Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago | Community Investment Newsletter | April 2018 2017 FHLBank Chicago Annual Report Now Available The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago recently published its 2017 annual report; click here to read more about our performance and achievements. The report includes a video highlighting The Villas at Vinegar Hill, a competitive Affordable Housing Program (AHP) project in Springfield, Illinois. News Downpayment Plus® Programs Now Open The FHLBank Chicago’s 2018 Downpayment Plus (DPP®) and Downpayment Plus Advantage® (DPP Advantage®) programs are now open with an initial allocation of $14.2 million. Participating FHLBank Chicago members may reserve up to $420,000 in the general pool on a first-come, first-served basis to help their income-eligible borrowers with down payment and closing costs. For more on the 2018 programs, click here. Competitive AHP Opens May 7 The FHLBank Chicago recently announced a $25.1 million allocation for its 2018 competitive AHP. Applications for the 2018 competitive round may be initiated in AHP Online beginning Monday, May 7; the application deadline is 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, June 15. Click here for program details, learning opportunities, and knowledge resources. Capacity-Building Grant Deadline Approaching On March 6, the FHLBank Chicago announced the opening of its 2018 Community First® Capacity-Building Grant Program. Through it, the FHLBank Chicago seeks to provide nonprofit lenders with access to grant funds to build organizational capacity, thereby supporting their ability to meet the economic development and affordable housing needs of communities in Illinois and Wisconsin. The deadline to submit an Interest Form is Friday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m. CT.  Community First® Disaster Relief Program Responds to Wisconsin Flooding The FHLBank Chicago’s Board of Directors has approved a $125,000 allocation to the Community First Disaster Relief Program to assist communities affected by severe storms, flooding, and mudslides that occurred in southwest Wisconsin in July 2017. Read the press release to learn more. Community First® Award Winners The FHLBank Chicago presented four Community First Awards at its 2018 member meetings. These awards celebrate outstanding achievements of member institutions and their local partners as they work together to strengthen communities. Read about the awardees here. April Is National Fair Housing Month This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. The FHLBank Chicago is proud to invest in inclusive programs and projects that create fair and equal access to housing opportunities for everyone. Visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for fair housing news and resources. Mark Eppli Receives MANDI Award Photo credit: Yvonne Kemp for LISC Milwaukee Dr. Mark J. Eppli, a member of the FHLBank Chicago’s Board of Directors since 2012, recently received the Northern Trust Navigator Award at the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). The award recognizes Dr. Eppli’s creation of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program, which recruits and prepares minorities for careers in the real estate development field. Additionally, the launch of the Dr. Mark Eppli Catalytic Venture Fund was announced. The fund, administered by LISC Milwaukee, will be available solely to alumni of the ACRE program to assist with predevelopment costs. Policy Corner AHP Implementation Plan and Community Lending Plan Amended The Affordable Housing Committee of the  FHLBank Chicago’s Board of Directors recently approved amendments to both the 2018 Affordable Housing Program Implementation Plan and the 2018 Community Lending Plan. The Implementation Plan outlines requirements of the competitive AHP and Downpayment Plus programs; the competitive AHP requirements have been amended to incorporate the 2018 adjusted development cost-per-unit guidelines and add clarifying language around the Community Stability scoring category. The Community Lending Plan uses market research to assess affordable housing and economic development needs in the FHLBank Chicago’s district; the recent amendment added qualitative and quantitative goals, as well as diversity and inclusion metrics. Both plans are posted on the FHLBank Chicago’s website, www.fhlbc.com. AHP Policy Updates The FHLBank Chicago’s Board of Directors approved updated competitive AHP policies in conjunction with the Community Investment group’s annual policy review. The policies set forth certain requirements applicable to AHP projects. If you have an AHP project or are planning to submit an application in the 2018 competitive round, please familiarize yourself with the updated policies. The policies are effective March 28, 2018, and apply to all AHP projects. Calendar Upcoming Events April 5 LISC Chicago’s Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards Chicago, IL | Attending and Sponsoring April 11 Hope Fair Housing Center’s Maintaining Hope 50th Anniversary Housing Conference Geneva, IL | Attending April 17 National Housing Conference’s Solutions for Housing Communications Washington, D.C. | Attending and Presenting April 18 FHLBank Chicago’s AHP Application Workshop Bloomington, IL | Hosting and Presenting April 24 FHLBank Chicago’s AHP Application Workshop Stevens Point, WI | Hosting and Presenting April 25 FHLBank Chicago’s AHP Application Workshop Madison, WI | Hosting and Presenting April 26 FHLBank Chicago’s AHP Application Workshop Milwaukee, WI | Hosting and Presenting April 30 FHLBank Chicago’s AHP Application Workshop Chicago, IL | Hosting and Presenting May 1 FHLBank Chicago’s AHP Application Workshop Chicago, IL | Hosting and Presenting May 15–17 Center for Community Progress’ Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Milwaukee, WI | Attending and Sponsoring May 17 Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Chicago, IL | Attending and Sponsoring May 24 Illinois Housing Council’s Networking Breakfast Chicago, IL | Attending, Presenting, and Sponsoring     Project Spotlight: Lisle Senior Housing Location: Lisle, Illinois AHP award: $480,000 Member: BMO Harris Bank National Association Sponsor: Providence Life Services Photo courtesy of Providence Life Services FHLBank Chicago in Your Community View photos from recent events attended by FHLBank Chicago staff. Previous Editions › February 2018 › December 2017 Subscribe Printer Friendly   Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago 200 East Randolph Drive Chicago, IL 60601 www.fhlbc.com This newsletter contains forward-looking statements which are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. These statements may use forward-looking terms, such as "anticipates,” "believes," "expects," "could," "plans," "estimates," "may," "should," "will," or their negatives or other variations on these terms. We caution that, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk or uncertainty, that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements, and that actual events could affect the extent to which a particular objective, projection, estimate, or prediction is realized. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on our website at www.fhlbc.com. Copyright © 2018, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. "Community First," "Downpayment Plus," "DPP," "Downpayment Plus Advantage," and "DPP Advantage" are registered trademarks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.