[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    TRIBUTE TO THE STURGIS NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM AND STURGIS FEDERAL 
                              SAVINGS BANK

                                 ______


                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the fine efforts of 
the Sturgis Neighborhood Program and Sturgis Federal Savings Bank who 
were recently recognized by The Social Compact with its 1995 
Outstanding Community Investment Awards. They received this honor for 
their partnership achievement: stabilizing lower income neighborhoods 
and families through the rehabilitation of affordable rental housing 
which is rebuilding community hope and pride.
  Sturgis Neighborhood Program [SNP] was founded in 1991 in response to 
the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce's call for greater responsiveness 
to the housing needs of the city's lower income residents. The downtown 
business district of Sturgis, a small rural city, has a high 
concentration of deteriorating and substandard housing. These units, 
built before 1940 and converted from single-family, owner-occupied 
residences to multifamily properties, are rented to very-low-income 
families and require high maintenance. Many of the residents receive 
public assistance and lack necessary skills to balance their household 
budgets and maintain their property.
  SNP combines housing rehabilitation with support services to address 
the needs of Sturgis citizens. Since its inception, SNP has 
rehabilitated five single-family homes, with numbers six and seven on 
the way. Tenant families are employed, receive family development 
guidance, and participate in maintenance education programs. A Family 
Services Coordinator meets with each family on a regular basis to 
develop a goal-setting plan, a program that is helping families become 
self-sufficient, productive members of the community. I must say that 
SNP's Director, Judy Som-merfield, has done a wonderful job 
with all of the various activities of the organization.
  Sturgis Federal Savings Bank, the first of four financial 
institutions to support SNP's mission, played a vital role in SNP's 
initial success. The thrift's president, Leonard Eishen, provided key 
financial direction and guidance in the area of administration and the 
development of community support, a major issue for SNP.
  In order to gain community support, the nonprofit organization 
undertook an extensive, year-long campaign to meet with community 
leaders. Sturgis Federal also helped SNP with a line of credit, a 
$1,000 annual grant toward operating support, low interest rates, and 
flexible terms. With the assistance of Sturgis Federal, SNP received 
$124,000 in grants and subsidies which allowed the organization to 
successfully renovate five units of affordable rental housing. The 
Michigan State Housing Development Authority also awarded grants for 
the rehabilitation of the second house and subsequent projects.
  By the end of SNP's 1996-97 fiscal year, it hopes to have completed 
24 housing units in the targeted downtown area. These efforts improve 
the neighborhoods and support the local economy. Besides its 
partnership with Sturgis Federal, SNP has actively sought partnerships 
with local government, industry, business, financial institutions, 
youth groups, and service organizations. A network of volunteers from 
these groups helps to complete small projects on SNP houses.
  Working together increases community pride for those who volunteer 
and for the individuals and families who don't want a handout but only 
an opportunity for a hand up. With its initial success, SNP has earned 
the trust of the community it serves and has become an integral part of 
the community's vision for improving the lives of its lower income 
residents.


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