Houston, Texas

Spurred on by industry from its bustling port and railroad connections, a 20th century oil boom, and later from diversification into aerospace (the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center) and healthcare and biotechnology (the MD Anderson Cancer Center), the City of Houston has grown rapidly in population and economic output. Today, Houston is the fourth largest city in nation with a population of 2.1 million people and one of the youngest cities in the country. If measured as an independent nation, the size of its economy would rank as the world's 30th largest.

Houston has also steadily become more diverse. According to the U.S. Census, the city is 25 percent White, 44 percent Hispanic/Latino, 24 percent African American, and 7 percent Asian. The city has the third-largest Hispanic and third-largest Mexican population in the United States and more than 20 percent of the Houston metro area population were born outside the country. Of the foreign born population, one-fifth are originally from Asia. The city elected Lee Brown its first African American mayor in 1998 and elected Annise M. Parker in 2010 as only the city's second female mayor and as the first LGBT mayor of a major American city.

The city is also home to numerous wealth building initiatives and organizations. Since taking office in 2010, Mayor Parker has worked to repair the city's previously strained relationship with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and transform Houston's Housing and Community Development Department. Utilizing joint technical assistance and capacity-building engagement, Houston and HUD will combine knowledge and resources to maximize the use of federal funds to revitalize neighborhoods, help the homeless, and produce more affordable housing.

Bank On Houston is another city led effort to help build assets for low-income families. An offshoot of the Bank On America program, Bank On Houston started when the City of Houston became the first city in Texas to sign up in May 2008. With an estimated 10 percent of the city unbanked, Bank on Houston is a collaborative effort that offers low-cost starter checking accounts to the unbanked, helping them begin the process of wealth and asset building. Setting a goal of 10,000 new checking accounts for the year of 2009, the effort surpassed that number in just three months. By June 2010, 40,000 had signed up. Individuals who signed up for accounts are also encouraged to take free financial literacy courses from non-profits, CDCs and credit unions such as People's Trust Federal Credit Union, the Credit Coalition, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services and the Houston Area Urban League.

Another collaborative wealth building initiative is Covenant Community Capital's "Smart Savers Program." Initially funded by a grant from the federal government in 2001, the partnership has expanded to include the City of Houston, the Houston Credit Coalition, several private banks, and a network of other community partners. To date, more than 600 low to moderate-income individuals have enrolled and 300 others have completed the program, purchasing a home or financing their education or a small business. Covenant has disbursed more than $1.2 million in match money at a 2:1 match rate.

An overview of community wealth building efforts follows:

 

Anchor Institutions

CDC Association of Greater Houston

Founded in 1996 as a membership organization to benefit low-income families and individuals by promoting affordable housing development, the CDC Association of Greater Houston today has 85 members. Having positively impacted more than 49 communities in the Greater Houston area, the members of the association have developed over 544 affordable single-family homes, with 492 more underway; 2,704 affordable apartments; and 243,944 square feet of commercial and community space. The total value of this development is estimated at more than $146 million. Read more about CDC Association of Greater Houston...

Houston Endowment

Established in 1937 by Jesse and Mary Gibbs Jones to help the greater Houston community prosper and thrive, the Houston Endowment grew rapidly and has granted more than $1.4 billion ($2.5 billion in current dollars) to date. Providing more than $67 million in 2011 grants to support a wide variety of initiatives in education, human services (including economic development and affordable housing), health, arts and culture, and the environment, the foundation focuses on a creating stronger communities through a multi-faceted approach. Read more about Houston Endowment...

Rockwell Fund

Rockwell Fund was founded in 1931 after the death of James Rockwell in the mold of a traditional responsive grant maker for the greater Houston area. Beginning in the early 2000s, the Fund decided to reduce its number of grants, increase their size and focus primarily on community health, education, employment and supportive housing (affordable housing with on-site services). Since its inception, the endowment has grown to more than $125 million with more than $3.7 million and $2.8 million in grants in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Read more about Rockwell Fund...

Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Acres Home CDC

Formed in 1990 by community residents, business owners, educators and ministers, the Acres Home CDC is focused on revitalizing the Acres Homes community, serving more than 1,500 clients each year. In addition to providing an educational program on home ownership and foreclosure prevention, Acres Home has successfully completed 18 single-family affordable homes to date. Read more about Acres Home CDC...

Avenue CDC

Originally founded as the Old Sixth Ward CDC in 1991, the Avenue CDC is committed to developing affordable housing and economic opportunities in the Near Northside and Washington Avenue communities, while preserving the area's cultural, economic and historic diversity. Striving to fight against the increasing home prices and gentrification of these neighborhoods, the Avenue CDC recently completed its 100th affordable home in June 2011. Read more about Avenue CDC...

Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation

The Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation strives to revitalize Fifth Ward neighborhood through a holistic approach, focusing on affordable housing construction and management, homebuyer and foreclosure prevention education, and social services. Since its inception in 1989, the organization has built more than 300 new homes, two multifamily complexes of 336 units, and two commercial developments (along with re-habilitating two more) with more than 40,000 square feet. Read more about Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation...

Guiding Light CDC

Formed in 1998 by concerned residents, the Guiding Light CDC is dedicated to revitalizing the Third Ward by restoring investment to the neighborhood and by constructing single-family affordable housing and multi-family residential units. To date, Guiding Light has completed five homes, is constructing a sixth, and has acquired two acres tract of land to construct approximately seventeen homes in the South Park area. Read more about Guiding Light CDC...

MacGregor Area Community Development Corporation

The MacGregor Area Community Development Corporation is a not-for-profit founded in 1992 dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Riverside District. Focused on constructing single-family housing for low- to moderate-income families, the organization has constructed four communities and multiple other homes throughout the area. In addition, MacGregor Area CDC was partner to the construction of the Renaissance Center, a 93,000 square foot retail/office space that houses a medical clinic and helped create over a 100 jobs in the community. Read more about MacGregor Area Community Development Corporation...

Pyramid CDC

Founded as a faith-based organization in 1992, the Pyramid CDC is focused on improving the standard of living in Southwest Houston. Its first project - The Power Center, a 104,000 square foot complex - currently provides employment for more than 270 people and generates $15.5 million in the community annually. Sixty-five percent of these jobs were targeted to low-income individuals. In addition, the Pyramid CDC developed the Corinthian Pointe subdivision - a 220-acre, 462 single-family home project that cost $173 million. Read more about Pyramid CDC...

Row House CDC

Spun off from Project Row Houses in 2003, Row House CDC focuses exclusively on housing challenges and economic development initiatives in this collaborative effort to help revitalize the Northern Third Ward. Row House's Hannah Project, aided by funding from the Houston Endowment, will include the construction of sixteen new affordable housing units. In addition, the non-profit is working to acquire and rehabilitate 38 rental units for families who earn half of the Harris County median income. Read more about Row House CDC...

WOMAN, Inc.

WOMAN, Inc. strives to be an affordable housing and supportive services resource for women leaving abusive situations and other at risk populations. Operating three housing sites, consisting of 47 apartments and 10 townhouses, women and their children can stay and start a new life at the cost of 30 percent of their income. Since its inception in 1993, WOMAN, Inc. has provided affordable housing opportunities for more than 1,300 women. Read more about WOMAN, Inc....

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

Southeast Texas Finance Corporation

Created as public nonprofit corporation for the purpose of issuing revenue notes and bonds for multifamily rental residential developments for low and moderate income individuals, the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) also provides financial assistance to first time, low to moderate income homeowners. SETH offers several different low-interest mortgage loan programs and grant assistance for down payment and closing costs. Most of the funding for these initiatives come from the counties and cities located in southeast Texas.

Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Central City Co-op

Formed in 2001, Central City Co-op was the idea of two women - Jennifer Georgantas and Patricia Greer. Through the hard work of numerous volunteers, the co-op is celebrating a decade of providing locally grown organic produce. Purchases can be made online after becoming a member and produce can be picked up on Wednesdays at Grace Lutheran church. The co-op offers six different tier levels of membership. Read more about Central City Co-op...

Patient Physician Cooperative

The Patient Physician Cooperative was established in 2005 in Houston as a non-profit with the goal of providing affordable primary to care to persons who need it. Starting as an organization of patients, physicians, and member representatives with just two clinics, the cooperative has grown to 36 clinics across the city. Now members are eligible for true group coverage as an optional benefit at one price, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions or other restrictions. Read more about Patient Physician Cooperative...

People's Trust Federal Credit Union

Beginning with just 196 Shell employees in 1935 and total assets of $980, the Shell Employees Federal Credit Union became People's Trust Federal Credit Union in 2005 when it open its doors to everyone living within the City of Houston. Today, People's Trust has more than $428 million in assets and more than 39,000 members. Additionally, People's Trust offers free financial education seminars to members and non-members alike. Read more about People's Trust Federal Credit Union...

Rawfully Organic Co-op

Starting as an idea by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram in September 2007, the Rawfully Organic Co-op has grown exponentially to more than 3,500 families today. The co-op is dedicated to providing only fresh fruits and vegetables from local, organic farmers and aims to increase awareness about health and environmental issues to all who are involved. Members can purchase half or full-shares (plus extras if desired) and pick up their produce from a different location in Houston on three days during the week or from neighborhood pick-up spots on Thursdays. Read more about Rawfully Organic Co-op...

Cross-Sectoral

The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services

Originally established in 1986 as an alliance of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Loatian, and Ethiopian community organizations in Harris County, the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services has grown from an organization focused on refugee resettlement to one that benefits members of all nationalities across a multitude of sectors. Its Asset Building Department maintains two Individual Development Account programs (one with 1:1 match rate and other with a 2:1) and a micro-lending program. Read more about The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services...

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

Burnett Staffing Specialists

Founded in 1974 by current president Sue Burnett, Burnett Staffing Specialist has grown to be the 16th largest employee-owned firm in the country, the largest employee-owned business in the state, and the seventh largest woman-owned business in Texas. Focused on helping careers and companies grow, Burnett Staffing Specialist employs 98 full-time staff, serves more than 1,000 clients across 10 Texas offices and posted revenues of nearly $65 million in 2010. Read more about Burnett Staffing Specialists...

Eggelhof, Inc.

Established in Dallas by Henry Eggelhof in 1926, Eggelhof, Inc. has been headquartered in Houston since 1938 and has expanded across the southwest and Louisiana. Specializing in engineering products including filtration and water treatment, piping and plant equipment, and steam specialties, Eggelhof, Inc. became a majority-owned employee owned company in 1996. To date, the company is financially sound, with more than $7 million invested in inventory. Read more about Eggelhof, Inc....

Employee Owned Holdings, Inc.

Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. is a 100 percent employee-owned firm that specializes in distribution of fluid power components and accessories across Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Founded in 1951, the company has 11 sales offices and seven distribution warehouses.

Hisco, Inc.

An employee-owned company since 1971, Hisco has become a leader in supply chain solutions and distributor of electronic and industrial materials. Founded in Houston in the 1940's, today the Hisco branch network includes 30 stocking locations - 22 in the United States and 8 in Mexico - and just recently expanded into Canada. Read more about Hisco, Inc. ...

Texan Floor Service

Founded in 1987 by co-owners Jeff Hill and Bob Collier, Texan Floor Service became an employee-owned company in 2007 when the two began preparing for retirement. This commercial flooring company has about $12 million in annual revenue and 35 employees. In 2009, it became Houston's first commercial flooring company to commit to a "No Carpet to Landfill" policy, partnering with Carpet America Recovery Effort to recycle hundreds of thousands of pounds of carpet to date. Read more about Texan Floor Service...

