New Faces at TRIP: Chris Nobes

Working with TRIP for the Fall 2012 semester is RPI student Christopher Nobes. Chris is a fifth-year Architecture student with a minor in Sustainability and will be spending his time with us as our Sustainability and Urban Architecture Intern. Throughout the semester, Chris will have the opportunity to visit some of our rental and rehab sites while also conducting research focusing on funds and design ideas to further TRIP's environmental improvement efforts.

Outside of school, Chris enjoys playing soccer, snowboarding, and playing the drums. His love of soccer even brought him to Europe where he played as a defender on international teams in England and Portugal.

Chis hails from Belchertown, Massachusetts, and hopes to one day start his own architecture firm focusing on an integrated approach to real estate and construction. Welcome Chris, we're looking forward to a great semester!

Welcome Karisa Beardsley

This month TRIP would like to say "welcome" to our newest staff member, Karisa Beardsley. Karisa will be working with us as a bookkeeper in Accounting. We would also like to thank Cathy Carey and wish her luck at her new job.

We are glad to have you joining the team Karisa!

RCHR Program Profile: Rensselaer County Homeownership Program (Small Cities)

Similar to the Homebuyer Incentive Program available in Troy, the Small Cities program offers prospective homebuyers in Rensselaer County grant funding to assist with down payments and closing costs. Eligible applicants do not need to currently live in Rensselear County.

Administered by the RCHR & TRIP NeighborWorks Homeownership Center, Small Cities funding is available to first-time homebuyers with an annual household income at or below 80% of the area median income (80% of the area median income for Rensselaer County is approximately $62,500 for a family of four), and can provide applicants with either $15,000 or $20,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.

To qualify for the Small Cities Program, applicants must complete a homebuyer education program and be looking to purchase a house anywhere in Rensselaer County (excluding Troy). Funds can be used towards down payments, closing costs, and/or to reduce the mortgage amounts to make the purchase affordable for the homebuyer.

If the benefits of this program sound like something that you or someone you know might be interested in, the first step is to attend a Homebuyer Orientation session. More information can also be found on the TRIP website:

www.triponline.org/buy/down_payment_closing.html.

TNAC Meeting

TNAC (Troy Neighborhoods Action Council) is a coalition of Troy-based residents, business people and others working towards creating great neighborhoods in Troy. We hope to see you at the next TNAC meeting on Tuesday, Oct 30 from 6 -7:30pm at Bethel Baptist Church at 2165 5th Avenue (between Federal and Jacob streets).

Tentative agenda:

“Business” from 6 – 7pm:

• Neighborhood associations sharing
• Vacant Properties Workgroup update
• Drug Free Communities Committee update
• Statewide Neighborhood Revitalization Conference report
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program, Capital District Chapter
• Goodbye and thank you to TRIP’s VISTA Volunteers Claire Pitts and Mary Rynasko

Informal Networking from 7 – 7:30pm

We look forward to seeing you on Oct 30th! Feel free to share this invitation with others.

First Annual Statewide Neighborhood Revitalization Conference Warmly Received

On Saturday, September 22nd, urban planners, local officials, and neighborhood activists from Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Syracuse, Johnson City, Newburgh, and Bennington, as well as a contingent representing the Capital District from Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Latham, Amsterdam, and Cropseyville gathered together on Russell Sage campus to share knowledge and ideas about neighborhood revitalization. Topics covered included: green projects, vacant building rehabilitation, community policing, reclaiming public spaces, community art projects, and much more.

Alan Mallach addresses the conference attendees Saturday morning

Earlier that weekend, on Friday night, James Kunstler gave a keynote speech for the conference's kickoff. Alan Mallach delivered another keynote on Saturday morning, which served to successfully lead conference attendees into a thought-provoking and highly educational day.

The discussion started at the conference is on-going as new projects are brought up and more questions are asked. Please visit www.nyneighborhoods.org to take part! If you missed out on the sessions this year, don't worry-- another revitalization conference is already in the works for the fall of 2013!

Deeper Shades of Green: Building Sustainable Partnerships at the TRIP & RCHR Green Fair

On Saturday, September 29th TRIP & RCHR hosted our first Green Fair, and though the cold September rain kept us under tents and umbrellas, the 2012 Fair set a solid foundation for local partnerships focused on sustainability.

Exhibitors at the TRIP & RCHR Green Fair

Thank you to eLot recycling and 3N Document Destruction for generously providing free electronics recycling and personal document shredding.

TRIP & RCHR would also like to sincerely thank all of the exhibitors at our Sustainability Info Expo. Information about solar energy, saving money on energy efficiency upgrades, composting, aquaponics, household products to minimize water and energy waste, responsible consumerism, and healthy living were provided by:

• American Chemical 
• Arbonne International
• Citizens Bank
• Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Dept. of Public Service
• Empire Solar Store
• Habitat for Humanity
• NYSERDA
• Pfeil's Hardware and Paint
• Real Goods Solar
• Rensselaer County
• Rose Garden Domes
• Transition Troy
• Troy Shares

Cafe Deli-icious also attended, selling beverages and locally-made treats.

Thank you to everyone who attended; we look forward to seeing you again at future events.

Green and Sustainability Tips from TRIP

Bins from 3N Document Destruction

Learning about responsible cleaning products

To see more pictures from the Green Fair, visit www.triponline.org/TRIPandRCHRGreenFair2012.html and/or www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151127239264678.450307.48674229677&type=3

The TRIP & RCHR Green Fair was organized in partnership with Rensselaer County and the City of Troy and was underwritten by Citizens Bank Foundation.

Homecoming Dinner to Celebrate TRIP & RCHR's Excellent Customer Service

The 2012 TRIP & RCHR Homecoming Dinner, happening on Monday, October 29th at 5:30pm at The Franklin Terrace Ballroom, 126 Campbell Ave., Troy, will honor NYS Assemblymember Ron Canestrari and Troy Treasure Michael Esposito.  It is also an opportunity to celebrate the high-quality services provided by TRIP & RCHR.

** Tickets are still available, visit

www.triponline.org/news_and_events/Homecoming_Dinner_RSVP.html to RSVP. **

One part of the TRIP & RCHR mission is to promote responsible homeownership, and the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership center recently earned high quality service marks from NeighborWorks America.

NeighborWorks America scores each affiliated HomeOwnership Center across the country on a quarterly basis, and we are happy to announce that the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center received a 9 out of 10 overall score!

To determine each HomeOwnership Center's Level of Service, NeighborWorks examines the number of homebuyer education clients who successfully purchase homes and the rate at which post-purchase clients maintain homeownership and avoid foreclosure. NeighborWorks organizations consistently strive for excellence, and this score simply underlines the excellent programming available at TRIP.

TRIP's NeighborWorks Center is a one-stop shop for homebuyers and homeowners. Quality, confidential housing advice and group education programs are available to anyone regardless of income or geography on a range of topics whether you are a long-time homeowner or just starting on the path to becoming a homebuyer. Getting this information today will save you money and headaches tomorrow. TRIP HomeOwnership Center staff hear again and again "I wish I'd heard about TRIP before I bought my house!"

To learn more about the programs offered through the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center visit www.triponline.org or call (518) 690-0020.

Information on NeighborWorks American is available at www.nw.org.