Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation (RVCDC) held their annual meeting tonight in Ashland, Oregon at the Ashland Community Center across from Lithia Park. Created in 1990 to work with low-to-moderate income people, this non-profit corporation has successfully developed 42 units, and has 14 units under development with the hope of soon pushing that number up to 28. These homes are spread out throughout the Rogue Valley, including homes in Ashland and in Medford. They are well on their way to meeting their mission to serve low-to-moderate income people of Jackson County through community development and self help, offering homeownership opportunities, assisting people to build assets through Investment Development Accounts, and by participating in other community development activities. All this with a staff of 6, eight board members, and the help of volunteers and the support of the community working with the people purchasing these homes.

Chosen to be the affordable housing developer for 15 homes to be designated as affordable homes in Verde Village in Ashland Oregon, RVCDC is excited to join the rapidly growing movement toward building sustainable, energy efficient housing. Their co-director, John Wheeler, is a member of the Rogue Valley Branch of the Cascadia Region Building Council, a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, and is looking forward to working with RVCDC to join the many affordable housing developers nationwide who are building their homes to meet these standards, from Energy Star appliances to more extensive Earth Advantage. They are still working on defining the nature of this goal, but know that building sustainable, energy efficient housing makes sense.

Reaching out to help a fellow non-profit affordable housing developer, RVCDC, who has been one of the collaborative partner of the Rogue Valley Youth Build program since 2004, sent teams of the youths participating in this program over to assist Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity who was facing a missed deadline on the two homes they recent dedicated on 11th Street in Medford, just down the street from RVCDC's Grape Street Village project. To find out more about Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation's current projects, jobs, or volunteer opportunities, call (541) 734-2355.

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com