Southern Worcester County Community Development Corporation

Neighborworks HomeOwnership Center of Worcester The Center provides the resources and coordination essential for expanding and stabilizing homeownership in the City of Worcester, Massachusetts and throughout south central Massachusetts. They are a key partner helping us provide first time homebuying classes in the region.

Southbridge Interfaith Hospitality Network Community members and local clergy working together opened and began providing shelter for those families in local churches. In 2006 the Network was able to purchase Grace House. A rehabilitated home in Southbridge now provides a stable place for families to stay while receiving supports through the Network.

Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) Homebuyers can get a fix on their future, while banks and homeownership developers can serve their customers best with SoftSecond, the state's most successful mortgage program for low and moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Since 1990, SoftSecond has helped over 12,000 first-time homebuyers purchase their first home.

Conservation

Opacum Land Trust is a regional, all volunteer organization formed in 2000 to protect natural and cultural resources in South Central Massachusetts.

Dudley Conservation Land Trust is an all volunteer organization. We advocate for open space, nature, and wildlife conservation. We seek to facilitate the protection and acquisition of land in Dudley and the surrounding areas for conservation, passive recreation and farming, and to preserve the pastoral and scenic character of the area.

French River Connection is a non-profit founded in 2005, headquartered in Webster, Massachusetts. The organization is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the French River corridor in the towns of Webster, Dudley, and Oxford.

The Last Green Valley (formerly known as the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc.) is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation. It is designated by Congress as the management entity for the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor.

Small Business Assistance

Center for Women and Enterprise A resource of women entrepeneurs with offices in Boston and Worcester. Their approach is to disseminate knowledge capital from our strategic alliances; the latest market research information; best practices and advice to help you start and grow your business; sources that will leverage your experience with CWE to prioritize next steps for your business innovation and performance; and advances in public policy impacting women in enterprise, their families, and the community at large.

Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation The QVCDC is a member-based non-profit that serves the 15 towns of the Quaboag Valley. Membership is open to anyone over age 18 who lives and/or works in the region. The CDC, and its partner organization, the Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corporation (QVBAC) offers many programs and services with a focus on Economic Development.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network Central Regional Office is located in the Historic District on the campus of Clark University. We provide free and confidential one-to-one management advice and technical assistance to prospective and existing small businesses.

February 25 2010