Equitable development allows low-income communities to benefit from the revitalization of their neighborhoods and the economic growth in the region. To achieve this goal, community leaders and residents must be informed and engaged in the decision-making that affects regional and community development. The Community Capital Investment Initiative (CCII) is a regional, multi-sector collaboration—between the initiative's Community Council, Business Council, and Government Advisory Council—to attract private investment into the Bay Area's lowest income neighborhoods to reduce poverty, increase economic opportunity for residents, and promote smart growth. Private capital will flow to communities through the Bay Area Family of Funds, which includes the Bay Area Smart Growth Fund, the California Environmental Redevelopment Fund, and the Bay Area Equity Fund. More than $150 million has been committed to the Family of Funds. Through CCII, community leaders seek to develop mechanisms for achieving real community benefits from the investments made by the Family of Funds.

The Community Council works to ensure that the initiative produces significant and measurable social and economic equity outcomes. The National Economic Development and Law Center (NEDLC), PolicyLink, and Urban Habitat have partnered on this initiative, serving as planners, developers, and co-chairs of the Community Council for the past three years.

The Community Council currently includes 25 members representing diverse Bay Area community development, faith, labor, environmental, and neighborhood organizations. The members serve as a direct link to the target neighborhoods and provide expert knowledge on local economic development needs.

The overall purpose of the Community Council is to: 1) provide outreach to target communities about CCII and the Bay Area Family of Funds, 2) identify possible projects that meet CCII's selection criteria, 3) build the capacity of organizations interested in developing projects, and 4) monitor and evaluate how projects selected for investments have met the objectives of a financial and social bottom line.

More ... (List of Community Council Members)