Civil Municipal - Feb 2024

MCCI, a regional Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), addresses gaps in residential and commercial lending markets. Pimentel explains,“The Mayor strategically channels monies to eligible companies for MCCI to provide grants and loans.”This builds wealth circulation and supports enterprises in their quest to contribute to and benefit from Lawrence’s prosperity. With an unwavering tenacity, public officials secured another $3.1 million federal award from the HOME- ARP Allocation Plan. “This funding will be applied for Affordable Housing Construction. The Economic Development Program (EDP) and Thriving Lawrence Project help small businesses through grants” says Awilda Pimentel, the Community Development Director. The Lawrence Redevelopment Authority (LRA) administers supplemental aid. Its mandate includes instituting rehabilitation and design standards, assembling and disposing of land (including eminent domain real estate), moving commercial 57 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 02 LAWRENCE, MA