FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 4, 2016 

Contacts: Suzanne Gunther 240-274-5457, [email protected]
Patricia Garry, 513-300-6601, [email protected]

Cincinnati’s Patricia Garry Wins National Community Development Leadership Award

The National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA) presented their top leadership award to Patricia Garry, Executive Director of the CDC Association of Greater Cincinnati. Garry was lauded for improving the effectiveness of local community development corporations (CDCs) throughout Ohio.

“Patricia Garry brings national recognition to Cincinnati and the city's community development corporations because of the strong partnership she developed between the CDC Association of Greater Cincinnati and the city government,” stated NACEDA Chair Sharon Legenza. “Because of Patricia, community development corporations throughout the country look to Cincinnati as an innovative leader of community development models, strategies, and policies. NACEDA is honored to present her with this award."

When accepting the award, Garry recalled attending meetings in her Bond Hill neighborhood with her 3-month old son on her hip back in 1965. She had already recognized how important it was for communities to control the development of their neighborhoods. “CDCs have grown and increased their capacity wonderfully in all this time. Now there are new collaborations and partnerships all over the country – with banks, funders and cities – and also with artists, the food industry, health care systems and many others. These networks provide strong webs of support for communities, their businesses and their residents,” said Garry.

“Cincinnati neighborhoods are stronger because of Patricia,” asserted Nate Coffman executive director of the Ohio CDC Association, who nominated Garry for the award. “Patricia not only co-founded the CDC Association of Greater Cincinnati, she was also one of the founders of the Ohio CDC Association, for which I am extremely grateful. Her leadership has ensured CDCs in Cincinnati --and throughout Ohio – will continue to improve neighborhoods for the people who live and work there long after she leaves the field.” Garry is retiring after 51 years in the community development field.

The NACEDA Award for Community Economic Development Association Leadership was presented to Patricia Garry on August 30 at the NACEDA Summit in Cleveland.


Photo caption: Patricia Garry (center) receives the 2016 national award for community development leadership from NACEDA Chair Sharon Legenza and Ohio CDC Association Executive Director Nate Coffman.

###

The National Alliance of Community Economic Development Association (NACEDA) is an alliance of 45 state and regional community development associations in 28 states and the District of Columbia. Through our members, NACEDA connects with almost 4,000 community development nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. Together, we work at the local, state and national levels to advance opportunity and prosperity in low-income and moderate-income communities.