Westbrook Manufacturing

Specializing in quality pipe fittings since 1965, Westbrook's business has grown from emergency and specialty manufacturing to include a full spectrum of pipe nipples, swage nipples, plugs, forged fittings, unions and welding outlets. In 2007, Westbrook became an employee-owned company when Sidney and Charlie Westbrook transferred ownership. Read more about Westbrook Manufacturing...

Individual Wealth Building

Covenant Community Capital

A nonprofit focused on increasing the capacity of low-income communities to develop affordable housing, grow business enterprise and build family and community assets, Covenant Community Capital launched its "Smart Savers Program" in 2001 in partnership with the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. Initially funded by a grant from the federal government, the partnership has expanded to include the City of Houston, the Houston Credit Coalition, several private banks, and a network of other community partners. Read more about Covenant Community Capital...

Individual Wealth Preservation

Credit Coalition

The Credit Coalition is a nonprofit collaborative organization of financial institutions, community organizations and other related businesses. As a member of the Texas & Greater Houston Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, the Credit Coalition provides free foreclosure intervention counseling, financial and homebuyer counseling and education, reverse mortgage counseling, guidance, resources and outreachservices to community members in the greater Houston and Beaumont/Pt. Arthur areas. Read more about Credit Coalition...

Houston Area Urban League

Affiliated with the United Way and National Urban League, Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) strives to enable African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. As part of its efforts, HAUL offers first time homebuyer classes, foreclosure prevention counseling, credit counseling program, and one-on-one housing counseling. These different services enable area residents the opportunities to qualify for down payment assistance and Individual Development Account programs with other non-profits. Read more about Houston Area Urban League...

Local Food Systems

The Alliance Community Garden Project

As a program for the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, the Alliance Community Garden Project began in October 2010 with the goal of training refugees in farming methods applicable in their new community. To date, 27 refugee growers from Bhutan have registered with the program; and in addition to farming training, they receive English classes from the Alliance. Read more about The Alliance Community Garden Project...

The Last Organic Outpost

Striving to create a sense of community, the Last Organic Outpost is an inner city urban farm project that uses regenerative agriculture to restore unused vacant lots. Beginning as an idea by Joe Nelson, six years and $17,000 later, the Outpost had expanded from a simple backyard garden to a teaching nonprofit on several adjacent abandoned lots that had been used for dumping. In 2009, Mayor Bill White asked the city to turn off another adjacent lot after seeing the success of a project that is striving to serve as an anchor for an urban farm belt across the city. Read more about The Last Organic Outpost...

Municipal Enterprise

George R. Brown Convention Center

Opened in 1987, the George R. Brown Convention Center is owned, operated, and leased by the City of Houston through the Houston First Corporation. Later expanded in 2003, the Center ranks as one of the 10 largest convention centers in the nation with more than 1 million square feet of exhibition, meeting and registration space. For the fiscal year ending June 2011, the Center had hosted more than 244 conventions and other large-scale meetings. Read more about George R. Brown Convention Center...

Hilton Americas-Houston

Owned by the City of Houston through the Houston First Corporation and operated by Hilton Hotel Corporation, the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel is Houston's largest convention hotel. A $285 million, 24-story facility with more than 1,200 guest rooms and over 91,000 square feet of meeting space, this hotel is also one of the most energy-efficient in the world, utilizing an innovative energy-saving guest room control sequence. Read more about Hilton Americas-Houston...

Houston First Corporation

Managing 10 city-owned buildings and plazas including day-to-day maintenance and operation of these properties, the Houston First Corporation came into effect in July 2011. Representing the consolidation of City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department and the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation, Houston First is responsible for the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, the George R. Brown Convention Center, Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center, Houston Center for the Arts, Talento Bilingue de Houston, Jones Plaza, Miller Outdoor Theatre and other smaller venues. Read more about Houston First Corporation...

