide-ranging report on the Community Development Industry in Maryland. The report, with original research, will look at the range of asset building and community development work and the economic and community impact of that work as shown through statistics and stories. We expect the report to be published in the fall of 2010.

Surveys/Survey Data

In the spring f 2009, we conducted two surveys about the impact of the recession on nonprofit asset building and community development agencies. One survey covered agencies within Baltimore City, and the second survey covered the balance of the State. The summary of the results can be found here:

The Maryland Recession Impact Survey

The Baltimore Recession Impact Survey