Fostering community and culture in a once-vacant area of Baltimore

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Business is Sizzling at Baltimore’s Premiere Meat Processor

Founded nearly 20 years ago by two immigrants in a row house, Fells Point Wholesale Meats has become a leading meat processor in the Baltimore-Washington region, serving high-end restaurants, hotels, clubs and other institutions.

Erik Oosterwijk, president, and Leo Prussien, vice president, have done their best to keep up with the demand for their business, which has doubled in less than two years in spite of a lackluster economy. The company added 10 new employees in 2010 and purchased a 40,000-square-foot warehouse even before discussing the transaction with their Bank of America
client manager, Robert Brando.

“I said ‘Robert, we bought a building and now we need a loan,’” said Pruissen, recalling the conversation. “I think that was backwards.”

Brando, who knows Fells Point Wholesale Meats
intimately since the company became a client 18 years ago, took the request in stride and arranged to finance the $2 million warehouse.

Now, the company is poised for even more growth, said Oosterwijk, who, at 12 years old, worked in his father’s butcher shop in the Netherlands and later immigrated to Baltimore.

“We’re looking to grow quite a bit over the next five years,” Oosterwijk said. “We have a lot of ideas. In order to get that growth we are going to need that relationship with Bank of America to make and keep us successful.”

Join the conversation: Learn how we're working to help
strengthen communities — on the Bank of America Facebook page

Art Helps Bringing Back Baltimore One Brush Stroke at a Time

Since the riots of 1968, Baltimore’s Greenmount West neighborhood has struggled with crime, poverty and urban decay. Roughly 50 percent of the buildings are empty, and it has been decades since anything new has been built.

But in 2010, Bank of America made an investment in the neighborhood, helping turn a vacant property into City Arts – a vibrant, affordable housing development serving artists. City Arts offers 69 rental apartments, eight town homes and a visual arts gallery and performance arts space that are professionally managed.
“That is pretty much a miracle for an artist,” said Ashby Foote, City Arts’ marketing coordinator. “Living in the building we have a number of performers. We have writers, painters, sculptors, photographers and all of that creativity is contagious.”
City Arts has sprung to life and is giving hope to the troubled neighborhood. “It has been a renaissance,” said Dale Hargrave, president of New Greenmount West Community Association. “People have discovered how vibrant a community this actually is.”

“This neighborhood is coming together,” added Walter H. Jefferson Jr., facility manager at City Arts.

Charlie Duff, president of Jubilee Baltimore Inc., said City Arts has a waiting list that is a couple of years long. “It is a tremendous success that way,” he said. “Twenty years from now you will be able to come to Baltimore and walk for miles and be in great city neighborhoods every step of the way.”
Join the conversation: Learn how we're working to help strengthen communities — on the Bank of America Facebook page

Teaming Up to Save a City’s Premiered Attraction

In 1981, the mayor of Baltimore, donning a yellow and red striped Victorian-era bathing suit, hopped into the seal tank to kick off the grand opening of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Since then, it has been the city’s premiere attraction. Each year, the Aquarium draws an estimated 1.4 million visitors, making it Maryland’s largest paid tourist attraction, and generates roughly $220 million in revenue for the region, $6.8 million in state and local taxes and 2,000 jobs.

But in 2009, as the Great Recession bitterly came to an end, the Aquarium faced a problem. The credit rating of the bank enhancing the credit of its variable rate
demand bonds fell and, as a result, the interest rate on $14 million in outstanding debt jumped exorbitantly in two weeks. The rate increases threatened to disrupt the fundamental operations and future projects of one of Baltimore’s most cherished institutions.

“The bondholders were looking to the credit of the financial institution, not the credit of the Aquarium,” said Bruce S. Hoffberger, chief financial officer of the National Aquarium. “Since the bank’s credit rating slipped, we ended up having to pay higher interest rates than normal. We knew we had to move quickly. Time was of the essence.”

The Aquarium began searching for a new bank that
would offer an array of services that big banks traditionally offer, such as loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, a line of credit and the ability to refinance the $14 million in variable rate demand bonds. An underlying critical factor in its search was the need for a bank that had a knack for building long-term relationships, similar to a small town bank.

