The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME)

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“The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is a classic apprenticeship program that combines classroom learning with paid on-the-job experience, teaching skills in demand across an industry. A new report by Opportunity America president Tamar Jacoby and Brookings Institution senior fellow emeritus Ron Haskins draws on focus groups, an online survey and data from the state of Kentucky to shed light on the program and its outcomes for apprentices. Data show that FAME graduates in Kentucky earn between 60 percent and 100 percent more than other career and technical education graduates from the same community colleges. The message for policymakers: earn-and-learn training works, and the nation should redouble its efforts to take the model to scale.”

https://opportunityamericaonline.org/kyfame/

Market Urbanism: A Free Market Approach to Land Use & Planning

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“Market Urbanism examines how market forces and respect for property rights enable complex, yet vibrant and economically robust communities and regions to emerge through the ‘spontaneous order’ of the land use and transportation marketplace. When left to market forces, as opposed to intervention, land use patterns and transportation systems better reflect the diverse needs and desires of individuals in society. Such a society would be economically and environmentally more efficient and just than when imposed in a top-down fashion by government.

‘Market Urbanism’ refers to the synthesis of classical liberal economics and ethics (market), with an appreciation of the urban way of life and its benefits to society (urbanism). We advocate for the emergence of bottom up solutions to urban issues, as opposed to ones imposed from the top down.”

https://marketurbanism.com/about

Rock Legends Support Energy Workforce Training

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“A legendary heavy-metal band is helping Houston-area students prepare for careers in oil and gas and other industries.

The Metallica Scholars Initiative, created by the band’s nonprofit All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMH), and footwear and apparel firm Wolverine (NYSE: WWW) have donated $100,000 in scholarships to Lone Star College (LSC) students pursuing traditional trades and other applied learning careers. The donation, which Wolverine supplemented with free boots and other items, has provided direct funding to 120 LSC students.”

https://www.rigzone.com/news/rock_legends_support_energy_workforce_training-01-oct-2020-163446-article/

New REIT Will Focus on Affordable Housing

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“Avanath Capital Management and MacFarlane Partners, two of the largest African American-owned real estate companies in the US, have jointly filed paperwork with the SEC to create a new REIT. It is reportedly the first REIT to focus on Opportunity Zones, though it will look to other properties as well.

The company will ‘invest in, develop, redevelop and manage mostly affordable and workforce multifamily properties in Opportunity zones, in dynamic, US metropolitan areas,’ the filing said.”

https://www.globest.com/2020/10/08/new-reit-will-focus-on-affordable-housing/?slreturn=20200915235945

Report: Impact of energy efficiency on VA home loans

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“Mr. Sahadi took the results of the FSEC analysis and looked at the potential mortgage impact implications of a new HERS rated, energy-efficient home versus an older nonenergy efficient home. The results of this analysis found that a home with a HERS Index Score of 61 generated significant ‘additional buying power’ from $13,000 to over $24,000 with the same income and downpayment. This additional buying power would allow a VA borrower to gain the energy savings and health benefits of a high energy performance new home with lower housing costs than an older, less efficient home.”

https://www.resnet.us/articles/resnet-releases-study-on-impact-of-energy-efficiency-on-va-home-loans/