Homebuyer Assistance Available Soon

Good news! Rensselaer County was awarded $400,000 from the NYS Community Development Block Grant Program for Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR). These funds are to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers in Rensselaer County (excluding the City of Troy). These funds will not be available until the spring but now is the time to attend a Homebuyer Orientation. For more information call 690-0020.

The TRIP/RCHR Family is Growing!

TRIP and RCHR would like to welcome our newest addition! On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, Mila Grace was born to Danielle Wattsman (from our Homeownership Center) and her husband! 

Welcome Mila, we are all excited to meet you!

Goodbye and Thank You to Tim Kim

Over the past semester, RPI student, Timothy Kim interned at TRIP, and we would like to thank him for all of his hard work! Tim is a 5th year architecture student with a personal interest in sustainability. He helped with research for TRIP’s “Green” initiative as well as doing architectural drawings for current projects. In addition, Tim got to spend some time visiting North Troy expanding his knowledge while contributing his skills to improve the community.

About his experience Tim says… “As an intern with TRIP, I learned a lot about community development. Working at TRIP was different from reading development policies in class. From planning many community events with Hilary and Jeanette, I learned how to be part of the community. I fully understood how to be civic[ly] engaged and an effective citizen.”

Tim Kim, hard at work at TRIP

Community Leadership Institute, Cleaner and Greener Campaign

TRIP recently brought a group of North Central community leaders to a national Community Leaders Institute in Kansas City, MO.  The four-day NeighborWorks America–sponsored conference attracted more than a thousand residents who are committed to improving their neighborhoods, Troy’s team is now putting that new knowledge to work in North Central!  Partnering with School 2, they recently kicked-off a Cleaner and Greener Community Campaign.  The campaign will focus on beautifying the neighborhood through arts projects and anti-litter efforts including a mural along the front of School 2, raised flower beds, and painted trashcans.

From left:  Lynn DuBray, Davia Collington (Rensselaer County), Alysan Slighter, James Mayben, Hilary Lamishaw (TRIP), Priscilla McCauley, & Kim Mazor at the CLI Conference



Student art made from recycled materials at School 2 kick-off event, Dec 6.



2012 Rehab: 69 Middleburgh

Just as TRIP revitalized 2232 5th Avenue in 2011, we are doing it again in 2012, this time at 69 Middleburgh!

We know that the transformation of one building reaches much further than the space between walls. Such rehabilitations provide comfortable homes for families, but also lift morale, improve surrounding communities, and make for a better image of Troy.

Look for more information to come about 69 Middleburgh and for our ribbon-cutting in 2012!

Thank you to our 2011 Donors!

Season's Greetings    

As 2011 comes to a close TRIP would like to say "THANK YOU" to all of our generous supporters this year! With your help TRIP is able to rehabilitate blighted buildings, create and educate new homeowners, prevent foreclosures, make available high quality affordable apartments to families, provide home repairs to seniors, assist landlords, and support neighborhood groups.

TRIP is hugely proud of our local and regional successes, and we would not be able to do the work we do without our supporters. Your dedication to improving Troy and Rensselaer County results in healthier, happier communities, and is greatly appreciated.

If you have not yet joined our list of supporters, there is still time! Click here to become a helping hand in the future of Troy.

Thank you again to all of our 2011 donors! For a full list of those who have supported TRIP this year see below…

TRIP 2011 donors (through December 15):

Wallace and Jane Altes, Eric and Caroline Lee Anderson, Anonymous, Barbara Arakelian, architecture+, AJ Arpey, Steven Axelrod, Joseph and Barbara Baggott, Bank of America, Duncan Barnett, Lisa Barone, BBL Construction, C.T. Barnes, Judith A. Barnes, Susan Benjamin, Thomas Blandy, James Bouldin, Lee Boyle, Lynn Bradley, Chris Burke, Christopher Burton, Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, Capital Bank, Karen Carlson, Choice Heating and Cooling, City Station, John Clancy, Alma and Joseph Clement, Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Community Works of New York, Bob and Robin Cuddy, Michael and Rebecca Danforth, Garrett and Shellie Degraff, DeFazio Imports, Hal Dethorne, Robert Doherty, Doug Dylla, Emma Willard School, Michael Esposito, Amy Facca and Frederick Cawley, Priscilla Fairbank and Owen Goldfarb, John Fetscher, First Niagara Bank, First United Presbyterian Church, Sid Fleisher, Joseph Fleming, Delkis Flores, Charles Freihofer, Jane Freihofer, Bob Gamble, Marie Gavazzi, Lynn Gelzheiser, Alan Goldberg, Sandy Gull, Eve and Kevin Halloran, Garrett Hamlin and Laura Ferris, Jonathan Harvey, David and Katie Haviland, Mary Hendricks, Steven Heyman, Barbara and Gary Higbee, Paul Hoagland, Alane and Paul Hohenberg, HSBC, H2H Associates, Honorable Kathy Jimino, E. Stewart Jones, Key Foundation, Lynn Kopka, Debra Kossar, Gwen Krause, Hilary Lamishaw, Larralda Limited Partnership, Bernice Ledeboer, Elizabeth and Dean Leith, Lomonaco Architects, Robert and Janet MacLasco, John Madden Jr., Patrick Madden, Joseph Mangione, Carmella Mantello, Marvin & Co, Norman Massry, Kim Mazor, Honorable Roy McDonald, Thomas McGuire, Honorable Steve McLauglin, John McLoughlin, Robert Mitchell, R. Mihran and Ovsanna Mooradian, M&T Bank, Stephen and Mary Muller, John and Kelly Murray, NBT Bank, Christine Nealon, Kevin and Pat O’Bryan, Katrina and David Pacheco, Theresa Page, Mark P. Pattison and Laura Amos, Nina Pattison, Laura Petrovic, Ruth and Bob Pierpont, Pioneer Bank, Francis Pitts, Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer County IDA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Dorothy Reynolds, Lou Rosamilia, Ken and Dorcas Rose, Michael Rynasko and Susan Troll, Ken Salzmann, SEFCU, Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball Shaw, Patricia Shevy, Springwood Studio, Richard Sleeper and Jeannie Stiegler, State Farm, Dave Strack, David Swawite, TAP, Honorable Paul Tonko, Troy Living LLC, Troy Bike Rescue, Trustco Bank, Turner Construction Company, United Tenants of Albany, United Way of the Greater Capital Region, Betsy Voss, Patty Williams, Wojeski and Co, Garland and Deborah Yates, and CKYoung.