[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I wish to honor an 
outstanding non-profit in Columbia, MD, Enterprise Community Partners, 
on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary.
  In 1982, Jim Rouse and his wife Patty founded Enterprise Community 
Partners as a neighborhood-based partnership to revitalize communities. 
They founded Enterprise with the ambitious goal of making sure every 
American lives in a decent, affordable home. Over the years, this 
organization has grown to be a leading provider of capital and 
expertise for affordable housing in thriving communities. Today, Terri 
Ludwig leads the organization as it continues on the important work of 
its founders.
  Enterprise Community Partners has invested more than $11.5 billion to 
build and preserve nearly 300,000 affordable rental and for-sale homes 
and create more than 410,000 jobs nationwide. This includes almost $1.2 
billion invested directly in Maryland--building and preserving 
thousands of homes in the State. Because of Enterprise, over 14,000 
individuals and families have a place to call home in Maryland.
  As a member of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, I 
put money in the federal checkbook to build and protect our 
communities. Providing safe, affordable and adequate housing has always 
been one of my top priorities. Safe, sustainable, and affordable 
housing is essential for community growth and stability. Kids in 
quality housing do better in schools, neighborhoods have much less 
crime, and communities are stronger.
  In 1992, I worked with Senator Kit Bond to create the HOPE VI program 
which revolutionized public housing by leveraging public and private 
resources to replace dangerous and run-down public housing projects 
with mixed-income communities that integrated schools, businesses and 
community services alongside public, affordable and market rate 
housing.
  HOPE VI has been successful in transforming communities and 
transforming the lives of people living in public housing. Enterprise 
has been an important partner in stabilizing Baltimore's stressed 
communities and encouraging investment by residents and businesses so 
that neighborhoods in Baltimore remain places to live, work, shop and 
worship.
  Enterprise stories include families who, due to a reduction in hours 
at work and layoffs, are at risk of foreclosure; young adults who age 
out of foster care and face homelessness; and homeless individuals with 
disabilities. Enterprise develops and preserves affordable housing in 
communities linking people to opportunities for success.
  The Enterprise Green Communities Initiative is the first national 
framework for green affordable housing. The 5-year, $555 million 
initiative plans to build more than 8,500 environmentally healthy homes 
for low-income families. It provides grants, financing, tax credit 
equity and technical assistance to developers who meet Green 
Communities Criteria for affordable housing that promotes health, 
conserves energy and natural resources, and provides easy access to 
jobs, schools, and services.
  Four years ago, Enterprise announced the formation of the Save 
America's Neighborhoods Campaign, a coalition of national and local 
organizations concerned about the foreclosure crisis' impacts on 
communities. The coalition's efforts were important contributors to 
establishing the Neighborhood Stabilization Program at the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, which offers grants to 
help families and communities at risk of foreclosure.
  Enterprise should be recognized for its work to sustain and restore 
thriving communities nationwide. Enterprise tackles some of the 
toughest problems in our communities and continues to transform both 
communities and families throughout the country. They invest in 
neighborhoods that are working together to solve their own problems for 
the collective good of the community.
  I thank the volunteers, staff, board members and foundations 
supporting Enterprise Community Partners for all of their work, for 
their commitment to each other, for their commitment to community, and 
for their commitment to Maryland. And I congratulate you on this 
milestone.

                          ____________________