“Given the environment, we knew it was going to be difficult to strike that balance,” Hoffburger said, “but it was crucial the Aquarium team felt empowered to make decisions with the confidence of long-term support.”

After interviewing half-a-dozen area banks in two months, the search ended after a discussion with Bank of America, which was able to meet both criteria of the
Aquarium.

“The Aquarium goes beyond tourism,” said Janice Godwin, Senior Vice President of Bank of America in Baltimore. “It influences Baltimore’s economy, job market, education system and local conservation efforts. It was right in our sweet spot. It was a difficult credit climate and we stepped up because Baltimore believes in the Aquarium.”

With Bank of America’s support, Hoffberger could attend to other matters at the Aquarium, like keeping crowds pouring in to see 660 species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and marine mammals ranging from the grey-headed flying fox to the menacing sand tiger
shark. What’s more, the long-term support has allowed him to plan for future growth and see projects to completion, such as the Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance exhibit that occurred in 2010 and continues even today.

Join the conversation: Learn how we're working to help strengthen communities — on the Bank of America Facebook page

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Going to Bat for Affordable Housing

The Poppleton Cooperative apartment complex in the Poppleton neighborhood of West Baltimore was developed in the early 1980s with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) federal housing program. What was envisioned as an area of hope and opportunity for low income residents slowly deteriorated over the next 35 years, falling into a state of disrepair and becoming a haven for crime, drug use and violence.

The Hampstead Companies, a housing development firm with a history of innovation in the area of affordable housing in the Baltimore area, sought to rehabilitate the
Poppleton neighborhood in 2005 with a closing of the second phase scheduled for September 2008. Led by Greg Gossard, Hampstead was just two weeks away from closing a multi-million dollar rehabilitation deal when the financial crisis of 2008 hit. The news shook the markets and nervous lenders cancelled deals and tightened credit, threatening to keep Poppleton on a path toward despondency and positioning Gossard and his colleagues to lose $1 million in equity.

“It was a brutal time,” said Gossard, a principal at Hampstead. “We had a lot at risk.”

Aside from the financial challenges, the row homes, which were built in the 1930s, had leaky roofs, smashed
windows and broken appliances, and the copper pipes had been ripped out. With the original owners of the project in default, Gossard was determined to put the deal back together.

A number of factors helped save the project, such as government funding opportunities and the prospect of new businesses moving into the area, bringing job opportunities along with them. A critical factor was Bank of America’s willingness to undertake a complex transaction with Hampstead, Gossard said.

“When we finally brought a tax credit investor in, they (Bank of America) were one, if not the only, construction lender left that was in this market and wanted to do the project,” he said.
“It meant a lot for them to step up to the plate when they could have walked from a complicated project like this and could have found simpler deals to do.”

Once financing was arranged, the renovation and rehabilitation of Poppleton became a reality. The Obama administration’s Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing is providing $1.46 million for the installation of high-efficiency heat pumps, windows, low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets and other energy-saving appliances. The 86 row homes and 25 new units will be completed next to the University of Maryland’s burgeoning BioPark. An estimated 180 jobs will be created and residents will live in state-of-the-art affordable housing. By the end of 2011, the Poppleton II
Apartments construction will be complete with safe quality affordable housing for 111 families.

Over the years, Bank of America has invested $100 million in Baltimore’s Westside where the Poppleton II Apartments are located. “It is important to continue those redevelopment efforts,” said Joyce Moskovitz, Senior Vice President at Bank of America, who was involved in the transaction. “Our goal here is to help develop affordable housing.”

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The “mobile” volunteer

Kayanna Johnson considers herself a “mobile volunteer.” She doesn’t have a specific niche or volunteer focus, but she is dedicated to community service and making the world, especially the Baltimore community, a better place—wherever she works. “Knowing that you can make a difference makes you feel so good about yourself,” Johnson said.

Mayor’s Project
A large portion of Johnson’s student service came from her participation in the Mayor’s Executive Internship Program. In her junior year, she became a liaison
between local government and the Baltimore community, creating an advocacy project designed to lessen the negative effect of homelessness.

