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The purpose of Vital Communities BIPOC Home & Business Ownership Project is to advance home ownership, business ownership, and a sense of belonging in the Upper Valley for BIPOC community members – existing, new, and those yet to come. The Project will collaborate with community members and stakeholders to address their identified needs such as housing, entrepreneurship opportunities, and social support.
The Upper Valley needs to attract and retain workers and full-time residents to keep its economy vibrant. However, many are discouraged by the difficulty of finding a home and building a sense of community.
This is particularly true for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community members who – due to the historic marginalization of BIPOC and the Upper Valley’s history as a predominantly White area – face unique difficulties in maneuvering the job market, securing housing, establishing businesses, accessing cultural goods, and, above all, experiencing a sense of inclusion and belonging.
The project was born in the summer of 2023 when CJ and Julius approached Mascoma Bank and Vital Communities to establish a partnership to provide concrete assistance in homeownership and business ownership to new, existing, and prospective BIPOC community members. The design of the Navigator position was directly informed by BIPOC experiences in relocating to the Upper Valley. From declining job offers because of insufficient housing options to leaving the region after a short time due to a lack of support and community, their experiences demonstrated the critical need for this role in the Upper Valley community.
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