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Santa Ana City Council and Mayor <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />April 30, 2018 <br />RE: In support of ENA with THRIVE Santa Ana <br />To Whom It May Concern: <br />NeighborWorks Orange County is writing this letter in support of THRIVE Santa Ana and the City <br />of Santa Ana's approval of an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement for the parcel of vacant land at 1901 <br />W Walnut St. We wholeheartedly support THRIVE's vision of economic development led by local <br />residents, and we have pledged to support future projects on land acquired by this community land <br />trust (CLT). Together, we can create sustainable development that benefits all Santa Ana residents. <br />The community land trust will provide space for parks, affordable housing, and other community <br />benefits that are direly needed in Santa Ana, including commercial spaces. This will significantly <br />improve the quality of life for many low-income and working families in the city. Further <br />partnership between the City and THRIVE will exemplify community -led development and re- <br />establish the City's leadership in this respect. <br />Further, we encourage the City of Santa Ana to seek out further opportunities to allocate resources — <br />including land or supportive funds —to THRIVE Santa Ana. The community land trust is a key <br />strategy to engage local residents in the development process. The City holds over 90 vacant lots, <br />similar to the Walnut and Daisy property, which could make a tremendous impact in the <br />community's need for economic development. <br />We believe in the principals embodied in the Community Reinvestment Act, designed to encourage <br />commercial, financial, and institutions of all kinds to help meet the needs of borrowers in all <br />segments of their communities, including low -and -moderate income neighborhoods. Congress passed <br />this Act in 1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods and <br />encourage sustainability and self-reliance in low-income communities. <br />NeighborWorks Orange County stands ready to assist in such efforts to reduce income inequality, <br />expanding economic opportunities for low-income residents of Santa Ana. We look forward to <br />assisting THRIVE Santa Ana and the Santa Ana community in fulfilling this mission. <br />Sincerely, <br />Neigh orWorks Orange County <br />e O'Sulliavan� <br />President & CEO <br />