Johnson felt a personal connection to this issue. When her parents divorced, Johnson’s mother had difficulty providing a home for the family. Despite moving in with her grandmother, Johnson and her family didn’t have a place to call their own.

“It makes me happy to know that I’m making a difference in someone else’s life,” Johnson said. “It’s something that I live for — helping others. It brings me joy.”
Serving From the Heart
Johnson’s love of animals has also led her to spend a great deal of her time at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the local Humane Society. Johnson has also worked as a volunteer at St. James Church and at local food banks that serve the homeless and hungry.

As president of the Student Government Association, Johnson also helped fundraise for the program Children Having Incarcerated Parents. During the holidays, Johnson and her peers raised money and donated clothes and toys to give to children in need.

Because of her leadership and service, Johnson was
honored with a Student Leader award, one of hundreds awarded last year by Bank of America, as part of the bank’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

“The award means a lot to me because it shows you get rewarded for good things that you do for your community,” Johnson said.

The teen found the Bank of America Student Leadership Summit to be a very enlightening experience. The event offered a place for “like-minded individuals working towards a common goal to make the world a better place to live,” Johnson said.

The bank’s award also provided Johnson with an
internship with Teach for America where she worked hands-on with students to help raise achievement in the inner-city school system of Baltimore.

A Future of Leadership
Johnson is inspired by her mother, who taught her the importance of getting involved in the community. Her mother is “someone who’s hard-working [and] someone who has the drive to do better,” Johnson said.

“We, as human beings, have a purpose in life and that purpose is to make…the lives of other people better,” she said. “You needed someone to help you get where you are, so you need to do the same thing and help someone else’s life.”
See more about Bank of America's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

Aiding the journey to recovery

Empowering women with the education, skills, and confidence to become productive members of society has been a core mission of the Marian House for the past 28 years. Based in Baltimore City, the organization is a permanent housing facility serving women who are coming out of incarceration, with the goal of providing full rehabilitation.

Asking the Tough Questions
While the most basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing are provided to all women staying at Marian House, the organization also recognizes that to truly heal or rehabilitate an individual, the root cause must be addressed. Executive Director Katie Allston explains that
beyond basic needs, Marian House provides a variety of services focused on education and therapy to help women on their journey to recovery.

“We have Masters-level, licensed and trained therapists who aren’t afraid to ask tough questions and deal with the issues,” Allston said. “The women truly have the opportunity to heal and figure out what started them down this path, and how they can get off it.”

Bank of America recognized the important work happening through Marian House and its positive impact on the Baltimore community by honoring the organization with a Neighborhood Builder award, one of hundreds awarded last year to individuals and
organizations across the country as part of its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

The award will be used to support a variety programs offered by the shelter and create leadership development opportunities for staff members like Allston. Marian House will also use the funding to raise the profile of its mission and involvement around the community.

“Our whole society would be a better place if agencies like Marian House are given the right support. The award from Bank of America and this kind of recognition gives us that support, helps us grow and provides the opportunity to tell our story,” Allston said.
A Safe Place for Women in Need
Marian House was founded in 1982 by two sisters and a laywoman from the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Sisters of Mercy. As volunteers at the Baltimore City Women’s Detention Center, these women saw the need to provide a safe place where women can go to start over. At Marian House, women can adopt a clean and productive lifestyle.

Karen Floyd entered Marian House to make a change. She learned about the organization from a fellow inmate, she said, “That was the beginning of a beautiful story.” She credits the supportive environment at Marian House that led to her success. “It’s a very good esteem
builder. You can come to this place where you love yourself, and make those right choices again.”

Recognition, Support Fuels Growth
“We’re working to rehabilitate the women and create working people in our society. Folks that will go out and get a job, get their own housing, join their local neighborhood association, and in general be good productive citizens who give back to their community,” Allston said.