State & Local Investments

Bank On Houston

An offshoot of the Bank On America program, Bank On Houston started when the City of Houston became the first city in Texas to sign up in May 2008. With an estimated 10 percent of the city unbanked, Bank on Houston is a collaborative effort that offers low-cost starter checking accounts to the unbanked, helping them begin the process of wealth and asset building. Setting a goal of 10,000 new checking accounts for the year of 2009, the effort surpassed that number in just three months. By June 2010, 40,000 had signed up. Read more about Bank On Houston...

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Clinton Climate Initiative - Houston

Houston is a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a collaborative effort by almost 60 cities globally to make meaningful and sustainable climate related changes locally that will impact climate change globally. As part of this effort and in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, the city has begun on a project to retrofit and make more energy efficient all city buildings - 271 buildings, encompassing 11 million square feet - by 2014. Read more about C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Clinton Climate Initiative - Houston...

University & Community Partnerships

MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas)

When the Texas Legislature authorized the construction of a hospital for cancer research and treatment somewhere in the state in 1941, the MD Anderson Foundation offered to match the appropriation if the hospital would be built in Houston. Today the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas is the largest of its kind in the world with significant economic benefits for the greater Houston-area of $13.5 billion in total expenditures, $6.7 billion in gross product, $4.5 billion in earnings and more than 82,400 permanent jobs. Read more about MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas)...

Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Acres Home CDC

Formed in 1990 by community residents, business owners, educators and ministers, the Acres Home CDC is focused on revitalizing the Acres Homes community, serving more than 1,500 clients each year. In addition to providing an educational program on home ownership and foreclosure prevention, Acres Home has successfully completed 18 single-family affordable homes to date. Read more about Acres Home CDC...

Avenue CDC

Originally founded as the Old Sixth Ward CDC in 1991, the Avenue CDC is committed to developing affordable housing and economic opportunities in the Near Northside and Washington Avenue communities, while preserving the area's cultural, economic and historic diversity. Striving to fight against the increasing home prices and gentrification of these neighborhoods, the Avenue CDC recently completed its 100th affordable home in June 2011. Read more about Avenue CDC...

Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation

The Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation strives to revitalize Fifth Ward neighborhood through a holistic approach, focusing on affordable housing construction and management, homebuyer and foreclosure prevention education, and social services. Since its inception in 1989, the organization has built more than 300 new homes, two multifamily complexes of 336 units, and two commercial developments (along with re-habilitating two more) with more than 40,000 square feet. Read more about Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation...

Guiding Light CDC

Formed in 1998 by concerned residents, the Guiding Light CDC is dedicated to revitalizing the Third Ward by restoring investment to the neighborhood and by constructing single-family affordable housing and multi-family residential units. To date, Guiding Light has completed five homes, is constructing a sixth, and has acquired two acres tract of land to construct approximately seventeen homes in the South Park area. Read more about Guiding Light CDC...

MacGregor Area Community Development Corporation

The MacGregor Area Community Development Corporation is a not-for-profit founded in 1992 dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Riverside District. Focused on constructing single-family housing for low- to moderate-income families, the organization has constructed four communities and multiple other homes throughout the area. In addition, MacGregor Area CDC was partner to the construction of the Renaissance Center, a 93,000 square foot retail/office space that houses a medical clinic and helped create over a 100 jobs in the community. Read more about MacGregor Area Community Development Corporation...

Pyramid CDC

Founded as a faith-based organization in 1992, the Pyramid CDC is focused on improving the standard of living in Southwest Houston. Its first project - The Power Center, a 104,000 square foot complex - currently provides employment for more than 270 people and generates $15.5 million in the community annually. Sixty-five percent of these jobs were targeted to low-income individuals. In addition, the Pyramid CDC developed the Corinthian Pointe subdivision - a 220-acre, 462 single-family home project that cost $173 million. Read more about Pyramid CDC...

