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To interview a national expert on vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties, direct media inquiries to Maria Elkin, Director of Communications, melkin@communityprogress.org. When describing our organization in a news article, you may refer to us as "a national nonprofit dedicated to tackling vacant properties" and use "Community Progress" on second reference.

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<strong>SCOTUS <em>Tyler v. Hennepin County </em>Ruling Poses Opportunities, Unintended Consequences for Communities Fighting Vacant and Abandoned Properties </strong>
May 26, 2023
SCOTUS Tyler v. Hennepin County Ruling Poses Opportunities, Unintended Consequences for Communities Fighting Vacant and Abandoned Properties 

Ruling may make it harder for public entities to move abandoned, tax-delinquent properties to responsible owners, but presents an opportunity to equitably reform property tax systems. 

Read More »
Ten Municipalities Selected to Address Vacant Properties at the Vacant Property Leadership Institute
May 18, 2023
Ten Municipalities Selected to Address Vacant Properties at the Vacant Property Leadership Institute

Delegations from Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio have been selected for the 2023 Vacant Property Leadership Institute.

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Center for Community Progress Congratulates Recipients of Land Bank Innovative Approach Award
April 19, 2023
Center for Community Progress Congratulates Recipients of Land Bank Innovative Approach Award

Genesee County Land Bank, Louisville Landbank Authority, Lucas County Land Bank, Omaha Municipal Land Bank, and Tri-COG Land Bank received awards to launch new projects and programs that advance community revitalization.

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Chair of the Board Donald Phoenix Receives Founders Award from NeighborWorks America
April 14, 2023
Chair of the Board Donald Phoenix Receives Founders Award from NeighborWorks America

The Center for Community Progress congratulates Board Chair Don Phoenix on receiving the 2023 NeighborWorks Founders Award.

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Statement in Support of Georgia’s HB 404 – The Safe at Home Act
March 14, 2023
Statement in Support of Georgia’s HB 404 – The Safe at Home Act

MARCH 14, 2023 – The Center for Community Progress—the only national nonprofit dedicated to tackling vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties—supports Georgia’s proposed HB 404, the Safe at…

Read More »
Michigan Appropriates $75 Million to Expand Critical Statewide Blight Elimination Program
January 31, 2023
Michigan Appropriates $75 Million to Expand Critical Statewide Blight Elimination Program

Michigan Association of Land Banks and the Center for Community Progress celebrate this important commitment to revitalizing disinvested communities across the state. LANSING, MI – On January…

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The Center for Community Progress Announces Courtney Knox as Interim President and CEO
November 2, 2022
The Center for Community Progress Announces Courtney Knox as Interim President and CEO

The Community Progress Board of Directors today appoint Vice President and Director of National Leadership and Education Courtney Knox to serve as the interim president and chief executive of the organization

Read More »
Akilah Watkins to Depart as President and CEO of Center for Community Progress
September 14, 2022
Akilah Watkins to Depart as President and CEO of Center for Community Progress

The Center for Community Progress Board of Directors issued the following statement on the departure of President and CEO Akilah Watkins. After more than five years of…

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Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to Open the 2022 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference
August 18, 2022
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to Open the 2022 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference

Dr. Kendi and Mayor Lightfoot join Tonika Lewis Johnson and national philanthropic leaders as keynotes at national community development conference WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 18, 2022 –…

Read More »
New “Blight Elimination Program” Offers Transformative Grant Funding to Rural and Urban Michigan Communities
July 1, 2022
New “Blight Elimination Program” Offers Transformative Grant Funding to Rural and Urban Michigan Communities

Michigan Association of Land Banks and Center for Community Progress applaud the bill, which provides much-needed funding for vacant property stabilization, remediation, and demolition.  LANSING, MI –…

Read More »
May 26, 2023
SCOTUS Tyler v. Hennepin County Ruling Poses Opportunities, Unintended Consequences for Communities Fighting Vacant and Abandoned Properties 

Ruling may make it harder for public entities to move abandoned, tax-delinquent properties to responsible owners, but presents an opportunity to equitably reform property tax systems. 

Read More »
May 18, 2023
Ten Municipalities Selected to Address Vacant Properties at the Vacant Property Leadership Institute

Delegations from Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio have been selected for the 2023 Vacant Property Leadership Institute.

Read More »
April 19, 2023
Center for Community Progress Congratulates Recipients of Land Bank Innovative Approach Award

Genesee County Land Bank, Louisville Landbank Authority, Lucas County Land Bank, Omaha Municipal Land Bank, and Tri-COG Land Bank received awards to launch new projects and programs that advance community revitalization.

Read More »
April 14, 2023
Chair of the Board Donald Phoenix Receives Founders Award from NeighborWorks America

The Center for Community Progress congratulates Board Chair Don Phoenix on receiving the 2023 NeighborWorks Founders Award.

Read More »
March 14, 2023
Statement in Support of Georgia’s HB 404 – The Safe at Home Act

MARCH 14, 2023 – The Center for Community Progress—the only national nonprofit dedicated to tackling vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties—supports Georgia’s proposed HB 404, the Safe at Home Act, currently being considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill makes important steps toward protecting renters in Georgia by, among other…

Read More »
January 31, 2023
Michigan Appropriates $75 Million to Expand Critical Statewide Blight Elimination Program

Michigan Association of Land Banks and the Center for Community Progress celebrate this important commitment to revitalizing disinvested communities across the state. LANSING, MI – On January 26, 2023, the Michigan legislature passed S.B. 7, which was signed by the Governor today and goes into immediate effect as P.A. 1…

Read More »
November 2, 2022
The Center for Community Progress Announces Courtney Knox as Interim President and CEO

The Community Progress Board of Directors today appoint Vice President and Director of National Leadership and Education Courtney Knox to serve as the interim president and chief executive of the organization

Read More »
September 14, 2022
Akilah Watkins to Depart as President and CEO of Center for Community Progress

The Center for Community Progress Board of Directors issued the following statement on the departure of President and CEO Akilah Watkins. After more than five years of dedicated service, Dr. Akilah Watkins will depart her role as President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress to assume the position…

Read More »
August 18, 2022
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to Open the 2022 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference

Dr. Kendi and Mayor Lightfoot join Tonika Lewis Johnson and national philanthropic leaders as keynotes at national community development conference WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 18, 2022 – The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) is honored to announce Dr. Ibram X. Kendi as the opening plenary speaker at the biennial…

Read More »
July 1, 2022
New “Blight Elimination Program” Offers Transformative Grant Funding to Rural and Urban Michigan Communities

Michigan Association of Land Banks and Center for Community Progress applaud the bill, which provides much-needed funding for vacant property stabilization, remediation, and demolition.  LANSING, MI – On June 30, 2022, the Michigan State House and Senate passed H.B. 5783, which included a critical appropriation of over $75 million to…

Read More »