Center for Community Progress

05/18/2026

In fall 2025, Revive and Restore Community Corporation, with the support of the Center for Community Progress, completed a property condition survey of 7,694 parcels in Jackson, Mississippi. Read what we found here!

How many properties in West Jackson are vacant and blighted? We conducted a neighborhood-wide property survey.

05/01/2026

Registration is open for RVP 2026! 🎉

The Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference — the only national gathering dedicated to turning vacant spaces into vibrant places — is coming to Pittsburgh, PA, September 22–25, 2026.

Learn from peers, explore real revitalization projects, and leave with strategies you can bring home to your community. Whether you're in local government, a land bank, or a community development nonprofit, RVP is your space to connect and build.

📍 David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
📅 September 22–25, 2026
🔗 Register now at communityprogress.org/rvp26

04/22/2026

April is National Healthy Homes Month! Is your city's code enforcement program working as a health and housing tool, or just a method to address complaints? There's a difference, and it matters for residents. Curious how to close the gap? Talk to our technical assistance team to learn more:

Technical assistance for local governments struggling with vacant properties. Contact us for strategies and solutions to end systemic vacancy and property deterioration.

04/02/2026

Vacant and deteriorating properties don't have to define a small town's future.

Our very own Liz Kozub recently joined the Small Towns podcast with Rebecca Undem to talk about how communities can take action — no matter their size or resources.

The bottom line? Data, partnerships, and creative thinking can go a long way in helping small towns reclaim the spaces that shape their communities.

Give it a listen and share with someone working on these issues in their community!

Listen here:

Podcast Episode · The Growing Small Towns Show · March 17 · 56m

03/31/2026

Are you a land bank leader ready to share your expertise with the field? Applications for the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program are due next week, April 3 at 5:00 PM ET. This program pairs seasoned leaders in the land banking field with emerging leaders who have been in their role for less than five years.

Submit your application today:
https://communityprogress.org/nlbn/nlbn-members/mentorship-program-application/

03/04/2026

Conference scholarship applications for the 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP) are open now through April 22!

The scholarship covers registration for conference activities from September 23-25, 2026. Those traveling from outside the Pittsburgh region may also apply for coverage of two nights of hotel accommodations.

Apply here: https://communityprogress.org/rvp26/scholarships/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=RVP%20Conference&utm_content=Scholarships

03/02/2026

Our 2025 Impact Report Is Here!
In 2025, Community Progress marked 15 years of working with communities to turn vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods. Our 2025 Impact Report looks at how this work continues to evolve alongside the housing challenges communities face today.
In these pages, you'll find stories of how Community Progress supports the public servants working to put vacant properties back to safe, productive use, and how we're advancing the national agenda for community redevelopment so everyone can live in a place with a bright future.
Take a few minutes to explore the 2025 Impact Report to learn more about the work we're doing to strengthen neighborhoods and inspire lasting revitalization.
Explore the 2025 Impact Report >>
It will live at this link:
https://communityprogress.org/about/impact-report/

02/18/2026

Our 2025 National Land Bank Network survey found that over 70% of land banks are engaged in — or planning to engage in — creating affordable housing in the next three years.

To help land banks do it more effectively, Community Progress is launching the HCVs to Homeownership Cohort to help land banks unlock a powerful, underutilized resource: HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Homeownership Option. With expertise transforming vacant properties and deep community ties, land banks can partner with local housing agencies to help low-income renters become first-time homebuyers.

The application deadline is February 24!

HCVs to Homeownership Cohort In the HCVs to Homeownership Cohort, participants will learn about leveraging land banks and HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program to create homeownership opportunities for low-income renters in their community. Affordable homeownership continues to be vital for family ...

02/12/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Presley Gillespie of Neighborhood Allies back to our board of directors! We are grateful for his partnership as we continue to grow our partnerships nationally and with the people of Pittsburgh.

Returning board member brings deep leadership experience and strong ties to Pittsburgh as Community Progress prepares for Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference.