WELCOME HOME: FAMILIES BEGIN MOVING INTO I PROMISE APARTMENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2023
Akron, Ohio, – East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) and its community partners will come together at 2:00 p.m. on June 8 for a private ribbon-cutting event in celebration of the highly anticipated I PROMISE Housing development at 445 S. Maple Street, Akron, OH.
Families began moving into the 50-unit affordable housing community, located just .5 miles away from the LeBron James Family Foundation’s I PROMISE School at the end of May.
“This is a dream come true and a huge milestone worth celebrating. Our team, funders, and partners have all worked extremely hard to make this day a reality,” says Cheryl Stephens, EANDC President and CEO, reflecting on everything that has occurred since the initial discussions with the LeBron James Family Foundation in 2019.
During the most challenging days of pandemic recovery, as construction costs soared and supply chain issues threatened funding and federal income tax credits, Stephens’ team persisted in securing the additional funding needed to see the project through. With the support of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Premier Bank, Huntington Bank, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, the first-of-its-kind affordable housing development is near completion.
“To create meaningful change, you must dig deep, listen, and respond to the community’s needs. Our families wanted a safe, affordable place to live – not just for a little while, but something they could call home for the long haul. I PROMISE Housing is the latest embodiment of that commitment we’ve made to our families to listen and respond,” said Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Amenities designed with families in mind include 2, 3, and 4-bedroom units with access to community and fitness rooms, bicycle storage, mobility and sensory units, and fiber optic Wi-Fi for all apartments. The LeBron James Family Foundation and EANDC will collaborate to provide wraparound support, including job and family services, medical and mental healthcare, educational and career advancement training, and financial literacy.
Pre-applications are now available at eandc.org/i-promise.