Row House CDC

Spun off from Project Row Houses in 2003, Row House CDC focuses exclusively on housing challenges and economic development initiatives in this collaborative effort to help revitalize the Northern Third Ward. Row House's Hannah Project, aided by funding from the Houston Endowment, will include the construction of sixteen new affordable housing units. In addition, the non-profit is working to acquire and rehabilitate 38 rental units for families who earn half of the Harris County median income. Read more about Row House CDC...

WOMAN, Inc.

WOMAN, Inc. strives to be an affordable housing and supportive services resource for women leaving abusive situations and other at risk populations. Operating three housing sites, consisting of 47 apartments and 10 townhouses, women and their children can stay and start a new life at the cost of 30 percent of their income. Since its inception in 1993, WOMAN, Inc. has provided affordable housing opportunities for more than 1,300 women. Read more about WOMAN, Inc....

State & Local Investments

Bank On Houston

An offshoot of the Bank On America program, Bank On Houston started when the City of Houston became the first city in Texas to sign up in May 2008. With an estimated 10 percent of the city unbanked, Bank on Houston is a collaborative effort that offers low-cost starter checking accounts to the unbanked, helping them begin the process of wealth and asset building. Setting a goal of 10,000 new checking accounts for the year of 2009, the effort surpassed that number in just three months. By June 2010, 40,000 had signed up. Read more about Bank On Houston...

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Clinton Climate Initiative - Houston

Houston is a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a collaborative effort by almost 60 cities globally to make meaningful and sustainable climate related changes locally that will impact climate change globally. As part of this effort and in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, the city has begun on a project to retrofit and make more energy efficient all city buildings - 271 buildings, encompassing 11 million square feet - by 2014. Read more about C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Clinton Climate Initiative - Houston...

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

Burnett Staffing Specialists

Founded in 1974 by current president Sue Burnett, Burnett Staffing Specialist has grown to be the 16th largest employee-owned firm in the country, the largest employee-owned business in the state, and the seventh largest woman-owned business in Texas. Focused on helping careers and companies grow, Burnett Staffing Specialist employs 98 full-time staff, serves more than 1,000 clients across 10 Texas offices and posted revenues of nearly $65 million in 2010. Read more about Burnett Staffing Specialists...

Eggelhof, Inc.

Established in Dallas by Henry Eggelhof in 1926, Eggelhof, Inc. has been headquartered in Houston since 1938 and has expanded across the southwest and Louisiana. Specializing in engineering products including filtration and water treatment, piping and plant equipment, and steam specialties, Eggelhof, Inc. became a majority-owned employee owned company in 1996. To date, the company is financially sound, with more than $7 million invested in inventory. Read more about Eggelhof, Inc....

Employee Owned Holdings, Inc.

Employee Owned Holdings, Inc. is a 100 percent employee-owned firm that specializes in distribution of fluid power components and accessories across Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Founded in 1951, the company has 11 sales offices and seven distribution warehouses.

Hisco, Inc.

An employee-owned company since 1971, Hisco has become a leader in supply chain solutions and distributor of electronic and industrial materials. Founded in Houston in the 1940's, today the Hisco branch network includes 30 stocking locations - 22 in the United States and 8 in Mexico - and just recently expanded into Canada. Read more about Hisco, Inc. ...

Texan Floor Service

Founded in 1987 by co-owners Jeff Hill and Bob Collier, Texan Floor Service became an employee-owned company in 2007 when the two began preparing for retirement. This commercial flooring company has about $12 million in annual revenue and 35 employees. In 2009, it became Houston's first commercial flooring company to commit to a "No Carpet to Landfill" policy, partnering with Carpet America Recovery Effort to recycle hundreds of thousands of pounds of carpet to date. Read more about Texan Floor Service...

Westbrook Manufacturing

Specializing in quality pipe fittings since 1965, Westbrook's business has grown from emergency and specialty manufacturing to include a full spectrum of pipe nipples, swage nipples, plugs, forged fittings, unions and welding outlets. In 2007, Westbrook became an employee-owned company when Sidney and Charlie Westbrook transferred ownership. Read more about Westbrook Manufacturing...

