COMING UP, WE GET AN UPDATE ON THE NEXUS CENTER AND IT'S IMPACT ON THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

THEN, WE DISCUSS THE PROGRESS OF THE I - 81 PROJECT AS IT BEGINS TO RECONNECT SYRACUSE AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES, J DANIEL PLUFF TALKS WITH CHEDY HAMPSON ABOUT HIS NEW FOUNDATION, FOCUSED ON GIVING BACK TO THE SOUTHSIDE OF SYRACUSE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M YOUR HOST, LAIZA SEMIDEY.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND SOMETIMES LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO UTICA.

BACK IN 2022 J. DANIEL PLUFF SAT DOWN WITH ROBERT ESCH TO TALK ABOUT THE BEGINNING PROCESS OF BUILDING THE NEXUS CENTER.

NOW, TWO YEARS LATER OUR TEAM REVISITS THE FACILITY.

WE SAT DOWN WITH CARL ANNESE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE AUD AUTHORITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THE CENTER HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SINCE ITS OPENING SUCH AS HOLDING 2 INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

BRINGING EXPOSURE AND DOLLARS TO THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

THE FACILITIES OPENED NOVEMBER 2022.

WE DID OPEN A YEAR LATE.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE YEAR PRIOR, BUT BECAUSE OF COVID, EVERYTHING WAS DELAYED, CONSTRUCTION WAS DELAYED.

TEAMS COULDN'T COME IN.

IT JUST KEEPS ON ROLLING AND ROLLING SO WE DID OPEN A YEAR LATE: WE HAD ABOUT $3.5 MILLION EXTRA COST BECAUSE OF DELAYS, COVID PRICE INCREASES THINGS OF THAT SORT.

FOR OUR SPACE ITSELF, WAS WE OFFER ARE FOUR TOTAL RINKS WHETHER IT BE FOR ICE, TURF OR A COMBINATION OF.

WE HAD THE WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF ICE HOCKEY HERE.

THEY USED THE NEXUS FACILITY COMPLETELY SO IT GAVE THEM A FULL TRAINING FACILITY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING FOR.

OUR LOCATION IS EVERYTHING.

WHEN THE TEAMS COME IN, THEY'RE NOT TRAVELING.

AT TIMES THEY'VE HAD TO TRAVEL FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR SPOT IS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY.

MOST RINKS EVEN THOUGH IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY, IT'S ON THE OUTSKIRTS.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO HOTELS, TO RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

WE KNOW THE FACILITY ISN'T GOING TO PROFIT ALL THAT MUCH.

WHAT PROFITS BIG TIME IS OUR AREA, OKAY?

AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR ECONOMIC IMPACT COMES IN.

THE RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO DO TELL.

THE HOTELS ARE GOING TO DO TELL.

STATE IS GOING TO DO WELL.

THE COUNTY IS GOING TO DO WELL BECAUSE OF SALES TAX, BED TAX.

SALES TAX IS ALSO GOING TO BE BETTER FOR THIS THAN IT WAS FOR THE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT.

WE HAVE PEOPLE NOT AT THE CASINO, SPENDING THEIR TAX DOLLARS WITHIN ONEIDA AND HERKIMER, MADISON COUNTY, PROBABLY ONONDAGA COUNTY EVEN.

THAT WILL GO TO THE COUNTIES AND TO THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES.

THEY SHARE IN THE TAXES.

BEING AT THE CASINO, THEY DO COLLECT THE TAX, BUT IT STAYS UP THERE FOR THEIR INVESTMENTS.

SO WE WILL SEE LOCALLY A LARGER IMPACT FROM PEOPLE STAYING LOCAL.

WHEN WE PROPOSED THE BUILDING TO THE STATE, TO THE COUNTY, WE LOOKED AT IT AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.

OKAY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HERE TO DRAW PEOPLE IN.

WE DREW FROM A VERY LARGE AREA.

ONE GROUP OF LADIES THAT WE HAPPENED TO MEET, THEY WERE FROM WINDSOR, ONTARIO.

THEY COULDN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

SO IT REALLY EMPHASIZED ON WHAT OUR AREA AS CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS TO OFFER.

