Press

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Center for Community Progress announces the selected fellowship cohorts for this year’s Community Revitalization Fellowship.  WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 24, 2022 – The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) is honored to share the participants for the 2022-23 Community Revitalization Fellowship (CRF). Cohorts of grassroots community leaders from Syracuse,…

Vince Bennett, Michael Nutter, Karen Freeman-Wilson, and Toni Griffin join the Center for Community Progress board of directors. WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 25, 2022 — The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) is pleased to welcome to its board of directors Vincent Bennett, CEO of MBS Properties, Inc.; Karen Freeman-Wilson,…

Washington, D.C. – Today,  Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on landing banking and vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, announced the launch of its new Creative Placemaking Database. The growing database features creative placemaking projects from across the nation, project impacts, and the lessons learned. This database was made possible…

Washington, D.C. –  Center for Community Progress will host the tenth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties (RVP) Conference in Chicago, Illinois, on September 7-9, 2022, at the Hilton Chicago. Community Progress is America’s leading nonprofit resource for urban, suburban, and rural communities seeking to equitably address the full cycle of property revitalization.   “Community Progress is…

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, launched the Vacant Land Stewardship Online Resource Center, an expansive, ever-growing database of submitted vacant lot projects from across the country, along with new publications on best practices for vacant land programming and a community self-assessment tool.  Vacant lots make up the majority of vacant property…

The Saving Power of Community Creativity highlights leaders’ response to COVID-19 and racial injustice through arts, culture, and creative placemaking, created to be a resource for others.  Washington, DC – June 29, 2021 – Today, the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties,…

Center for Community Progress and the National League of Cities announce the selected cities and states to attend the Vacant Property Leadership Institute for Free Educational Programming and Customized Technical Assistance.  FLINT, MICH. – Delegations from twelve cities across four states have been selected to attend the 2022 Vacant Property…

Odetta MacLeish-White to Shape Vacancy Prevention & Affordable Housing Initiative in Georgia   Washington, D.C. – March 27, 2021 – Today, the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), the nation’s leading resource on land banking and revitalizing vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, named long-time a community development leader and the former Managing…

New Director Launches Survey and Interviews to Power New Funding Advocacy and  Online Education for Fighting Vacancy   Washington, D.C. – March 9, 2021 – The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), the nation’s leading resource on landing banking and vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, announced today that Brian Larkin…

Center for Community Progress and the National League of Cities accepting Letters of Interest for Free Educational Programming and Customized Technical Assistance WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 27, 2021 – Today, the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) and the National League of Cities (NLC) announced that a new Vacant Property…

Dr. Akilah Watkins to share on “Housing in a Pandemic-Driven World” as a part of the Community Development and Equity series WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 12, 2020 — The Yale School of the Environment has invited, Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress, to share on its…

State of Vacancy in Michigan 2020 Update Shares Residential Vacancy and Distressed Property Trends FLINT, M.I. – August 25, 2020 – Today, the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, shared the State of Vacancy in Michigan 2020 Update, a joint analysis…

Proposed Legislation to Spur Revitalization by Closing the Real Estate Value Gap in Neighborhoods and generate more than $100 Billion in Community Development WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 14, 2020 – Today, the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, shared its continued…

Land Banking Expert Supports Proposed Legislation to Bring $60 Million in Support to U.S. Land Banks  WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 16, 2020 – Today, the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, shared its support for the bi-partisan supported National Land…

Carey Shea, Brett Theodos, Mijo Vodopic, and Jay Williams join the Board of Directors for National Community Revitalization Nonprofit News Release (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 19, 2020 – Today, the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, announced that the newest appointments…

More Info News Release (PDF) Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Conference Newsroom WASHINGTON D.C. – The eighth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP) will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 15-17, 2018, announced the Center for Community Progress, the national nonprofit that hosts the event. The conference will be at the Wisconsin…

Kathy J. Guillaume-Delemar, Housing Authority Leader and Development Executive joins senior leadership of national Community Development Nonprofit News Release (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 9, 2020 – Today, the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, announced Kathy J. Guillaume-Delemar, Vice Chair…

Dr. Akilah Watkins-Butler to Present at Health, Housing, Race, Equity and Power Funders Convening in Oakland, CA News Release (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 11, 2020 — The Neighborhood Funders Group (NFG) has announced that CEO and President of the Center for Community Progress, Dr. Akilah Watkins- Butler, will share on strategic…

Eighteen resident-activists to participate in national Community Revitalization Fellowship   News Release (PDF) WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 11, 2020 — Today, the Center for Community Progress announced eighteen grassroots community leaders from across the nation have been selected and funded to participate in the 2020 Community Revitalization Fellowship (CRF); which will train…

