Lee County, FL
PROTECTING THE BOTTOM LINE
Direct Technical Assistance
We provided direct technical assistance to Lee County, Florida, after it received its first disaster recovery grant award. The region had been damaged by Hurricane Ian, and it was awarded $1.1 billion, which was the largest award ever received by a county.
Capital Access designed several programs that helped the county develop comprehensive policies and procedures for managing the award efficiently. One of our innovations was helping the county to design and host a “TA Day,” which featured in-person training and introductions for the county’s localities. The event featured 1-on-1 “pitch sessions” that enabled municipal and nonprofit subrecipients to discuss their intended projects. The attendees received guidance on compliance considerations and hands-on training on ways to undertake infrastructure projects using CDBG-DR and FEMA funds.
State of Ohio Department of Development
Memorial Day Tornado Recovery
Following the devastating 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes that struck the Dayton area, Capital Access partnered with the State of Ohio to support the launch and implementation of critical recovery housing efforts.
The state was awarded $12 million in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funds, with a focus on Montgomery County and nearby communities most impacted by the storms. Capital Access provided technical assistance to design and implement a suite of housing recovery programs, including rental housing development and the Pathways to Homeownership Program. This program—developed in collaboration with Montgomery County and a local nonprofit—facilitated the construction of new homes for displaced tornado survivors. Volunteer labor from local Amish residents helped bring the homes to completion.
Because we recognized that many tenants were displaced from damaged rental properties that did not qualify for direct assistance, we worked with local partners to create a system for tracking affected renters and connecting them to alternative housing opportunities. Many transitioned to become homeowners through these coordinated local efforts.
Montgomery County’s readiness and strong nonprofit network enabled a robust and community-led recovery effort. Capital Access supported the county’s work through program design, compliance guidance, and strategic capacity building—ensuring public funds were used efficiently and effectively.
The success of these efforts led to a request for additional funding to expand the homeownership program. More recently, HUD has reassigned Capital Access to the project to provide capacity-building assistance. Our team is now supporting the grantee in successfully closing out the grant and preserving long-term program impact.