NeighborWorks Umpqua is a private rural 501(c)(3) organization with a more than five county service range. Established in 1991 as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, the organization’s first goal was to develop affordable housing for modest and moderate-income residents in Douglas County. The first major project was the development of an affordable multi-family rental housing complex, the first of its type in nearly 20 years. In 1999, the organization recognized important community needs were not being met and the organization pivoted. We added community-based economic development to the mission and expanded our service area to include all of rural Oregon.

In our 25+ years, NeighborWorks Umpqua has met all our housing and economic goals through creating overlapping client services that include:

• Affordable Housing Development
• Education, Training, and Homeowner Assistance
• Lending and Financial Services
• Economic Development
• Community Development
• Asset and Property Management

As a charter member of NeighborWorks America, NeighborWorks Umpqua is a dynamic, flexible organization that seizes opportunities to meet changing local needs. NeighborWorks America provides technical and support services, competitive grants and other financial assistance, training institutes, scholarships for training and events, and much more.

Merten Bangemann-Johnson
Chief Executive Officer

Trisha Ingalls
Chief Operations Officer

Michelle Martin
Director of Community Development and Economic Empowerment

Erica Mills
CDFI Director

Brian Shelton-Kelley
Director of Acquisition and Development

Meredith Howell
Resource Development Officer

Arielle Reid
Director of Policy and Advocacy

Chris Conner
Director of Property Management

Marla Zoeter
Manager of Heartwood ReSources

 

NeighborWorks Umpqua Board of Directors

Deb Lightcap, Chair

Jake Winn, Immediate Past Chair

Randall L. Mason, Vice Chair and Treasurer

Betti Manfre, Secretary

Elin Miller

Carolyn Johnson

Scott Cooper

Lisa O’Connor

Leesa Cobb

Tasha Oliverson

Our Partners and Affiliations

NeighborWorks Umpqua is nationally recognized and in good standing with the following affiliates and partners:

NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks America was created under Title VI of the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978. The principal purpose of the Corporation is “to revitalize older urban neighborhoods by mobilizing public, private, and community resources at the neighborhood level”.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation strengthens communities and transforms lives across America by supporting innovative local partnerships of residents, businesses, and government, collectively known as the NeighborWorks Network, and by advancing broader community development goals.

NeighborWorks Umpqua, formerly known as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, has been a Charter Member of the NeighborWorks America network since the fall of 2002. We partner with others in the NeighborWorks network to help strengthen the communities and transform lives across all of Rural Oregon.

Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Rural LISC is a national provider of technical assistance and other support for community development corporations.

Housing Oregon

Housing Oregon is a membership-based, statewide association of affordable housing and community development organizations that provide housing and economic opportunity for working families, people with disabilities, seniors and others struggling to meet their needs in communities throughout Oregon.

American Independent Business Alliance

The American Independent Business Alliance helps communities start and sustain an Independent Business Alliance. AMIBA is a charitable organization, organized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

External Links

Oregon Housing and Community Services

 

Focused on Sustainability

NeighborWorks Umpqua’s commitment to sustainability and green practices has permeated everything that we do. We integrate green practices in our new construction, in our rehabs, and in our offices. We strive to help build the local economy; sustainability is at the core of our used building material store, Heartwood ReSources.

We are always looking for passionate professionals looking to make a difference in Southern Oregon. To see what we have open, visit our career portal below.

Employment Opportunities

NeighborWorks Umpqua is a licensed Service Provider and currently holds the following licenses:

• CCB (Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board) # 151999
• ML (Mortgage Lender) # 4254
• NMLS (National Mortgage Licensing System) # 255912

Awards