Nassau nonprofit wins $45K grant for development

The not-for-profit group Sustainable Long Island has won a $45,000 private-sector grant to support a faith-based group's development efforts in one of Nassau County's lower-income communities, Hempstead Village.

The grant comes from the Citi Foundation, and will be directed to the Hempstead Rebirth Capacity Building Initiative for use in expanding its ability to foster new housing and small business development, Sustainable Long Island said.

“With the generous funds from the Citi Foundation, Sustainable Long Island will aid Hempstead Rebirth in advancing its revitalization efforts within the Village of Hempstead,” Amy Engel, executive director of Sustainable Long Island, said in a Thursday news release.

The money will help the Hempstead group develop a new mission statement, train its staff, prepare an organizational management plan, write grant applications, and reach out to other organizations for partnerships.

“With a focus on affordable housing and economic development, we will work with them to help refine their mission, identify priority goals, and assist in conducting a feasibility study centering on redevelopment opportunities," Engel said.

Hempstead Rebirth, a faith-based community development corporation, was founded in June 2000 to address the village's housing needs.

"Since then, Hempstead Rebirth has expanded its work beyond housing to include technical and financial support to small businesses and support of community clean-up projects," Sustainable Long Island said.

“Citi and the Citi Foundation are proud to continue our long association with Sustainable Long Island by providing resources that will allow the organization to further its work transforming Hempstead into a model community,” Pat Edwards, of Citi Community Development’s Long Island office, said.

“With a thriving business community and exciting economic development initiatives on the horizon, Citi’s support and Sustainable Long Island’s leadership mean that Hempstead will continue moving in the right direction," Edwards said.

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