One year after the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) Program’s commencement, NeighborWorks America is pleased to report that, as of February 18, 2009, the program has provided 315,410 struggling homeowners with foreclosure prevention counseling. This is 68 percent of the goal for the first funding round!

In the wake of the current mortgage crisis and declining economic environment, significant focus has been placed on the Community Reinvestment Act — first by those who blamed CRA for the current crisis, and then by those who see a revised CRA and other regulatory reforms as a way to avoid future mortgage melt-downs. There are also those who have reflected on how drastically the financial services industry has changed in recent years and think that CRA has not kept up with these changes.

The Federal Reserve Banks of Boston and San Francisco have jointly published Revisiting the CRA: Perspectives on the Future of the Community Reinvestment Act, which documents how much the industry has changed since CRA was passed in 1977 and offers a series of proposals for CRA reform. The recently published report can be accessed on the Web sites of both the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and San Francisco.

The Development, Community, and Environment Division in EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. EPA plans to assist three to five communities over a period of twelve months. The Agency anticipates announcing the selected communities in fall of 2009. Applications are due at 5 p.m. EST, April 23, 2009. View more information and application materials. Find out more about the SGIA program.

Online registration is open for the NeighborWorks Training Institute in Phoenix, AZ — the early-bird online registration deadline is March 23, 2009 — register today and save $50! The Training Institute runs from May 4-8, 2009, and will feature nationally renowned courses on community building, neighborhood revitalization, green building, affordable housing, homeownership education, management and leadership and much more.

Check out the full list of courses, accommodations and special features of the Phoenix Training Institute. Further information and a downloadable, faxable registration form are also available on the training Web site.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to green building, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear how your peers in community development are adopting green concepts and delivering valuable returns. Join your colleagues at the Phoenix NTI for a May 6 symposium, Greening Your Roadmap to Succeed in a Changing Landscape, and for special one-day green clinics on May 4 and 5. Hear from leading experts and practitioners from across the country. Interested in learning more about the keys to economic success for going green? Visit the Phoenix Training Institute Web site and register today!

NeighborWorks America continues to expand its e-learning courses, with the addition of several new board operations- and homeownership-focused courses. Two new online courses are designed specifically for board members. Novices and seasoned board members alike will take away valuable knowledge and skills to enhance their performance. More courses will be available shortly, including FHA-Insured Loans — An Affordable Mortgage Option. Register now for a NeighborWorks online E-Learning course and bring the best training available right to your office. Learn more about e-learning at NeighborWorks.