As the Genesis Fund approaches March 31 - the end of its fiscal year - it's clear that 2008 will mark our biggest year ever. Sixteen loans totaling more than $2.45 million and expert assistance to 33 community-based organizations serving 14 of 16 Maine counties indicate that the level of demand for our low-cost, innovative financing and technical and organizational assistance is growing.

To read more about the Genesis Fund's work with the organizations listed below in 2008, please click here.

Affordable Housing for Maine Islands and Coastal Communities ~ $967,500
- Community Housing of Maine (2 loans, Vinalhaven)
- Homestart, Inc. (Peaks Island)
- Islesboro Affordable Housing (2 loans)
- Chebeague Island Community Association
- Camden Affordable Housing Organization

Community Facilities ~ $833,054
- Harbor Schools of Maine (Rockport)
- Community Building Trust (Midcoast)
- Shalom House, Inc. (Portland)
- Holbrook Community Foundation (Cundy's Harbor)

Affordable Elder and Supportive Housing ~ $650,200
- Sanford Housing Authority
- Support Solutions (Minot)
- Community Housing of Maine (Scarborough & Bangor)
- Volunteers of America, Inc. (Bangor)

In addition the Genesis Fund introduced two new programs this year:

Maine Mobile Home Park Program Maine is home to more than 550 mobile home parks but not one of them is resident-owned. The Genesis Fund is in discussion with owners and residents of several parks to assist residents in forming cooperatives to purchase and manage their communities. We will help residents organize, finance and manage their mobile home parks so - together with their neighbors - they will own the land beneath their homes.

Green Loan Program The Genesis Fund, in partnership with Horizon Energy, will help Maine nonprofits conduct energy audits on their buildings and then provide below-market loans to do the renovations. Currently three demonstration projects are underway.

Five loans made to nonprofits this winter will support affordable senior apartments, community facilities, a statewide green energy event, affordable family housing, and supportive housing for individuals with disabilities.

-- a $250,000 acquisition loan to Volunteers of America/Northern New England for the 55 units of subsidized senior apartment housing on Harlow Street in Bangor. Currently many Bangor elders are on waiting lists for income-eligible senior housing, so the project will meet a growing need in the community. Other funders for the project include HUD, MaineHousing, and Bangor Savings Bank.

-- a $51,000 acquisition loan to Community Housing of Maine to help purchase and rehab a building on Charles Street in Bangor into four apartments to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing to four homeless people with disabilities.

-- a $4,500 working capital loan to Community Building Trust to cover costs associated with The Midcoast Green Collaborative's to be held on April 18 and 19 at the Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta.

-- a $400,000 refinance of an original $700,000 bridge loan to the Holbrook Community Foundation in Cundy's Harbor, Harpswell. The Foundation repaid $300,000 of the loan with a grant from Maine's Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program.

-- a $200,000 construction loan to the Camden Affordable Housing Organization to develop infrastructure for Lupine Terrace, a development which will offer 14 units of affordable housing for first-time homebuyer families at or below 80% Area Median Income ($36,152). Ten additional lots will be sold at market price to assist with project costs. Figures from 2006 (www.mainehousing.org) show that 82.4% of Camden's households are unable to afford a home at the median price of $312,000.

In March, two local banks enhanced the way they serve the people of Maine by each making a $100,000 investment loan to support the work of the Genesis Fund. Bangor Savings Bank joins nine other Maine banks in placing funds in the Genesis Fund's revolving pool of capital. With this investment loan, Bath Savings Institution brings its total investment support up to $300,000.

Bath Savings Institution
John Marsh, Senior Vice President of Community Development and Commercial Lending at Bath Savings, described the Bank's support this way: "Bath Savings Institution believes that our investment and partnership in the Genesis Fund allows increased access to capital for investment in affordable housing, community development projects, and financial services benefiting low-income people that we may not be able to reach in our local and underserved communities." He added, "Our investment in the Genesis Fund is good for us, good for our community, and good for the Genesis Fund."

Since 1852, Bath Savings Institution has been improving the quality of life in coastal Maine communities by sound lending and investment practices combined with support of and investment in non-profit organizations that support the same goals through corporate sponsorships, donations and personal time. During 2007 Bath Savings Institution contributed nearly $300,000 to non-profit organizations.

Bangor Savings Bank
John A. Moore, Senior Vice President of Community Development Lending at Bangor Saving Bank, also showed strong support for the work the Genesis Fund engages in, "Bangor Savings Bank supports the mission and applauds the effectiveness of the Genesis Community Loan Fund."

He continued, "As a certified Community Development Financial Institution, the Genesis Fund provides a necessary link to increase and leverage the flow of public and private sector capital for investments which support affordable housing, social service organizations, and economic development that benefit our neighbors in the communities we all call 'home'."

Bangor Savings Bank, founded in 1852, has 51 branches across Maine. Together with the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, the bank invests more than a million dollars per year into the community in the form of nonprofit sponsorships, grants and partnership initiatives.

Eight other Maine banks hold investment loans with the Genesis Fund: Camden National Bank, The First, Gorham Savings Bank, Kennebec Savings Bank, Maine Bank & Trust Company, Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, Sanford Institution of Savings, and Union Trust Company.