PACT Dispatch - Q4 2021
Announcing Our New Executive Director
Photo of Shayla shot by Shellee Fisher photography
The board of directors for Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) welcomes Shayla Favor as the new executive director of the organization. She began her duties on Nov. 22, 2021.
Under Favor’s leadership as the incoming executive director, PACT will advance solutions that achieve its goals to drive redevelopment, impact education, health and safety in the PACT geography and drive community transformation. Favor looks forward to building upon the foundation and executing the plans outlined in the PACT Blueprint Community Investment Plan, which was developed in collaboration with the community in 2013.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical that we work to not only ensure the revitalization of the Near East Side of Columbus through the implementation of PACT’s Blueprint Community Investment plan, but to also protect legacy residents from the effects of gentrification and systemic racism that have contributed to the inequities that we see in education, healthcare, housing and employment,” said Favor.
Favor, a member of Columbus City Council since January of 2019, will continue her duties as a member of city council. Prior to becoming a council member, Favor served as an assistant city attorney in the Columbus City Attorney’s office. Assigned to the Environmental Division, Favor had the opportunity to serve the residents of the Near East side by addressing neighborhood disparity and criminal activity through the abatement of nuisance properties. “Eliminating blight gets to the heart of protecting our public safety and improving the quality of life of our residents,” said Favor. Favor is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School and is a resident of Columbus’ Near East Side neighborhood.
Fifth Third Bank Invests $20M to Support PACT Community
Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) recently announced PACT is one of just nine communities nationwide selected for Fifth Third Bank and Enterprise Community Partners' Fifth Third Neighborhood Investment Program. Fifth Third intends to commit up to $20 million in lending, investments and philanthropic support, including grants from the Fifth Third Foundation to the Near East Side PACT neighborhood. A combination of capital, products and services will be invested into small businesses, mortgages, philanthropic efforts, and neighborhood revitalization loans and investments.
“This investment represents our commitment to holistic community development...”
“This investment represents our commitment to holistic community development,” said Fifth Third Central Ohio Community & Economic Development Manager, Sheldon K. Johnson.
“Through the Neighborhood Investment Program, we are focused on contributing to sustainable solutions that address racial disparities in health and wealth. By collaborating with PACT and Enterprise and other community stakeholders we can build upon the foundation of work that’s already been done and have some transformative impact in this historic community.”
For the past decade, PACT has worked with partners and the community to change the Near East Side. PACT plans to leverage this new infusion of funds from Fifth Third Bank to expand black businesses, support public art creation across the neighborhood, and take our community to new heights.
Elizabeth Seely, founding board member and current chair of the PACT board of directors, said PACT will use the funds to further advance initiatives from PACT’s Blueprint for Community Investment including safe and affordable housing, health, education, and employment opportunities. Potential investments in the program include funding the development of new black-owned businesses, supporting public art creation, providing down payment support for residents’ middle-income and ladder-up housing opportunities to build generational wealth, expanding access to health services, and creating financial education, literacy, and savings programs for the area’s young people’s future dreams.
“Infusing good development practices and principles interwoven with community engagement, culture, and legacy has been our vision and our dream,” said Seely. “The expertise and investment of Fifth Third – combined with the knowledge base of Enterprise – make this an exceptionally critical moment for our community. And we’re ready-we’re just poised to leverage it,” she continued.
PACT was invited to apply for the program based on its ability to meet specific criteria, including collaborating with the neighborhood’s Black residents, existing civic infrastructure in the neighborhood and its capability to manage equitable investment and wealth-building opportunities. The program’s funds will cultivate investments and resources from additional stakeholders to support the economic mobility of low- to moderate-income residents in the identified neighborhoods.
The Neighborhood Investment Program is part of Fifth Third’s national $2.8 billion commitment that will provide $2.2 billion in lending, $500 million in investments, $60 million in financial accessibility and $40 million in philanthropy from the Fifth Third Foundation as part of Fifth Third’s Accelerating Racial Equality, Equity and Inclusion initiative. The commitment is focused on four strategic pillars that directly impact customers and communities across the country with targeted outcomes enabling the bank to track progress and measure success in the areas of strategic investments, access to capital, financial inclusion and education, and social justice and advocacy. This program also aligns with Enterprise’s new strategic plan and three central goals: to increase housing supply, advance racial equity and build resilience and upward mobility.
Repairing, Restoring and Reviving Residents’ Homes
PACT’s vision is to create a healthy, financially and environmentally sustainable community in which residents have access to safe and affordable housing in the Near East Side. PACT is helping to do that through the Home Exterior Repair Program. The program started in 2014 and has repaired over 31 houses to date. It provides residents with exterior home repair support that enables them to stay in their homes and the Near East Side community. Seven homes will be selected for repairs this year. PACT is looking forward to continuing to provide housing rehabilitation to families living in the PACT community visually transform this community. This program has been made possible with generous funding from Ohio State, United Way of Central Ohio, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and Fifth Third Bank.
Community Highlights
NOBO Sponsorship
PACT announces a partnership with NoBo Arts &Gifts. NoBo Arts & Gifts is a rich fusion of artisans and entrepreneurs presenting their original work and products to the public. NoBo was established in 2012 to empower and support local artists while stimulating economic growth in the community.
Cleaner Columbus
In August, Columbus City Council announced the application for the Cleaner Columbus Youth Grant. Youth organizations across the city had the opportunity to apply for $500 grants to support their unique endeavors in exchange for picking up litter in targeted neighborhoods. If you are interested in learning more about the program and want to support the initiative, please visit the website.
Service Saturday with the Growing and Growth Collective
PACT supports the Growing and Growth Collective’s efforts to champion the Greenway Community Garden. Save the date and join the Growing and Growth Collective on Saturday, November 27th from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. You can RSVP by emailing the Growing and Growth Collective at growingandgrowncollective@gmail.com.
