Several years ago, Cincinnati leaders gathered for the grand opening of the CityLink Center, a comprehensive social services mall that was built with the help of New Markets Tax Credits. While the bulk of the funding for CityLink came from private donations, a critical construction financing gap of over $2.7 million was filled through the NMTC program.

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky leveraged its NMTC allocation to raise capital from PNC Bank in support of the 76,000 sq. ft. facility. This partnership not only bridged the construction gap, but also established a firm financial foundation for the CityLink Center, eliminated cash flow concerns, and encouraged further investment from the community. The NMTC financing allowed the project to move forward without compromising funds that had been designated to support the center’s initial years of operation.

“The Center will create a vibrant community space while giving families struggling with job loss and poverty a toehold on economic stability,” said Kathy Schwab, Executive Director of LISC Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky. Matt Josephs, LISC senior VP for policy and former senior policy advisor at the Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund said, “New Markets investments are about creating jobs, revitalizing communities and raising standards of living. CityLink clearly does all of that, and much more.”

Located in Cincinnati’s West End, where unemployment is four times the national average, and the poverty rate approaches 60%, CityLink offers a wide array of services in tailored, individualized programs to meet the specific needs of each client. Whether it is GED classes and works skills training, financial and career counseling, legal aid, or assistance with savings and credit rehabilitation, each client is now able to access the entire range of services they need to get ahead in life in one convenient location. The center also eliminates barriers to success by providing onsite child care, vision and dental services, and a unique car ownership program that takes donated cars and makes them available with low-cost, no-interest loans. The center also has public spaces, classrooms, an outdoor playground, and a café to provide an inviting, inclusive community space. It was estimated to serve more than 1,000 people in its first year.