Anchor Institutions

CDC Association of Greater Houston

Founded in 1996 as a membership organization to benefit low-income families and individuals by promoting affordable housing development, the CDC Association of Greater Houston today has 85 members. Having positively impacted more than 49 communities in the Greater Houston area, the members of the association have developed over 544 affordable single-family homes, with 492 more underway; 2,704 affordable apartments; and 243,944 square feet of commercial and community space. The total value of this development is estimated at more than $146 million. Read more about CDC Association of Greater Houston...

Houston Endowment

Established in 1937 by Jesse and Mary Gibbs Jones to help the greater Houston community prosper and thrive, the Houston Endowment grew rapidly and has granted more than $1.4 billion ($2.5 billion in current dollars) to date. Providing more than $67 million in 2011 grants to support a wide variety of initiatives in education, human services (including economic development and affordable housing), health, arts and culture, and the environment, the foundation focuses on a creating stronger communities through a multi-faceted approach. Read more about Houston Endowment...

Rockwell Fund

Rockwell Fund was founded in 1931 after the death of James Rockwell in the mold of a traditional responsive grant maker for the greater Houston area. Beginning in the early 2000s, the Fund decided to reduce its number of grants, increase their size and focus primarily on community health, education, employment and supportive housing (affordable housing with on-site services). Since its inception, the endowment has grown to more than $125 million with more than $3.7 million and $2.8 million in grants in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Read more about Rockwell Fund...

Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Central City Co-op

Formed in 2001, Central City Co-op was the idea of two women - Jennifer Georgantas and Patricia Greer. Through the hard work of numerous volunteers, the co-op is celebrating a decade of providing locally grown organic produce. Purchases can be made online after becoming a member and produce can be picked up on Wednesdays at Grace Lutheran church. The co-op offers six different tier levels of membership. Read more about Central City Co-op...

Patient Physician Cooperative

The Patient Physician Cooperative was established in 2005 in Houston as a non-profit with the goal of providing affordable primary to care to persons who need it. Starting as an organization of patients, physicians, and member representatives with just two clinics, the cooperative has grown to 36 clinics across the city. Now members are eligible for true group coverage as an optional benefit at one price, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions or other restrictions. Read more about Patient Physician Cooperative...

People's Trust Federal Credit Union

Beginning with just 196 Shell employees in 1935 and total assets of $980, the Shell Employees Federal Credit Union became People's Trust Federal Credit Union in 2005 when it open its doors to everyone living within the City of Houston. Today, People's Trust has more than $428 million in assets and more than 39,000 members. Additionally, People's Trust offers free financial education seminars to members and non-members alike. Read more about People's Trust Federal Credit Union...

Rawfully Organic Co-op

Starting as an idea by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram in September 2007, the Rawfully Organic Co-op has grown exponentially to more than 3,500 families today. The co-op is dedicated to providing only fresh fruits and vegetables from local, organic farmers and aims to increase awareness about health and environmental issues to all who are involved. Members can purchase half or full-shares (plus extras if desired) and pick up their produce from a different location in Houston on three days during the week or from neighborhood pick-up spots on Thursdays. Read more about Rawfully Organic Co-op...

Individual Wealth Building

Covenant Community Capital

A nonprofit focused on increasing the capacity of low-income communities to develop affordable housing, grow business enterprise and build family and community assets, Covenant Community Capital launched its "Smart Savers Program" in 2001 in partnership with the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. Initially funded by a grant from the federal government, the partnership has expanded to include the City of Houston, the Houston Credit Coalition, several private banks, and a network of other community partners. Read more about Covenant Community Capital...

Individual Wealth Preservation

Credit Coalition

The Credit Coalition is a nonprofit collaborative organization of financial institutions, community organizations and other related businesses. As a member of the Texas & Greater Houston Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, the Credit Coalition provides free foreclosure intervention counseling, financial and homebuyer counseling and education, reverse mortgage counseling, guidance, resources and outreachservices to community members in the greater Houston and Beaumont/Pt. Arthur areas. Read more about Credit Coalition...

