One Project Draft

Project Proposal Outline By Tomás Alberto Avila Upsilon Class of 2000

Leadership Rhode Island Community Project Proposal Outline By Tomás Alberto Avila Project Title: ONE (Our Neighborhoods Economy) Theme: Economic Development Description: ONE (Our Neighborhoods Economies) this project will consist in becoming promoters and participants of our community economic development, by developing an investment group, capable of raising capital and investing in the economic development of our urban communities regardless of location. ONE economic strategy should be based on a comprehensive plan for communitycontrolled revitalization crafted by community stakeholders. This plan should outline the blueprint for a locally based economic development strategy based on the concept of an Urban Village. Other initiatives around the country have demonstrated that communitybased planning and organizing can produce quality affordable housing and a network of social services increasingly responsive to residents’ needs. ONE basic approach is to create an environment of opportunity that encourages and supports sustainable business development and asset accumulation, and increases the purchasing power of ONE neighborhood residents. We need to build on the community’s many strengths, and rely on residents to set the direction. This community’s many assets, include its unique ethnic composition (African American, Latino, Cape Verdean, and white), a widespread interest in gardening and agriculture, the richness of its colonial history as well as the current interest in its revitalization efforts, point the way to certain assets-based approaches. Team Members: Project Goal: Becoming promoters and participants of our community economic Development. Objectives 1. Creation of investment group, capable of investing in the development of our communities.

LRI Project: ONE

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Tomás Alberto Avila

2. Empowering our community to envision ourselves becoming economically empowered in order to be able to create wealth in our neighborhoods. 3. Teach community residents to overcome the social mentality and transform such mentality to an economic development mentality. 4. Take control of our community's economic future. 5. Development of Investment Group Community Partners: West Elmwood Development Corporation, Southside/Broad Street, West Broadway Community Development Corporation, CHisPA, Progreso Latino, Quisqueya In Action, Puertoriqueños Unidos, EDC, RIPEC, Urban Ventures, MIDC, SBIC, SBA, RIHMFC, Urban League of RI, Oasis Credit Union, Fleet Bank, Citizens Bank, SBDC, Bank RI, etc.. Action Plan Mission To envision ourselves becoming economically empower in order to be able to create wealth in our neighborhoods and teach community residents to overcome the social mentality and transform such mentality to an economic development mentality. ONE economic strategy should be based on a comprehensive plan for communitycontrolled revitalization crafted by community stakeholders. This plan should outline the blueprint for a locally based economic development strategy based on the concept of an Urban Village. The team members will develop a series of Urban Village Visioning plan to convey the organization’s intention in the targeted neighborhoods. One of these visioning objective will be Community Economic Power, which should identify the key leverage points to move from our vision to the reality of a vibrant multicultural urban village. ONE basic approach is to create an environment of opportunity that encourages and supports sustainable business development and asset accumulation, and increases the purchasing power of ONE neighborhood residents. We need to build on the community’s many strengths, and rely on residents to set the direction. This community’s many assets, include its unique ethnic composition (African American, Latino, Cape Verdean, and white), a widespread interest in gardening and agriculture, the richness of its colonial history as well as the current interest in its revitalization efforts, point the way to certain assets-based approaches.

LRI Project: ONE

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Tomás Alberto Avila

Economic Development Consultancy Venture Capital Funding Services Real Estate Investment Partnership Technological Economic Development (TED)

LRI Project: ONE

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Tomás Alberto Avila