NECAC, Mo. — When times get tough, innovation can be a key to progress.
The Tri-State Housing Summit will showcase cutting-edge efforts aimed at helping more people become homeowners.
The free event for residents, businesses and stakeholders from Missouri, Illinois and Iowa begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. June 13 at the Rialto Banquet Center, 601 Broadway in Hannibal. The program is from 9 a.m. to noon.
The annual event is hosted by the North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) of Bowling Green, Two Rivers Regional Council of Quincy, Ill., and the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission of Burlington. NECAC organized the first summit in 2005.
“Housing is a key ingredient of economic success and without a wide range of homes that are attractive and affordable, our communities will not grow or prosper,” said NECAC Deputy Director for Housing Development Programs and summit organizer Carla Potts. “We’re very excited about the housing summit and feel this is an excellent time for communities and residents to come together and work toward addressing our housing needs.”
Speakers include representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Missouri Inclusive Housing, Anchor House, AmeriCorps, the Missouri House of Representatives and the Drew Lewis Foundation.
The summit has had triumphs over the years. One of its biggest came in 2013, when NECAC was instrumental in bringing a U.S. Department of Agriculture Great Regions designation to the 35-county area that makes up the Tri-State Development Summit. Housing is one of the steering committees. The designation gave the region another tool in building a stronger housing market.
The housing summit also has showcased the USDA Self-Help Housing Program and the Aspire Partnership small homes program in Northeast Missouri; the repurposing of a former school in Fort Madison, Iowa, and the redevelopment of a movie theater in Burlington, Iowa; and weatherization efforts in Illinois.
More information about this year’s event is available by calling NECAC 573-324-6622.
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Carla Potts of the North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) addresses the 2023 Tri-State Housing Summit. This year’s free event is from 9 a.m. to noon June 13 at The Rialto Banquet Hall in Hannibal.