Press Releases
April 16th, 2019
JACKSON, MS – Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE), a community development financial institution based in Jackson, Miss., has received a $2.8 million grant from Wells Fargo to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs in diverse communities across the Deep South.
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February 26th, 2019
We are continuing our growth as an organization by focusing on our culture – the expectations that the organization has for each of us that impacts our engagement and effectiveness and our ability to achieve our mission. We began this initiative in June 2018 and shared that it would continue over the next 18 months. To start the 2019 year, we wanted to provide you with a recap of what we have accomplished so far and information about the remaining process related to this work. Step 1. Assessments 1. Cultural Blueprint Assessment – Completed June 2018 Electronic survey sent to all employees. Out of 203 employees, 198 completed the survey. Cultural Blueprint Assessment Score – 567 Overall the current culture is in the average range. This culture not only reinforces many liberating beliefs that are key to engagement and performance, but also reinforces limiting beliefs that will hold the organization back. 2. Vision and Values Alignment Survey – Completed June 2018 This survey was completed by 27 out of 28 HOPE Senior Leaders Vision and Values Alignment Score – 771 The Vision Culture is in the above average range (vision cultures are typically in the 750 – 950 range). Achieving this level in our current culture will enable us to be more creative, better aligned as a team to wards organizational goals, and accelerate organizational performance. Goals As a result, we identified the following areas to focus our efforts: Goal 1: Improve the innovation within the organization Goal 2: Improve the transparency and communication (Explaining the why) Top five behaviors to continue… · Cooperate towards the achievement of a common goal · Support effective team collaboration · Be respectful of other people’s time · Acknowledge the people who help you · See everyone as having value Top five behaviors to reduce… · Accept the rules regardless of the situation · Always take the same approach · Keep information to yourself · Focus on short term gains regardless of the long term cost · Worry that you do not have the right information to act Top five behaviors to increase… · Challenge current assumptions to achieve better results · Be creative and innovative · Operate with an open agenda · Let people know why · Make things happen Step 2 – The Process 1. Leadership Mindset training – As of March 2019, all HOPE leaders will have completed this process. Leadership Mindset is a series of workshops designed to introduce leaders to the power of mindset in leadership and how mindset impact not only our own performance but the performance of those whom we lead. Throughout the process, leaders have explored the following five areas of leadership: Leadership Focus Leadership Power Leadership Purpose Leadership Capabilities and Potential Leadership Motivation and Drive 2. Leadership Blueprint Survey – Completed in 3rd Quarter by all HOPE Leaders, a development tool that measures leadership effectiveness – the leader’s impact on his/her direct reports. This initiates the opportunity for leaders to examine their own attitudes, beliefs, […]
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February 13th, 2019
At “Rural Places, Rural Spaces: Closing Financial Services Gaps in Persistent Poverty America,” a policy forum sponsored by Hope Enterprise Corporation, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi on Feb. 12, 2019.
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February 8th, 2019
New Orleans – Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Council Member Jared Brossett will join CrescentCare, a Federally Qualified Health Center which grew out of the NO/AIDS Task Force, to officially launch the 56,000 square foot health care center in the St. Roch neighborhood on Saturday, February 9 at 11 am.
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December 21st, 2018
Earlier this year, your support enabled HOPE to finance a grocery store in a small town in rural Mississippi. The owner and operator recently sent HOPE the following note, which we wanted to share with you. Together, we can bridge even more gaps in opportunity deserts. Dear HOPE team, I would like to take a few moments to let you know how HOPE played a part in something bigger than opening a grocery store. The response has been tremendous. I am especially proud of the impact we’re having on people’s lives not only in Gloster, but in the county of Amite as well. The residents of Gloster and surrounding areas were having to drive nearly an hour away to achieve what we have now given them–fresh foods at an affordable price. I have been hugged, prayed over, thanked, and cried on for the last several weeks as residents rejoice their new local supermarket. I cannot express to you how moved and humbled I have been. While I understood the need here, I had no idea just how great it was. One moment that stands out more than any other is when a customer came to me and said “Bless you. We haven’t felt like human beings here for years, and now we do.” I say that to say this – I understand it is always a bank’s risk to lend money, and there has to be a rate of return, as in any business. The reason I chose to go through HOPE was because you are a lender with the bigger picture in mind. You align yourselves to help people and to bridge gaps. This is the reason I was led to you. We have truly, truly made an impact in the lives of many people in Gloster, MS and Amite County. Thank you for helping me bring hope to this community. Sincerely, Jason Owner and Operator Piggly Wiggly in Gloster, MS Stories like this are possible because of partners like you. Donate today to strengthen more communities across the Deep South.
