ILE Strategies

Selected Projects

ILE Strategies empowers non-profits and communities with green solutions and funding support.

We help support organizations in building sustainable developments, create equitable outcomes, and foster healthy environments through strategic planning, community engagement, and fund development expertise.

We bring a total of 35 years experience in community development with certification in LEED building design and construction. As highlighted in the descriptions of selected projects, our partnerships with small businesses and universities has enhanced the capacity, quality and impact of our work.

MBD Community Housing Corp Green Building Transition Plan

Overall Goal: Create a comprehensive plan to electrify buildings in the company’s pipeline and ensure organizational capacity for a green building transition.

Strategies:

Fund Development Plan:

• Align energy efficiency incentives:
  • Identify energy efficiency measures for low-income and formerly homeless housing for substantial and moderate housing renovation projects.  
  • Pursue available federal, state, and local incentives for energy efficiency retrofits, healthy materials, and local workforce engagement.
• Secure state funding:
  • Research and apply for relevant state funding programs that support green building initiatives.
  • Partner with organizations experienced in securing state funding for green projects.
  • Highlight the social and environmental impact of MBD’s green building efforts in funding applications.

Organizational Strategy for Green Building Transition:

• • Develop a board handbook section dedicated to the green building transition.
  • Include the organization’s commitment to green building, goals, and strategies.
  • Develop a communication plan to educate stakeholders about the green building transition.
  • Build partnerships with organizations that support green building initiatives.

Map- East Harlem Economic Study

East Harlem Commercial Corridor Study
The Project
Urban Technical Assistance Project was commissioned by a merchant group in East Harlem to conduct a study key commercial corridors. ILE  was hired by UTAP to develop a research instrument used to collect and analyze data on merchant and consumer perceptions of the corridor. The study also included expenditure potential analysis resulting in state funding for local merchants.

Our Strategy
* Assembled a bi-lingual team of researchers and provided training on conducting focus groups and interviews.
* Conducted longitudinal analysis compiling surveys and data collected over a 20 year period.
* Drafted a report used to communicate the changing demographics and evolving needs of merchants along the corridors.

Expanding Affordable Homeownership 
The Project
As part of a West Harlem Group Assistance-led team, ILE Strategies led fund development effort to attract funding for affordable homeownership development and downpayment assistance. Our engagement with Housing and Community Renewal and corporate donors resulted in funding for construction (state-administered HOME funds) and downpayment assistance for low and moderate income residents.

Our Strategy
* Conduct a desktop analysis of area demographics using publicly available data.
* Creating a robust community needs statement for presentation for community leaders, local elected officials, state finance and corporate philanthropic donors.
* Developed an outreach plan implemented by WHGA staff.

South Queens Senior Transportation Partnership
The Project
Allen AME Development corporate provides comprehensive housing and services to Senior Citizens in South Queens. Allen was interested in revamping their senior transportation program which provides thousands of rides per month with very limited resources. With their contract with the Department of Transportation under renewal, ILE worked with Allen to expand the transportation program, engaging some of the senior riders and drivers in revamping the program.

Our Strategy
Engaged community leaders, government agencies, senior passengers, drivers, program staff in focus groups.
Conducted an analysis of the program success and challenges to date.
Developed plan to expand scope of program to recognize the importance of the program from the stand point of climate resilience – rendering seniors and disabled passengers extremely vulnerable in the wake of climate change.

Commercial Corridor Development in Central Harlem – Lenox Avenue 
The Project

West Harlem Group Assistance has developed several affordable housing sites in West and Central Harlem namely. These projects also yield commercial units, ILE Strategies developed an affordable leasing program, linking area minority-owned businesses to the spaces with opportunities for grants and other services. For local residents, this effort expanded the mix of goods and services while also creating local jobs. The project attracted funding from JP Morgan Chase.

Our Strategy
* Conducted interviews and focus groups with local small businesses and local business development organizations.
* Engaged Urban Technical Assistance Project to assist with mapping and expenditure potential analysis.
* Created a fund development plan resulting in corporate philanthropic funding.

Healthy Affordable Housing 

The Project
West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. (WHGA) developed the Dora McKenzie project – a mixed-used development serving low-income families. With an aim of improving health outcomes for the housing residents, WHGA engaged ILE Strategies in convening a forum on healthy buildings, and guide a plan for incorporating healthy materials and sustainability measures beyond the city’s requirements. A partnership with Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons, provided guidance to the construction team on sourcing affordable low VOC and sustainably manufactured building materials. ILE Strategies is working developing a bi-lingual engagement tool to assist residents and property maintenance staff in fostering healthy and sustainable maintenance of the apartments and common areas.

Our Strategy
* Convened a forum of local organizations, public and university-based leaders experienced in healthy buildings and sustainability measures.
* Conducted focus group with residents and property maintenance staff on maintenance challenges.
* Creating bi-lingual community outreach tools to promote health and sustainability.

Photo credit: Trinity Financial

Randolph Houses

Our Role

Social Service Proposal

Fund Development

Randolph Houses is a 36-building, 147-unit $80 million development in Central Harlem. Acquiring redevelopment contract required submitting a 10-year community engagement plan, alongside the construction proposal. ILE Strategies was commissioned by West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. to draft the social service plan. And continues to provide guidance on fund development.

Our Strategy

• Convened local providers who were committed to providing services at the site
• Conducted focus groups with resident leaders on economic opportunity, health and wellness and climate change resilience 
• Led planning sessions with key project staff at WHGA

Harlem Trades Hub 

Key partners: West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc., SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC)/ HUD Youth Build Awardee, NY Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Watson Plumbing and Heating, Conrock Construction.

The green house gas initiative will result in investments  greening affordable housing, however there is a shortage of trades people to meet the new labor demand.  ILE facilitated strategic program visioning with community partners seeking to increase diversity in the construction trades

Primary Role:

• Strategic Planning
• Program Design
• Fund development (project recently awarded Deutsche Bank’s Working Capital competition)

Strategy

• Facilitated planning sessions with key partners.
• Contributed to MEOC’s HUD Youth Build application narrative on behalf of WHGA.
• Developed revenue generating model for the digital assets (courses and tools) as well as physical space that will be rented to businesses.
• Drafted fund template resulting in working capital award from Deutsche Bank and Empire State Development Corporation.

Campus-Community Partnership on Commercial Corridor Community Needs Study – Rezoning Jerome Avenue

Parsons New School University – WHEDCo

WHEDco, a long existing economic development organization sought to ensure community participation and equitable outcomes in association with the rezoning of Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. The community is home to a large immigrant population with micro enterprises under threat of displacement. WHEDCo teamed up with ILE Strategies and Parsons Strategic Design and Management Program (Anasa, co-founder of ILE Strategies was also faculty at Parsons).

Our Strategy

• Facilitated training and support for community member  participation.
• Engaged scholarship funding – faculty, university students and stipends for community researchers.
• Facilitated participatory (photo voice) mapping project with organizational, leaders, community members and youth participants.