Since 1958, Girls Inc. has been working to meet the needs of underserved girls (ages 5 to 18), and their families. The organization offers academic enrichment programs, leadership and fitness programs, and mental health counseling services. The organization reaches nearly 7,500 girls, family members and clients annually.
Our readers may remember that in 2009 Community Vision began consulting services to Girls Inc. of Alameda to assist them in their search for a new location from San Leandro to downtown Oakland. Community Vision’s real estate consultation helped the organization refine the criteria for their ideal facility and determined which prospects met these standards. Key to their facility search was finding a building close to public transportation so their services are more accessible to girls in the East Bay.
After extensive research, Girls Inc. secured the historic East Bay Water Company Building at 510 16th Street in Oakland. The area is home to a growing number of youth oriented nonprofit organizations, including Oakland School of the Arts, Youth Radio and First Place for Youth. In addition to assisting them in their facility search, Community Vision helped determine their eligibility for Historic Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits. We also showed them how to use a Mills Act contract to reduce the additional property taxes incurred from the Historical Tax Credits. Soon after finding the building, and with the support of Netzel Grigsby Associates as fundraising consultants, the organization launched a “Build It” Capital Campaign to purchase and renovate the 34,000 square foot building.
But Community Vision’s involvement with Girls Inc. didn’t end there. In 2012, Community Vision partnered with the Calvert Foundation, Mercy Partnership Fund and NCB Capital Impact to provide a $6.1 million community facility loan as a bridge to the organization’s capital campaign.
Through our consulting and lending services, Community Vision’s extensive relationship with Girls Inc. of Alameda helped the organization achieve their goal to find a new headquarters in Oakland. By making the vital services provided by Girls Inc. of Alameda more accessible, underserved young women and their families throughout the East Bay will have a better chance to transform their lives and create a brighter future.
