March 5, 2004 –– Sen. Emmett Hansen II, who chairs the Senate Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, will host two-day Urban Revitalization and Home Ownership Fairs in the coming week on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The events are being presented in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands on the two campuses. The St. Thomas fair will be take place Monday and Tuesday; the St. Croix one, Thursday and Friday.
Both will feature presentations by a number of guest speakers including Roy A. Bernardi, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Michael Colon, director of the HUD Caribbean field office in Puerto Rico.
During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Hansen met with Bernardi and was successful in getting the territory included in the Bush administration's American Dream initiative. Bernardi is the keynote luncheon speaker Thursday on St. Croix.
Hansen, who spent months putting the events together, said he is particularly pleased by a last-minute addition to the program, an appearance by architect Carlos Cacciamani of Urbanika International Housing. "He represents a world-class company," Hansen said, "and they are thinking about building in the V.I."
Cacciamani will deliver opening remarks on Monday at the St. Thomas fair on the topic of "The Importance of Infrastructure and Urban Renewal in Community Development."
Hansen said the purpose of the fairs is to "create more awareness of the process of home ownership. We need to create more avenues between the potential homeowner and the financing entities."
Along with UVI, Hansen also has partnered with Columbia Equities and Allied Home Mortgage, as well as various other public officials and community and business groups to produce the fairs. The undertaking, he said, "is blessed to have some of the best proponents of home ownership and urban revitalization in the territory, and from across the country, participating."
Hansen said he aims through the fairs to open the door on home ownership to more low-income and minority families by making them aware of assistance that's available, including an average of $5,000 toward down payment or closing costs.
Registration of $25 for each of the two-day fairs includes luncheons both days. For anyone wanting to attend only the luncheon presentations, the charge is $10.
The presentations will take place in the Business Administration Building up the hill by the library on the St. Thomas campus and at the Melvin Evans Center on the St. Croix campus. Registration will take place at those locations from 8 to 9 a.m. on the opening day of the fair.
For further information, contact Hansen's St. Croix office at 712-2210.
Fair schedules
Following are the schedule of events for both Urban Revitalization and Home Ownership Fairs.
St. Thomas
Monday
8-9 a.m. — registration.
9:30-10 a.m. — welcome: Sen. Hansen.
10-10:30 a.m. — opening remarks: Carlos Cacciamani, Architect Urbanika International Housing, on "The Importance of Infrastructure and Urban Renewal in Community Development."
10:30 a.m.-noon — breakout sessions.
"Credit Counseling," Warren Bush, UVI Small Business Development Center director.
"Home Appraisals and Value," Home Depot.
"Homeownership and Prequalification," Columbia Equities.
"Buying a Home," Rosemary Sauter, St. Thomas Realtor.
Noon-1 p.m. — luncheon. Keynote speaker: Michael Colon, HUD Caribbean field office director, on "The Importance of HUD Caribbean Office to Private Non-profits."
1:30-3:30 p.m. — breakout sessions (see morning breakouts for presenters).
"Credit Counseling."
"Home Appraisals and Value."
"Homeownership and Prequalification."
"Buying a Home."
3:30-4 p.m. — speaker: Elie Finegold, vice president, Island Capital Yacht Haven Development, St. Thomas, on "The Importance of Community Groups in Urban Revitalization."
4 p.m. — closing remarks: Sen. Hansen.
Tuesday
8-9 a.m. — registration.
9-9:30 a.m. — welcome: Sen. Hansen.
9:30-10 a.m. — speaker: Harvey Johnson Jr., mayor of Jackson, Miss., on "The Importance of Community Groups in Urban Revitalization."
10 a.m.-noon — breakout sessions.
"Methods of Financing Homes," Columbia Equities.
"Condos vs. Houses," a St. Thomas Realtor.
"Home Purchasing vs. Building," Apex Construction.
"Mitigating Home Insurance," insurance professionals .
Noon-1 p.m. — luncheon. Keynote speaker: Charles Teamer, founder and board chair, Dryades Savings Bank, New Orleans, La., on "The Importance of Access to Capital in Urban Revitalization."
1-3:30 p.m. — breakout sessions (see morning breakouts for presenters).
"Methods of Financing Homes."
"Condos vs. Houses."
"Home Purchasing vs. Building."
"Mitigating Home Insurance."
3:30-4 pm. — speaker: Bryan T. Moore, associate director of the Center for Urban Community at Tulane University, on "The Importance of Urban Renewal in Community Building."
4 p.m. — closing remarks: Sen. Hansen.
St. Croix
Thursday
8-9 a.m. — registration.
9:30-10 a.m. — welcome: Sen. Hansen.
10-10:30 a.m. — opening remarks: Harvey Johnson Jr., mayor of Jackson, Miss., on "The Importance of Community Groups in Urban Revitalization."
10:30 a.m.-noon — breakout sessions.
"Credit Counseling"
"Home Appraisals and Value"
"Homeownership and Prequalification"
"Buying a Home"
Noon-1 p.m. — luncheon. Keynote speaker: Roy Bernardi, assistant secretary, HUD Office of Community Planning and Development," on "The Importance of Urban Renewal in Community Building."
1:30-3:30 p.m. — breakout sessions (see morning breakouts for presenters).
"Credit Counseling"
"Home Appraisals and Value"
"Homeownership and Prequalification"
"Buying a Home"
3:30-4 p.m. — afternoon speaker: Nelson Bregon, general deputy assistant secretary, HUD Office of Community Planning and Development, on "The Federal Government's Role in Urban Revitalization."
4 p.m. — closing remarks: Sen. Hansen.
Friday
8-9 a.m. — registration.
9 a.m. — welcome: Sen. Hansen.
9:30-10 a.m. — opening remarks: William Haston, Allied Home Mortgage, on "The Importance of Access to Capital in Urban Revitalization."
10 a.m.-noon — breakout sessions.
"Methods of Financing Homes"
"Condos vs. Houses"
"Home Purchasing vs. Building"
"Mitigating Home Insurance"
Noon-1 p.m. — luncheon. Keynote speaker: Michael Colon, HUD Caribbean field office director, on "The Importance of the HUD Caribbean Office to Private Non Profits"
1-3:30 p.m. — breakout sessions (see morning breakouts for presenters).
"Methods of Financing Homes"
"Condos vs. Houses"
"Home Purchasing vs. Building"
"Mitigating Home Insurance"
3:30-4 p;.m. — afternoon speaker: Nelson Bregon, general deputy assistant secretary, HUD Office of Community Planning and Development, on "The Federal Government's Role in Urban Revitalization"
4 p.m. — closing remarks: Sen. Hansen.
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