News Release (PDF) WASHINGTON, DC – January 15, 2020 — The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a $35,000 Art Works grant to expand its work helping communities leverage creative placemaking to combat property vacancy and deterioration. The new funding will…

Jovan Hackley, former University CMO and Real Estate Executive joins senior leadership of national Community Development Non-Profit News Release (PDF) WASHINGTON, DC – December 3, 2019 – Today the Center for Community Progress, America’s leading resource on issues of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties, announced Jovan Hackley, former marketing leader for…

More Info News Release (PDF) Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Conference Newsroom WASHINGTON, D.C. – Registration for the ninth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference is now open. The conference, hosted by the Center for Community Progress, heads to Atlanta, Georgia, on October 2-4, 2019. It will be held at the Atlanta Marriott…

More Info News Release (PDF) About the Community Revitalization Fellowship  About Center for Community Progress WASHINGTON, D.C.: Today, the Center for Community Progress announced the inaugural cohort of its national Community Revitalization Fellowship. Eighteen community leaders, six each from Gary, Ind., Jackson, Miss., and Newark, N.J., were selected through a competitive application…

More Info News Release (PDF) About Center for Community Progress WASHINGTON, D.C. – For Valentine’s Day, the annual #LoveThatLot campaign is encouraging people to engage in “Public Displays of Affection” for outstanding, under-recognized vacant property revitalization efforts. The Center for Community Progress, the national nonprofit behind the campaign, recommends that interested participants: Use…

More Info News Release (PDF) About the Community Revitalization Fellowship About Center for Community Progress WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit organization, is launching a new nine-month fellowship to help grassroots community leaders revitalize neighborhoods that are struggling with vacancy, abandonment, and disinvestment. In 2019, 18…

  More Info News Release (PDF) About Center for Community Progress Newsroom FLINT, MICH. – The Center for Community Progress is pleased to announce the appointment of six national leaders to the organization’s Board of Directors. The new board members are: Katherine Garvey, professor and director of the Land Use Sustainable…

More Info News Release (PDF) Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Conference Newsroom WASHINGTON D.C. – The ninth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP) will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 2-4, 2019, announced the Center for Community Progress, the national nonprofit that hosts the event. The conference will be at the…

  More Info News Release (PDF) Dr. Watkins-Butler’s Bio About Center for Community Progress Newsroom FLINT, MICH. – The Center for Community Progress today announced that Akilah Watkins-Butler, Ph.D., will be taking the helm as the national nonprofit’s new president and CEO. Dr. Watkins-Butler steps into the role in early July…

  More Info News Release (PDF) About our National and Leadership Education Work  About Center for Community Progress Newsroom WASHINGTON D.C. – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced 89 awards totaling $6.89 million supporting projects across the nation through the NEA’s Our Town program. The Center for Community Progress is…

More Info News Release (PDF) National Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Albany, New York; Huntington, West Virginia; and Memphis, Tennessee, are the 2017 recipients of the Center for Community Progress’ Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP). Through TASP, the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), a national nonprofit, will help…

More Info News Release (PDF) National Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Albany, New York; Huntington, West Virginia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Memphis, Tennessee; and the Steel Rivers Council of Governments, Pennsylvania, are finalists in a competition to receive one of up to three technical assistance scholarships from the Center for Community Progress,…

More Info News Release (PDF) National Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP) Grant will help communities tackle property vacancy and abandonment  WASHINGTON, D.C. – The JPMorgan Chase Foundation has awarded a $525,000 grant to the national Center for Community Progress to support its Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP). The grant…

More Info News Release (PDF) Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Conference Newsroom BALTIMORE – The seventh national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference will come to Baltimore, Maryland, on September 28-30, 2016, announced the Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit and host of the event. The conference will be held at the Hilton Baltimore…

More Info News Release (PDF) National Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP) Baltimore, High Point, Rockford will receive guidance from Center for Community Progress WASHINGTON, D.C. – Baltimore, Maryland; High Point, North Carolina; and Rockford, Illinois, are the latest recipients of the Center for Community Progress’ Technical Assistance Scholarship Program…

More Info News Release (PDF) Photo Gallery Community Progress Leadership Institute WASHINGTON, D.C. – Delegations from nine cities across three states and the District of Columbia have been selected to attend the 2016 Community Progress Leadership Institute, a program that equips practitioners with the leadership and technical skills to address significant…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For Valentine’s Day, the #LoveThatLot campaign is encouraging people to engage in “Public Displays of Affection” for outstanding vacant property revitalization projects. The Center for Community Progress, the national nonprofit behind the campaign, recommends that interested participants: Use the #LoveThatLot hashtag to share photos of revitalization projects on social…