Houston Area Urban League

Affiliated with the United Way and National Urban League, Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) strives to enable African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. As part of its efforts, HAUL offers first time homebuyer classes, foreclosure prevention counseling, credit counseling program, and one-on-one housing counseling. These different services enable area residents the opportunities to qualify for down payment assistance and Individual Development Account programs with other non-profits. Read more about Houston Area Urban League...

Municipal Enterprise

George R. Brown Convention Center

Opened in 1987, the George R. Brown Convention Center is owned, operated, and leased by the City of Houston through the Houston First Corporation. Later expanded in 2003, the Center ranks as one of the 10 largest convention centers in the nation with more than 1 million square feet of exhibition, meeting and registration space. For the fiscal year ending June 2011, the Center had hosted more than 244 conventions and other large-scale meetings. Read more about George R. Brown Convention Center...

Hilton Americas-Houston

Owned by the City of Houston through the Houston First Corporation and operated by Hilton Hotel Corporation, the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel is Houston's largest convention hotel. A $285 million, 24-story facility with more than 1,200 guest rooms and over 91,000 square feet of meeting space, this hotel is also one of the most energy-efficient in the world, utilizing an innovative energy-saving guest room control sequence. Read more about Hilton Americas-Houston...

Houston First Corporation

Managing 10 city-owned buildings and plazas including day-to-day maintenance and operation of these properties, the Houston First Corporation came into effect in July 2011. Representing the consolidation of City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department and the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation, Houston First is responsible for the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, the George R. Brown Convention Center, Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center, Houston Center for the Arts, Talento Bilingue de Houston, Jones Plaza, Miller Outdoor Theatre and other smaller venues. Read more about Houston First Corporation...

University & Community Partnerships

MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas)

When the Texas Legislature authorized the construction of a hospital for cancer research and treatment somewhere in the state in 1941, the MD Anderson Foundation offered to match the appropriation if the hospital would be built in Houston. Today the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas is the largest of its kind in the world with significant economic benefits for the greater Houston-area of $13.5 billion in total expenditures, $6.7 billion in gross product, $4.5 billion in earnings and more than 82,400 permanent jobs. Read more about MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas)...

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

Southeast Texas Finance Corporation

Created as public nonprofit corporation for the purpose of issuing revenue notes and bonds for multifamily rental residential developments for low and moderate income individuals, the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) also provides financial assistance to first time, low to moderate income homeowners. SETH offers several different low-interest mortgage loan programs and grant assistance for down payment and closing costs. Most of the funding for these initiatives come from the counties and cities located in southeast Texas.

Local Food Systems

The Alliance Community Garden Project

As a program for the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, the Alliance Community Garden Project began in October 2010 with the goal of training refugees in farming methods applicable in their new community. To date, 27 refugee growers from Bhutan have registered with the program; and in addition to farming training, they receive English classes from the Alliance. Read more about The Alliance Community Garden Project...

The Last Organic Outpost

Striving to create a sense of community, the Last Organic Outpost is an inner city urban farm project that uses regenerative agriculture to restore unused vacant lots. Beginning as an idea by Joe Nelson, six years and $17,000 later, the Outpost had expanded from a simple backyard garden to a teaching nonprofit on several adjacent abandoned lots that had been used for dumping. In 2009, Mayor Bill White asked the city to turn off another adjacent lot after seeing the success of a project that is striving to serve as an anchor for an urban farm belt across the city. Read more about The Last Organic Outpost...

Cross-Sectoral

The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services

Originally established in 1986 as an alliance of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Loatian, and Ethiopian community organizations in Harris County, the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services has grown from an organization focused on refugee resettlement to one that benefits members of all nationalities across a multitude of sectors. Its Asset Building Department maintains two Individual Development Account programs (one with 1:1 match rate and other with a 2:1) and a micro-lending program. Read more about The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services...