Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation

VHCDC strives to address the needs of the rental population by providing Homebuyer courses via a Homebuyer College course that provides vital information needed when purchasing a home. Do yourself a favor and sign up for the next class. www.vhcdc.org. It's Free!

I never heard of this program until I received an email about their class. I took a chance and joined. The staff were very informative, helpful, knowledgeable, and just down to earth. The information that you receive from their class is overwhelming and useful. There is an abundance of resources that they are qualified and certified to assist ANYONE in any situation! With this program, there is NO REASON that you cannot obtain any form of housing. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this non-profit in particular. I hope that fear does not hold anyone back from believing in their dreams and taking the necessary steps to achieving them. I took my steps and now I am on my way to homeownership! Thank you to all the staff that assisted me in making sound decisions on my journey. It's not over until I get my keys in hand!

Many of us desire or at least say that we want to do community work, revitalize our neighborhoods and help strengthen the financial wealth and well-being of others, but this is what VHCDC does regularly. If you're looking for a great nonprofit organization to get behind and support, this is the one! VHCDC is making a difference in many lives - from 1st-time home buyers to investors and small business owners.

The VHCDC has been a life line for deveoping relationships that allow for continuing education for building strong communities. Not only do they provide homeowner classes, entrepreneur and business classes but they have developed statigic relationships with key alliances that assist individules in acccomplish these pursuits. VHCDC continually seeks opportunities to serve the greater Tidewater area. Being involved with VHCDC has been a win-win for our family!

VHCDC is a quality resource for the community it serves. It provides the knowledge and assistance to help those who care to make their home and community a better place to live.
It covers all aspects of obtaining and maintaining a home.

VHCDC is an awesome organization. I participate in the Investment Club, and find the leadership and the program to be an excellent experience and service. James Taylor is very knowledgeable and an excellent leader and teacher.

I attended Part I of the Business Startup class on 9/27/14 and it was very informative and fun. It enlightened me on the importance of good accounting practices, which is key information for someone anticipating retirement in the not so distant future and seeking insight into potential entrepreneurship. The interaction between presenter and attendees was stimulating as well. Thanks for an overall great learning experience! ...and did I mention it was free?

I attended Part I of your Business Start-Ups Class and was very pleased. The presenter was very knowledgeable and informative. She presented real time examples and practical information. Can't wait to attend Part II of this series. Did not know there was this kind of information out there for free. Please keep up the fantastic work.

I came upon VHCDC through internet. I was looking for a loan from reliable source. With credit score being so low, no one was willing to spend time with me. I saw the description of VHCDC and called
the office. I was told some one will be in touch with me. I did not expect much hope, considered it
another brush off. To my surprise, I receive a phone call from Ms. Dashera Walton at VHCDC the same day. She introduce herself and spoke with me at great length. She sent a form to me by email,
asked me to fill and send back to her as soon as possible. She said she would try her best to find loan for me. In the mean time. she and Mr. James Taylor, Director, continued staying in touch, provided me advice and guidance regarding ways to improve my credit scores and free leads to follow to obtain work. I sincerely appreciate the assistance they have provided and consider VHCDC a very helpful organization.

Ms. Taylor has equipped our newly established investment group "Distinguished Investment Group" with the knowledge to be successful investors. Very impressed by his knowledge and to pass it forward so we can all benefit from it. Keep up the great work!

Fatima Williams

We've had our first meeting with Mr. James Taylor and I can say I am extremely Impressed. I cannot thank him enough and VHCDC for this learning experience. It's truly a Blessing!!
Words cannot express the amount of appreciation I have.
Thanks again.

In 2013 I had the privilege of attending MBE Venture Weekend facilitated by James Taylor. The program was well worth the investment, which gave you a full business strategic plan to move your business forward into overdrive. I would love to attend more workshops like this.

VHCDC serves our partnership in the capacity of a mentor/incubator for Central Virginia Small Business Investment Partnership (CVSBIP). Mr. Taylor (VHCDC) has guided/ and assisted our Partnership from the very beginning and he continues to be available to assist CVSBIP partners when needed. He has provided us with all the tools needed to become a successful "Investment Club". Before meeting Mr. Taylor , I thought I was a somewhat savvy investor; however, after the many visits to our meetings, I learned that I was a rookie investor. I have learned so much under the tutelage of Mr. Taylor!

We were provided, by VHCDC, training to gain an understanding of how to purchase stock, learning the terminology used in the stock market & investing, assistance in composing our partnership agreement and developing CVSBIP's Operating Procedures; and he ensured that CVSBIP's paperwork was correct before submitting it to the SCC, it was accepted without the need for corrections nor a request for additional documents. This nonprofit assistance was/is phenomenal!

Sorry VHCDC for taking so long to respond, these past 2 weeks were entirely busy. I appreciate you giving me this opportunity to write this review and hopefully, the feedback will help assist you in improving this wonderful and educational program.

