Policy & Advocacy
Policy & Advocacy
Our members work primarily in the areas of economic development and affordable housing development. This includes developing and managing incubators designed to provide flexible, affordable space for new and growing businesses. Incubators provide substantial benefits to the broader community. MCCD members know that the economic energy generated by new arrivals and other non-traditional entrepreneurs can be a powerful force to promote community development. Our members are working in partnership with these non-traditional entrepreneurs to spur inner-city commercial revitalization throughout the members’ service areas.
In addition, our members are engaged in all phases of the affordable housing development process, from locating and acquiring appropriate sites, to assembling complex financial packaging to managing housing communities. MCCD members develop single family and multi-unit owner occupied housing as well as multi-family rental projects. Many of these organizations also provide services to families and individuals who are seeking affordable housing. These services include credit counseling and mortgage and home improvement financing.
Our members help us determine our legislative agenda for the year. We also track both federal and state bills that might impact the work of our members and share relevant research reports to provide our members with the latest research, data, and tools.
Policy Priorities
- Close the Racial Homeownership Gap
- Advance efforts to remedy the harm caused by racist homeownership practices and policies by advocating for increased resources for homeownership development and homeowner counseling.
- Build and Preserve Deeply Affordable Housing
- Address the affordable housing shortage in Minnesota by advocating for funding for the full continuum of affordable housing activities, including housing development, supportive services, rental assistance, and preservation across all levels of government.
- Support BIPOC and Immigrant Small Businesses
- Spearhead opportunities to reimagine a more just economy, with a focus on advancing racial equity by investing in BIPOC and immigrant-owned small businesses.
- Create Shared Ownership Opportunities
- Cultivate opportunities to support worker-cooperatives, real estate strategies, and housing cooperatives to promote wealth-building, prevent displacement, and ensure community control of assets in BIPOC and underinvested communities.