See more about Bank of America's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

Neighborhood Excellence Initiative^® invests in organizations dedicated to helping those in need

Since 1988, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County has served more than 8,600 youth with educational and social programming aimed at helping them become productive, caring, responsible citizens. The organization has focused its services on the county’s lower-income communities and most needy young residents by offering programs to reduce teen pregnancy and violence, and increase teen academic achievement, to name a few.
Marian House has been providing safe and affordable housing to homeless women in need since 1982. Some of the supportive services include addiction treatment, counseling, financial assistance and education, educational assistance and tutoring, workforce development and employment placement assistance, family reunification, and medical care. Marian House provides a safe, loving environment that challenges women to respect and love themselves, confront emotional and socio-economic barriers, and build stable and productive lives.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and Marian House have been awarded $200,000
each by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to help continue their work with Baltimore’s neediest youth and adults.
The grants are part of the Foundation's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative ®, which operates in 44 cities in the U.S, as well as London.
The awards are part of ongoing effort by Bank of America to stimulate economic vitality in Baltimore, across the State of Maryland, and in communities across the nation, said Gregory Franks, Maryland and Baltimore Market President for Bank of America. He said that the latest announcement brought the bank’s total commitment to Boston through the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative to $3.15 million since 2004.
Additional honorees:
The Foundation also selected five “Local Heroes” for their community service work: Stanley Butler, of Baltimore City; June Carr, of Baltimore City; LaUanah King-Cassell, of Baltimore City; Patricia Thomson, of Baltimore City; Glenn Ross, of McElderry Park. Each is able to designate a $5,000 charitable grant from the Foundation to the eligible non-profit of their choice.

Five exemplary teens were named “Student Leaders” and selected to receive a paid eight week internship at a Boston-area non-profit. They were Katy Bullard, a Parkton resident and senior at Bryn Mawr School; Kayanna Johnson, a Baltimore resident, recent graduate
of Western High School and freshman at Towson University; Marissa Robinson, a Columbia resident, recent graduate of Atholton High School and senior at Spelman College; Liz Welliver, a Westminster resident, former student at Winters Mill High School and student at Lester B. Pierson United World College of the Pacific; Taylor Yarbrough, a Baltimore resident and senior at the Institute of Notre Dame.
Baltimore Card Services associate Penny Lewis was selected as the recipient of the 2010 Volunteer Services Award. In her role as President of the Volunteer Network for Bank of America in Baltimore and Maryland, Penny is group liaison to outside organizations, event coordinator for internal partners, and a resource to
local Bank of America leaders.

American Brewery provides a foundation for opportunity in East Baltimore

In the midst of boarded up properties, the renovation of a historic landmark in East Baltimore is changing the face of a once-neglected neighborhood.

The American Brewery building, built in 1887, has stood vacant since the 1970s. The community surrounding the brewery began to decline around the same time and that decline accelerated in the 1990s. By the mid-2000s, roughly one-half of the homes and buildings in the neighborhood were demolished or vacant.
Then Humanim stepped in. The non-profit human services agency launched a project to renovate the American Brewery building to house employment programs and support services for the residents of the community. Aligning with the goals of the City of Baltimore and the surrounding community, the project was designed to combine elements of workforce development, social services, community development and revitalization.

A Bank of America loan helped Humanim get the project off the ground, and in 2009 the renovation was complete, with restored copper, brick and brownstone. Residents can once again look at the brewery’s three
iconic towers – no longer plagued by holes in the roofs and broken floorboards – with pride.

But the restoration doesn’t just improve the aesthetics of East Baltimore. Today, the American Brewery project is an anchor for the area’s community-wide revitalization. The 250 employees that Humanim transferred to the brewery will invest in the community, providing critical workforce development services for area residents. At its new location, Humanim provides training and job placement services to more than 400 individuals with disabilities and specialized support and family education services that assist more than 850 children and adults per year.

Educating Baltimore residents in-person and online at Enoch Pratt Free Library and online

When the Enoch Pratt Free Library opened in 1886, it was the first free public library in the United States. Today, it serves as Baltimore’s public library and the Maryland State Library Resource Center, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors last year. It’s also the largest provider of public access computers in the metropolitan area, with more than 500 in-house. Residents use the computers to access GED classes, develop resumes, search for jobs and develop business plans. With a recent grant from Bank of America, the
Enoch Pratt Free Library went – adding wireless laptops, expanding bandwidth and resulting in improved online service for four additional branches. Because when you’re giving, lending and investing in more communities across the country, more opportunities happen.