Why CTAC? Strong community
groups help keep neighborhoods viable as quality places
to live, play, work, worship and invest. Some community
groups in Mesa perceive their neighborhoods—areas
that they define—to be in distress. Consequently,
we see a trend. These groups want more influence on development,
desire a more directive role in making improvements and
are able to take responsibility. As a key component of MesaCAN’s
array of services to improve the lives of the poor, CTAC
encourages, supports and facilitates this trend.
CTAC Stakeholders: Financial institutions,
government, businesses, property-owners, churches and many
other stakeholders besides residents have much to lose when
neighborhoods have increased crime, socio-economic stress
and downgraded quality of life. Conversely, these stakeholders
gain much by participating in community organizations to
improve neighborhoods.
CTAC Philosophy: CTAC helps community groups
identify and address their own issues and develop their
own responses to them. We suggest approaches to community
revitalization that put first the voices and interests of
those who typically struggle to speak out. Then, we support
and encourage responsible dialogue as the means for community
groups to work through problems and devise solutions with
the institutions that affect daily life in their communities.
Based upon research in other locales nationwide and our
own experience, we know that this approach works.
CTAC Mission: CTAC provides project management
to help strengthen community groups, tenants’ organizations
and homeowners’ associations.
Is your group eligible? CTAC works with groups that are
ready and interested in community organizing. Has your neighborhood
experienced a “catalytic event” – a threat
such as increased absentee ownership, increased crime or
challenges working with other institutional partners? How
do you know if you are ready for community improvement projects?
Is your group located in an area identified for investment
by public and private sector institutions? Call us!
Free CTAC Services: CTAC offers free planning,
community economic development training and organizational
development, such as writing by-laws and preparing incorporation
and tax-exempt status applications in Mesa. We also offer
grant-writing, project staffing, volunteer recruitment,
public relations and other free services. We work with groups
where their projects are well defined in scope with specific
community development goals. CTAC also provides information
to improve your group’s capacity and knowledge to
participate in public debates regarding planning, development
and neighborhood revitalization and preservation.
NEDCO: CTAC partner organization Neighborhood
Economic Development Corporation (“NEDCO”) is
a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution
whose mission is to finance businesses and community development
projects in the same target area as CTAC’s. NEDCO’s
work is complementary to and builds on the work of CTAC.
Community groups may request NEDCO products and services
for focused investment efforts. For information about NEDCO,
go to
http://www.nedco-mesa.org
CTAC Work Plans: We will provide a written
work plan with your group if you prefer, outlining the exact
training and project support that we will provide.
CTAC Funding: CTAC is funded by the City of Mesa and private
sector contributions.
CTAC Staff:
Pat Gilbert
MesaCAN Executive Director
pat@mesacan.org
Karen LaFrance
CTAC Project Director and Executive Director of NEDCO
klaf@nedco-mesa.org
Jim Malicki
CTAC Project Manager
jim@mesacan.org
Terry Benelli
HOA Consultant
HOAMesa@earthlink.net
COMMUNITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
635 East Broadway Road
Mesa, Arizona 85204
480.833.9200