I lived in Central Virginia and had been a client of this program for the past year and a half. I am part of Central Virginia Small Business Investment Partnership and on their leadership team. Mr. James Taylor is/was our mentor and training coordinator. We received the required training, follow-up, and support from Mr. Taylor. We have had many meetings and check and balances to this program, and its learning phrases, however, there are a few areas of concerns that I hope would be addressed during this review.

1. Training... even though, the training we received was right on track and we understood, what was needed, talking to some of our members/partners, the area that was really needed, did not occur in this training, online training and demonstration. This was the area needed to understand, researched, and get most of our information. I feel that a couple of classes in this area would had help those individuals who may had been new or limited to investment with online information gathering.

2. Couples, i. e. husband/wife team. It is my understanding, if a couple get involved with the program, it is on an individual basics. They must contribute separate individual funding to be part of this investment. Example, to become a partner, each of them must paid fees and contribution each month to the investment club, therefore, if the contribution and/or fees are $50.00 per partner, this is a $100.00 per month from this family budget. Anyway, can we looked at this issue and maybe, we can change or reduce this funding issue? Or come up with some idea of family reduction contribution to this requirement???

3. There is/was a misunderstanding of prospective members/ partners attending regular meetings, who had not attend VHCDC presentations. To me,this is key to the success to membership because it covers what this program is and what is its objective(s). If potential members/partners, who had no exposure to the presentation and/or knowledge to the program, it is a disadvantage to them and to the investment clubs and our teaching and learning points at the meetings which may not covered those areas needed that the presentation does covered. It is my suggestion, any potential member/partner will be required to attend your VHCDC presentation prior to attending investment clubs meetings.

4. It appears that there is a disconnect on invitations. We should re-evaluate this part of the program. There had been so many no shows.

5. Could we also re-evaluate meeting at public meeting locations, there is no privacy.

6. I know that the program is designed for long- term opportunity and benefits, however, I was wondering we could designed a short-term program? From my observation, many potential members are looking for faster results in their investment opportunities. Could we have both?

Again, I appreciate the opportunity given to share my thoughts and/or suggestions. I hope that the above feedback and recommendations will help improve this program and move it forward.

Regards

Thomas House Jr.

Good morning,

My name is Bonita Kenney and my housing information has just been completed, and it was a long and painful process. I have just recently applied at the Warwick SRO downtown Newport News and now waiting for acceptance. I hope that I will be given an opportunity to have a place I can call my own.

I am seeking employment, although I work under the table cleaning, and cooking for a private source I will be able to pay my rent. I understand the whole process of who comes first as far as housing setting priorities, however the state needs to change there are many single women without any help today. Especially those who seek greatness, not trying to fraud people to get what they want, but what they need to have a better life; such as my self.

Today I am grateful that everything seems to finally fall into place. Thank you,

Bonita Kenney

I have been privy to several VHCDC initiatives and can say from experience, their clients are well cared for, well-informed, and treated in an professional manner regardless of the client's situation. VHCDC has set a standard for itself to conduct business ethically and maintain the level of professionalism one would expect from a company handling confidential information.

VHCDC is a valuable resource & advocate for business and economic development in under- served and under- utilized communities. Also, VHCDC conducts workshops & conferences that exposes small and emerging business to cutting edge practices and strategies!

DERRICK ALFORD, CEO
FISCAL FITNESS TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
RICHMOND, VA.

We are most grateful to the staff at the Virginia Housing And Community Development Corporation and their guidance over the years. In the areas of business & finance development they are a great help. They have done a great expanding.

DLT

I became familiar with VHCDC in 2004 as a double-minority owner of a distribution company. Though my company was located in the Northern portion of North Carolina ( near the Virginia line) I received an invitation from VHCDC to attend a conference for small businesses and to participate in a "Business Plan" writing contest where the top prize was an investment from an angel investment company.

I did not participate in the contest and initially had reservations about attending, however, after receiving the agenda, and the list of workshop presenters, I knew that I had to make an effort to go and to take my sales consultants with me. I have never regretted that decision.

It was not only jam packed with useful information and advice, it afforded me the opportunity to network with small business owners from so many different places and we all altruistically shared connections, contacts, ideas, suggestions and advice. James Taylor, Executive Director, not only demonstrated great leadership skills he also showed us how to plan, coordinate and execute an effective conference with meaningful information from experts in federal government, state government, private sector as well as funding opportunities for our endeavors.

Although I moved to central N.C. to become caregiver for my mom who passed away in 2012, James has maintained contact with me and now that I can once again focus on business, I certainly plan to revive this professional connection that has continued to develop, expand and reach out to entrepreneurs in neighboring states. Thank you James Taylor for helping me to connect with partners who were significant in helping me to realize a higher level of success in distribution.