LOAN AGENCY CHIEF AND LOCAL PASTOR ANNOUNCE NEW URBAN CHURCH CONSTRUCTION LOAN PROGRAM

HARTFORD, CT - Don Vaccaro, the Chief Executive Officer for Rehab Cash Now (RCN), announced the creation of a church construction loan fund. Vaccaro was encouraged to launch the program by Reverend Dr. Boise Kimber of the First Calvary Baptist Churches of New Haven and Hartford, who is also president of the CT State Missionary Baptist Convention.

Addressing the overflow crowd, Vaccaro said that, “The funds provided will allow the church to expand current neighborhood activities. Additionally, New Antioch bought several blighted properties to clear way for the construction. The new construction and neighborhood improvements will create local jobs and can provide a boost to surrounding property values.”

Reverend Kimber commented on the importance of churches to their communities. “Urban churches have long served as anchors to communities, providing stability, revitalization, and community programing where government did not or could not. New Antioch has been a local neighborhood beacon in the otherwise distressed community of the North End in Hartford. They provide youth and elderly programs, support to lost souls, and food to the hungry in some of our most distressed neighborhoods. This project saving loan will allow them to expand those services to the community.”

New Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Hartford is the first church to access those funds, recently closing on a loan of $185,000, the last of $800,000 raised for the construction of a new church building. This new building will triple its available space. By the time the church construction is completed in late spring or early summer, the church expects to pay off this loan and will be free and clear of any debt.

For Reverend Dr. Jeff Powell, Pastor of the church, it’s a building that will provide stability to an area of Hartford that’s known for violence. “When I think about this area of town, I think about the neglect,” said Dr. Powell, “What we found out by being in this community is that people just want someone to care for them.” Reverend Powell feels that they may have had a serious problem with meeting the completion if it were not for this loan.

 “I think this building will help bring more people in off the streets,” said 14-year-old Ashleigh Mills-Govan. I think this church has really helped change the youth here that live on the North End of Hartford,” she said.

“I think all the kids that are in it, it really helps them out as far as discipline and as far as having some kind of structure after school,” said Rayvonne Johnson, church member.

Church leaders say the new building will help them reach more youth. For 35 years, members have watched people come and go but crime is something that’s always existed. They want to change that, and for them, a place of worship is their guiding light to a transformed Hartford.

For further information, contact Darnell Goldson at dgoldson@rcncapital.com.