[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E763-E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MICHAEL K. CLARKE

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2018

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Michael K. Clarke upon his retirement as the Executive Director of the 
Buffalo, New York office of LISC (Local Initiatives Support 
Corporation).
  The LISC strategy to ``invest in businesses, housing and other 
community infrastructure to catalyze economic, health, safety and 
educational mobility for individuals and communities,'' has been 
brought to life under Mike Clarke's two decades of visionary 
leadership. This nonprofit agency, promoting community development in 
collaboration with public and private partners, has encompassed 
housing, commercial and recreational facility development.
  Despite Buffalo being among the smallest of the many cities LISC is 
involved, Mike's depth of experience in neighborhood redevelopment, 
public housing and community and commercial financing projects boosted 
our city's profile in the national organization. Since opening their 
doors in 1998, LISC has invested $131 million in those neighborhoods, 
further leveraging an additional $254 million in investment. Our work 
has resulted in the creation of 2,574 units of affordable housing, 
355,000 square feet of commercial space, and the renovation of 9 
recreational fields for youth.
  Mike and LISC became synonymous twenty years ago at a time when 
Buffalo needed their assistance most as we faced the challenges of old, 
vacant housing stock, a smaller base of philanthropic sources and 
reductions in government support. Far from standing outside the fire, 
Mike went all in bringing public, private and non-profit partners to 
the table to research, learn, listen and get to work to implement 
targeted solutions one house, one street, one neighborhood at a time. 
Today, while problems remain, our ability and resolve to address them 
as One City has never been stronger.
  Mike Clarke's investment in the citizen-led planning movement 
building on our great architectural, civic and cultural assets, the re-
emergence of downtown and adjacent neighborhoods yielded real action 
and results that have contributed greatly to Buffalo's renaissance.
  Mike's ability to harness progressive strategies using all financial 
resources available led to the first federal New Market Tax Credit 
investment that preserved the historic Asbury Delaware Church. Now, 
known as Babeville, this unique performing arts center founded by Ani 
DiFranco and Scot Fisher is a center for music, art, and community 
projects in Buffalo, New York.
  Responsible for implementing HUD's Section IV grant program, LISC's 
capacity building program has had a tremendous impact on driving 
community development activity here in Buffalo. Its collaboration with 
HELP USA on the HELP Buffalo II affordable housing project for families 
with minimal incomes, and permanent supportive housing for formerly 
homeless veterans is spurring new energy in the Broadway-Fillmore 
neighborhood. Mike's active involvement in bringing the National Vacant 
Properties Campaign to Buffalo and intense focus on neighborhood 
business district activities, including Jefferson and Elmwood Avenues 
laid the foundation for enhanced urban commercial corridors.
  Most recently, an investment of $5 million from LISC and in a dynamic 
public-private partnership led by Herbert Bellamy, Jr, the son of a 
legendary leader on the east side of Buffalo, a closed warehouse-
turned-community center is now home to 30 families with community space 
and a children's playground. Prior to joining LISC Mr. Clarke was a 
Mortgage Officer for the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) a 
not-for-profit real estate lender, which specializes in financing 
affordable housing for low and moderate-income households. For five 
years he served as the Executive Director at the Buffalo Municipal 
Housing Authority (BMHA) which owned and

[[Page E764]]

operated over 5,000 low-income rental apartments in 27 developments in 
the City of Buffalo. He was a Capital Programs Manager for the New York 
State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), and the 
Executive Director of Kensington-Bailey Neighborhood Housing Services, 
Inc. His extensive public service has extended to volunteer leadership 
on the following boards: Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo; 
Friends of the School of Architecture and Planning at SUNY at Buffalo; 
Erie County Commission on Homelessness; Bailey-Amherst District 
Management Association and the Downtown Neighborhood Development 
Corporation.
  To all who know him or know of him, worked with him or at times, 
worked against him, there is one thing we can all agree on, Mike put 
his community first. His hard-won reputation as a community organizer, 
neighborhood advocate, housing activist and all-around agitator has 
earned him our respect and gratitude.
  Mr. Speaker, as family, friends and colleagues join in 
``Larkinville'' to acknowledge his many accomplishments on June 4, I 
add my appreciation for Michael K. Clarke's friendship, leadership and 
legacy of making a real difference in the lives of those who live in 
and love the City of Buffalo.

                          ____________________