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November 20th, 2018
A new facility, financed in part by HOPE, provides long-term care options to families in Tangipahoa Parish, La., and brings jobs and increased tax revenue to its community. A ribbon-cutting and open house for Camelot Community Care was held Nov. 15, 2018, in Ponchatoula, La. The event brought together the facility operators, mayoral and legislative leaders, local residents and HOPE.
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November 8th, 2018
On Monday, November 5, 2018, HOPE joined the Vicksburg Warren School District as it celebrated the beginning of major renovations and additions at Vicksburg High School made possible by the passage of an $83 million facilities bond issue in March of this year. All schools in the District will receive upgrades based on needs and the Vicksburg High School upgrades will cost approximately $37 million.
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October 22nd, 2018
JACKSON, Miss.– Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks® America and its network member, Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE), on Friday, Oct. 19, announced the NeighborhoodLIFT® program will launch for all 82 counties in the state of Mississippi with a $2.75 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost homeownership.
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October 4th, 2018
Q. What are the terms of the NeighborhoodLIFT funding? A. NeighborhoodLIFT funds are provided as a five-year forgivable loan program for owner-occupied properties. As long as the borrower resides in the home, the loan will be forgiven at 20 percent each year on the anniversary date of settlement. If the house is no longer a principal residence or the property is transferred, repayment of the balance of funds will be immediately due. If you qualify for the military benefit, check with Hope Enterprise Corporation on repayment terms. Q. Are there income restrictions for eligible borrowers? A. Yes. Income limits are set for each market for NeighborhoodLIFT funds. The income limits are calculated based on borrower income in connection with household size. Income limits are higher for military service members, veterans, law enforcement officers, Pre-K-12th grade teachers, paraprofessionals, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Income Limits First Responder, Military & Teacher Benefit Information Q. If a person living in the home is not included on the loan to purchase the home does their income count in the calculation of household income? A. No. Only borrower income is calculated. View income limits. Q. Are there other financial requirements to participate in the program? A. You may be required to make an additional down payment contribution from your own funds if your ‘remaining liquid assets’ at the time of your eligibility determination session will exceed $20,000. Q. How are liquid assets determined? ‘Remaining liquid assets’ are defined as your available funds in bank accounts such as checking, savings or money market accounts that are readily accessible without withdrawal restrictions or penalties after you have met any out-of-pocket settlement requirements from your own funds. Liquid assets do not include Retirement Accounts (such as 401(k), IRA or pension accounts), Investment Accounts (such as stock, bond or mutual funds), Certificates of Deposit (CDs), Business Checking or Savings Accounts. Liquid asset determinations and contribution requirement estimates are made at the time of your Eligibility Determination Session. Liquid asset funds that are subsequently transferred to restricted accounts after your Eligibility Determination Session will not be excluded from contribution calculation requirements. Q. What first mortgage lenders are eligible to participate in the NeighborhoodLIFT program? A. A complete list of participating lenders will be available soon. Q. What is homebuyer education and how do I get it? A. Homebuyer education is an eight-hour class that teaches about the home buying process. Homebuyer education must be provided by a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency that has adopted the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. View homebuyer education information. Q. I have a homebuyer education certificate from an agency that is not HUD Approved. Will that be accepted? A. No. Only homebuyer education certificates from HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies that have adopted the National Industry Standards are eligible for NeighborhoodLIFT funds. View homebuyer education information. Q. Can I own another home and still qualify for the NeighborhoodLIFT program? A. Yes, if you currently own a home but will be selling it prior to closing on […]
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September 19th, 2018
JACKSON, MS – Hope Credit Union (HOPE), one of the nation’s leading community development financial institutions (CDFIs), held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Thursday, Sept. 13, for its first Alabama branch, and announced plans to partner with Regions Bank to open a second branch in early 2019.
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