FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2008

KCDC HOSTS INTERNATIONAL HOUSING FORUM AND STATE HOUSING MEETING

Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) will share its success and show off the community of Knoxville to large housing provider executives from the U.S., Canada and England as well as state housing authorities in May.

KCDC will host the 2008 Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) Large Provider Housing Forum in Knoxville May 14-17, 2008. Approximately 60 attendees, the highest attendance in this event’s seven-year history, are expected to participate.

“KCDC is eager to share our agency’s successes and in turn learn from our peers,” said Alvin Nance, KCDC executive director president and CEO. “We are very honored that we were asked to host this event, and we are certain that the attendees will take away the best of what our great Knoxville community has to offer.”

At this year’s forum, entitled “Renewing our Assets: ONPHA Large Provider Forum,” the group will learn about KCDC’s strategic and capital planning processes. KCDC will also share the stories behind successful projects such as Hope VI in Mechanicsville, modernizations in Lonsdale and Christenberry, renovations at The Vista, and Energy Performance Contracting.

During the forum, KCDC will provide attendees with a glimpse into what makes the Knoxville community a unique and desirable place to live.

On Wednesday, attendees will choose from three different afternoon outings for their first day in East Tennessee: a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains and lunch in Gatlinburg; a city greenway tour; or golf at Egwani Farms. On Wednesday evening, the group will dine at the Crown and Goose, voted best new restaurant in the Metro Pulse Best of Knoxville Readers’ Poll. After their Thursday sessions, they will attend Sundown in the City in Market Square. On Friday, the group will tour KCDC properties, hold an afternoon session and then dine at The Butcher Shop.

KCDC was asked to be the forum host by Focus Consulting and ONPHA. Ameresco Inc., KCDC’s Energy Performance Contracting company and asset planning software provider, recommended KCDC as host of this year’s forum due to KCDC’s innovative strategies and reputation in the national housing market.

On May 14, KCDC will also host the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) board meeting. The board meets every other month, usually in Nashville. Once a year the THDA board meets in another city to visit housing development agencies throughout the state.

While in Knoxville, THDA board members plan to tour various KCDC properties. They will see first-hand the results of some THDA-supported rehabilitation housing work, such as the Hope VI project in Mechanicsville and the Habitat build in Lonsdale.

Alvin Nance, KCDC president and CEO, serves as vice chairman of THDA’s board of directors. Other members of the board from Knoxville include Robyn Askew, vice president of Holrob Investments LLC; Benjie Shuler of Collins & Shuler Management; and Carl Tindell, owner and chairman of Tindell’s Building Supply.

KCDC is the housing authority and redevelopment agency for Knoxville. Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville. For more information, visit http://www.kcdc.org.

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