State Rep. Jared Solomon last week presented a congratulatory check to the Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association at its headquarters, 900 E. Howell St.
OCCCDA received $100,000 as a part of the Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credit. The money will fund projects such as technical support to small businesses, job training for the unemployed and underemployed, GED classes for immigrants, food giveaways and street cleaning.
M&T Bank, which has a branch at 6500 Castor Ave., is in the third year of a five-year, $500,000 commitment to the OCCCDA. The bank receives a tax credit for its donation.
Solomon said the bank, the OCCCDA and his office are “rowing in the right direction.”
“The things we do together are the things we do best,” he said.
Solomon described the OCCCDA as “my best partner in Northeast Philadelphia.” He recalls, not too long ago, that no small businesses in the 19149 ZIP code received grants.
Accepting the donation were OCCCDA executive director Shanté Antrom and economic development director Magaly Hernandez. Representing M&T was regional president Bernie Shields. ••
