Los Angeles Gets $4 Million Economic Boost From Community-Development Conference, Event Attracts 1,800+ Professionals

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - February 18, 2015) - A $4 million boost is coming to the Los Angeles economy when more than 1,800 community development professionals from around the country convene in the city for the NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) Feb. 23-27. The conference is hosted by NeighborWorks America, a national, congressionally chartered nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities.

"NeighborWorks America's Training Institute in Los Angeles will train community development professionals from around the country, helping already strong practitioners master the skills needed to improve their communities," said Paul Weech, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America.

This is the fourth time that NeighborWorks America has brought its NTI to Los Angeles during the past five years. Los Angeles is a demonstrated leader in community development.

There are three NeighborWorks organizations working closely in the greater Los Angeles community: Neighborhood Housing Services of Los; A Community of Friends; and Little Tokyo Service Center. In 2014, these NeighborWorks organizations and others working throughout California generated nearly $600 million in total investment and served more than 40,000 individuals and families.

To read more about NeighborWorks organizations' impact in California and other states, view the NeighborWorks America interactive map.

Included in the many courses and workshops at the NTI is a Feb. 25 symposium, sponsored by Citi/Citi Foundation, focusing on "The Business of Community Change (NR902)." The event will help people take their community work to the next level by understanding the market, planning the approach, partnering for impact, and sustaining the effort, such as how to leverage new funding sources to ensure financial sustainability.

Among the speakers at the symposium are Aja Brown, Mayor, City of Compton, CA; and Dean Matsubayashi, Executive Director, Little Tokyo Service Center. NeighborWorks Training Institute is supported by a variety of partners, including Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, Citi/Citi Foundation, Capital One Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, HUD, Bank of America, and Ford Foundation.

For more information about NeighborWorks America, visit www.NeighborWorks.org.

About NeighborWorks America

For more than 35 years, NeighborWorks America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $22.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.