More Info News Release (PDF) National Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP) Cleveland, Lucas County, St. Louis will receive guidance from Center for Community Progress WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cleveland, Ohio; Lucas County, Ohio; and St. Louis, Missouri, are the latest recipients of the Center for Community Progress’ Technical Assistance Scholarship Program…

More Info News Release (PDF) Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Media Kit WASHINGTON, D.C. – The seventh national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference will come to Baltimore, Maryland, on September 28-30, 2016, announced the Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit and host of the event. The conference will be held at the Hilton…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for Community Progress today announced the release of Land Banks and Land Banking, 2nd Ed., by Frank S. Alexander, law professor at Emory University and co-founder of the Center for Community Progress. Land Banks and Land Banking, 2nd Ed. is available to download at no cost through the Center for Community Progress…

More Info News Release (PDF) Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference DETROIT – The sixth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference will come to Detroit, Michigan, May 19-21, 2015, announced the Flint-based Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit and host of the event. The conference will be held at the Detroit Marriott at…

More Info News Release (PDF) Photo Gallery  Community Progress Leadership Institute  FLINT, Mich. – Delegations from seven cities across three states have been selected to attend the 2015 Community Progress Leadership Institute (CPLI), a training program focused on equipping leaders with the skills to address large inventories of blighted and vacant properties for…

Dallas, Detroit, Gary and Trenton will receive guidance from the Center for Community Progress More Info Dallas, Texas Detroit, Michigan  Gary, Indiana  Trenton, New Jersey News Release (PDF) Technical Assistance at Community Progress FLINT, Mich. – Groups of local leaders in Dallas, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; and Trenton, New Jersey…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An estimated 120 land banks exist in the United States, and their ability to adapt to local conditions and needs is helping communities, large and small, address the negative impacts of vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties, according to Take it to the Bank: How Land Banks Are Strengthening America’s…

Newly Launched Association Releases Report Highlighting Impact of Nine NY Land Banks FLINT, MICH. – Today, the New York Land Bank Association (NYLBA) released New York State Land Banks: Combating Blight and Vacancy in New York Communities, a report on the early accomplishments of the state’s first nine land banks over the…

FLINT, MICH. – The sixth national Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference will come to Detroit, Michigan, May 19-21, 2015, announced the Flint-based Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit and host of the event. The conference will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and is expected to draw 700-1,000 professionals…

You’ve heard of 311 for city residents, but now there’s a new “311” just for city officials. The National Resource Network: New Solutions for Cities will act as a 311 hub for city officials across the country to get advice and best-practices, becoming a go-to resource on issues ranging from unemployment, to under-performing…

FLINT, Mich. – The local governments of Atlanta, Georgia; Butte-Silver Bow, Montana; and Lafayette, Louisiana are the inaugural recipients of the Center for Community Progress’ new, blight-fighting Technical Assistance Scholarship Program (TASP). Through TASP, the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), a national nonprofit, will help these cities develop new strategies…

FLINT, Mich. – Delegations from eight cities have been selected to attend the 2014 Community Progress Leadership Institute (CPLI), a training program focused on equipping leaders with the skills to address large inventories of blighted and vacant properties for the benefit of their communities. CPLI, a program of the national Center for…

FLINT, MICH. – The Center for Community Progress (Community Progress) has launched a national Technical Assistance Scholarship Program to help public or nonprofit organizations find new solutions to address large-scale blight, vacancy and abandonment in their communities. Up to three recipients will be chosen through the program’s first competitive Request for Applications…

Flint, MI: The Center for Community Progress has released Placemaking in Legacy Cities: Opportunities and Good Practices, a new report exploring how residents and leaders in Legacy Cities have used placemaking principles to transform blighted public spaces into revitalized community assets. The report, prepared for the Center for Community Progress by…

Flint, MI: As 2013 draws to a close, the Center for Community Progress is pleased to announce the appointment of four national urban revitalization leaders to the organization’s Board of Directors over the course of this year, as well as the election of a new Board Chairperson. Bringing a range of…

Bill Strickland to deliver keynote address; 650+ leaders from around the country to attend Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia will host the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, the only national conference dedicated to solving challenges related to vacant and problem properties, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from September 9-11, 2013. Convened by…

A collaborative of nonprofit organizations, including Center for Community Progress, has released the comprehensive Georgia Land Bank Resource Manual (PDF) to guide stakeholders through the process of creating new – and working with existing – land bank authorities. The Resource Manual is the first of its kind, providing not only background context…