Arc Jacksonville Village is awarded national prize
The Arc Jacksonville Village is the nationwide winner in the “Special Needs Housing” category at the 23rd Annual Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards.
The group was nominated for the award by the Raymond James wealth management advisory firm.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson presented the award June 7 to Sean Jones from Raymond James, Steve Kelley from EverBank and Jim Whittaker, CEO of The Arc Jacksonville at a luncheon in Washington, D.C.
“This award recognizes The Arc Jacksonville’s ability to strengthen lives and provide a community for those with unique abilities. It is gratifying that this community has devoted their time and resources to promoting the importance of supported living programs while giving its residents the confidence and support to lead independent lives,” said U.S. Rep. John Rutherford from Jacksonville’s 4th Congressional District, in a news release.
The Arc Jacksonville Village was created at the request of young adults, and their families, for a safe environment where those who need some lifestyle support could independently establish a home.
The Village is an apartment-style, affordable neighborhood for 121 adults age 18 and older. The Village opened in May 2016 and was fully leased by August.
The Arc Jacksonville serves community members with diagnoses including Down syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and other types of developmental delays.
Grymes retiring from Big Brothers Big Sisters
After more than 13 years of service to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, CEO Warren Grymes is retiring effective June 30.
The nonprofit’s board of directors elected Vice President of Programs Sara Huke Alford to serve as the organization’s next chief executive. She has been with the organization for 10 years, serving in the roles of quality assurance manager and vice president of programs.
When Grymes arrived in 2004, the organization was serving 350 students and was struggling to keep the doors open. Since then, the organization has grown to serving more than 1,200 youth annually.
Grymes said he “plans to travel and enjoy family” as he begins his retirement.
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, visit bbbsnefl.org or call (904) 727-9797.
Chamberlin joins MOSH exec staff
The Museum of Science & History has appointed Amy Chamberlin as its director of communications and marketing.
She most recently served as communications specialist at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, where she directed patient and staff outreach and communications projects.
Chamberlin previously was associate director of marketing at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, where she managed media and community partnerships.
During her 18-year tenure in the nonprofit sector, Chamberlin has worked in public relations, media relations, strategic communications and marketing and brand management.
CenterState Bank gives $100,000 to Ability Housing
Representatives from CenterState Bank presented Ability Housing a $100,000 grant for development, maintenance and expansion of its properties and programs in Northeast and Central Florida.
The money will be disbursed in annual installments of $20,000 over five years.
Mellissa Slover-Athey, Community Reinvestment Act officer for CenterState Bank, toured two of Ability Housing’s Central Florida projects that are in predevelopment: A renovation of the Wayne Densch Center that will increase the number of apartment units from 64 to 77, and a 166-unit apartment project on Mercy Drive.
“There is significant need in both our Orlando and Jacksonville communities for housing partners that not only develop properties but also provide supportive solutions to their residents and the local community. Ability Housing was chosen as the recipient of the $100,000 grant due to their successful history of developing affordable and supportive housing,” she said in a news release.
In addition to the Central Florida projects, Ability Housing owns and operates four apartment communities and 29 single-family homes in Northeast Florida.
Ability Housing also is the developer of Veterans Landing, a 23-unit apartment community in Jacksonville that is in predevelopment.
Ability Housing is a nonprofit that strengthens communities by creating quality housing that ends homelessness for individuals, families and people with a disability. The housing is linked with services so residents have a network of support.
For more information, visit abilityhousing.org.