March 10, 2015 — CEI announced its new membership in the national NeighborWorks^® network during its annual meeting on March 10. In order to become a chartered NeighborWorks member, a significant achievement, CEI met high organizational health and performance standards, enabling the Maine-based organization to gain access to a powerful battery of training, research, technical assistance and funding opportunities. The announcement included a check presentation from NeighborWorks to CEI for $230,000, with $150,000 earmarked to support the construction of CEI’s new headquarters building in Brunswick, Maine.

“As a long time advocate to help all people, especially those with low incomes, to achieve their full potential, this partnership allows us to harnass NeighborWorks’ best practices in affordable housing development and expand reach to serve more Maine residents more efficiently,” said CEI CEO and President Ron Phillips.

CEI leads significant multi-family housing development work, having developed a current portfolio of 278 units of affordable rental housing serving over 1,000 households in 17 communities throughout Maine, and provides financing to other affordable housing developers. CEI is also the largest provider of housing counseling in the state, offering services including pre-purchase counseling, foreclosure prevention, financial capability coaching and homebuyer education to more than 600 residents annually.

NeighborWorks^® America Regional Vice President Deborah Boatright congratulated Coastal Enterprises, Inc. for its high productivity, dedication to affordable housing and service within its community, and accountability, and brought special greetings from CEO Paul Weech.

“NeighborWorks network membership provides CEI access to resources that strengthen its ability to serve people throughout the great state of Maine, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth. We are proud to have this productive and effective organization join our network of excellence,” relayed Weech.

NeighborWorks America created the NeighborWorks network to improve housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families; provide financial education and improve financial literacy; rebuild and repair properties; develop affordable multifamily homes; and use innovative strategies to improve safety and revitalize communities across the nation.

Collectively in Fiscal Year 2014, NeighborWorks America and the more than 240 members of the NeighborWorks network have been able to:

• Assist 323,400 households with affordable housing;
• Own or manage 118,200 rental homes;
• Help 21,000 families of modest means to achieve their dream of homeownership;
• Counsel and educate 108,500 customers about their finances and housing options;
• Repair 58,600 homes using state-of-the-art methods, including green and healthy building techniques;
• Create or sustain more than 35,000 jobs per year through local NeighborWorks-supported projects and activities;
• Mobilize more than 1.5 million volunteer hours to revitalize communities;
• Invest more than $6 billion in local communities, leveraging NeighborWorks’ federal appropriation by 44:1.

For more information about CEI, contact Liz Rogers, 207-882-5139, erogers@ceimaine.org.

About CEI
CEI, one of the nation’s premier Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), specializes in rural business development and financing. Founded in 1977 in Wiscasset, Maine, we create economically and environmentally healthy communities in which all people, especially those with low incomes, can reach their full potential. CEI provides financing and technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses, natural resource-based industries including the farm, fish and forest sectors, community facilities, renewable energy, commercial real estate and affordable housing. CEI serves communities in Maine, New England, and rural regions throughout the U.S. Find out more at www.ceimaine.org.