CitiesFirst® Successes

CitiesFirst is committed to rebuilding America’s communities from the inside out. The success that has followed pursuit of that goal is evident; to date, almost 100,000 families and individuals have benefited from affordable housing and community revitalization efforts nationwide. From multi-million dollar community development investments to moving renters into homes that they own, CitiesFirst® is paving new paths to success through its family of progressive community revitalization programs.

Creative Community Investment
CitiesFirst is devoted to creating innovative tools for both investors and communities to succeed. Through smart planning and thoughtful investments, Nehemiah, through CitiesFirst, will continue to lead the way in rebuilding the fabric of America’s communities from the inside out. In March 2000, Nehemiah® invested $5 million in the Genesis L.A. Real Estate Fund. This groundbreaking economic initiative targets blighted Los Angeles areas in the hope of renovating them into attractive business locations, thus combating high unemployment and poverty. Nehemiah was the only non-profit corporation to contribute to this project. The Fund closed at $71 million and the first investment was sold to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which will develop the property into a combination of creative office and film archives. In June 2001, a check for $264,279 was received by Nehemiah as an initial return on the investment.

Turning Renters Into Proud Homeowners
CitiesFirst is proud to support The Nehemiah Program®. The Nehemiah Program® exists for a very simple purpose: turning renters into home-owners. CitiesFirst® believes that all hard-working people deserve access to safe and affordable housing in vibrant communities. The Nehemiah Program® is one of a host of affordable housing and community revitalization programs that were created to rebuild America’s communities from the inside out. Since its inception in 1997, this program has provided more than $275 million in down payment gifts toward the purchase of homes in cities throughout the United States. Today, it is the largest and most successful privately-funded down payment assistance program in the nation. Coast to coast, there are more than 80,000 success stories of families and individuals who have become proud homeowners using this program.

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