Rockford Housing Authority’s Transformation Plan for Ellis Heights achieved 45% project milestone in just three years…

In 2011, the Rockford Housing Authority ("RHA") secured a transformative Choice Neighborhoods Planning grant from HUD. This grant was a pivotal step in collaborating with residents from Fairgrounds Valley and the Ellis Heights neighborhood to craft a comprehensive plan. The goal was to reimagine and revitalize Ellis Heights and the Fairgrounds Valley property, turning them into a vibrant community of opportunity and choice. As the Planning Coordinator, Camiros played a key role, closely collaborating with RHA's skilled grant writer to meticulously craft and submit the grant application.

RHA and its planning team, including more than 38 Rockford organizational partners began the task of creating a plan to improve housing, neighborhood conditions and the lives of people living in Ellis Heights and at Fairgrounds Valley.

The Plan established a positive vision for the future that could be achieved by pursuing community-based initiatives that addressed infrastructure reinvestment, housing redevelopment, improved education opportunities, job creation, health and human services, and public safety. The Plan stressed coordination and integration with significant ongoing city and regional programs.

The Plan included 55 neighborhood improvement projects and programs. Another 37 partner projects with a broader community focus supported the projects in the Plan. Within three years, nine projects had been fully completed, and another 16 were initiated, representing 45% of the initial project list. As a result, RHA convened neighborhood partners to prepare a 2017 plan update.