AND HOW MUCH PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE AREA ENJOYED WHAT WE HAVE EVERY DAY THAT WE SEEM TO EVERY DAY THAT WE SEEM TO OVERLOOK.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO CARL ANNESE AND EVERYONE AT THE NEXUS CENTER.

JOINING US TONIGHT FOR OUR COMMON CENTS SEGMENT IS MICHAEL JENNINGS WEALTH ADVISOR AND FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATE AT BRACKENS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS NETWORK WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT FOR HOURS, DAYS, MONTHS, YEARS-- I AM EEXAGE RATING.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT IS CREDIT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

CREDIT IS A VERY COMPLEX SUBJECT SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT A CREDIT SCORE, WHAT IT REALLY IS IS A MEASUREMENT OF HOW LIKELY YOU ARE TO TAKE ON A DEBT AND BE ABLE TO PAY IT BACK ON TIME.

SO CREDIT SCORE, A LOT OF LENDERS WILL LOOK AT IT AS A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR OVERALL CREDIT REPORT, WHICH IS ALSO A GREAT THING AND ALSO WANT TO MENTION HERE.

BUT REALLY ITS KIND OF JUST A SNAPSHOT OF IN THE MOMENT.

WHERE YOU ARE AS FAR AS YOUR CREDIT WORTHINESS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME GOOD HABITS TO BUILDING CREDIT?

>> I LIKE THAT QUESTION.

SO HABITS.

SO, AGAIN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT CREDIT IS, IT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOU TAKING ON DEBT AND ALSO PAYING IT BACK ON TIME AND IN FULL.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU CAN DO WHETHER YOU HAVE GOOD CREDIT, WHETHER YOU HAVE BAD CREDIT IS PAYING BACK WHAT YOU OWE ON TIME EVERY MONTH.

PEOPLE-- THE LENDERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.

THEY LIKE TO SEE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE ON AN OBLIGATION AND FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S TAKE AN INSTANCE.

I HAVE BAD CREDIT.

WHAT CAN I DO TO BUILD MY CREDIT BACK UP?

>> YES.

SO I KNOW, YOU KNOW,PEOPLE LIKE TO LOOK AT IMPT DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE BUILDING CREDIT GO TO CREDIT GURU OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING THAT CAN HELP ARE CREDIT IS TIME.

THAT'S TIME AS FAR AS PAYING BACK THE LOANS BACK ON TIME, NOT TAKING ON ANY NEW LOANS.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT PEOPLE TEND TO DO.

THEY LOOK AT CREDIT AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MONEY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.

>> AND THEY SHOULDN'T.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WHICH IS NOT WHAT IT IS.

CREDIT SHOULD BE A REPLACEMENT.

SO IF YOU THINK OF CREDIT CARDS, YOU THINK OF SOMEONE WHO IS A CREDIT CARD PERSON VERSUS SOMEONE WHO IS NOT.

CREDIT CARD PERSON UNDERSTANDS THAT THE CREDIT CARD HAS TO BE PAID BACK ON TIME.

THEY SET UP AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS ON IT EVERY MONTH.

THEY EITHER PAY IT OFF IN FULL OR PAY IT OFF, TO AROUND 30% UTILIZATION ACROSS ALL CREDIT CARDS WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, TO KEEP IT UNDER 30% UTILIZATION VERSUS A PERSON WHO ISN'T A CREDIT CARD PERSON AND WHAT THEY DO, AGAIN, IS THEY TAKE ON DEBT, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PAY IT BACK AND WHEN THEY'RE IN A PINCH AND THEY NEED MORE MONEY, THEY GO TO LACK FOR ANOTHER CREDIT CARD WHICH OPENS UP ANOTHER LOAN, ANOTHER ACCOUNT ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT AND WE ARE BASICALLY STARTING THE CLOCK ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> A VICIOUS CYCLE.

>> VERY VICIOUS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

NEXT, ON OUR PROPERTY PULSE SEGMENT WE EXPLORE THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT.

BACK IN THE 1960'S THE HISTORIC 15TH WARD OF SYRACUSE WAS TORN APART TO MAKE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF I-81.

MORE THAN 1,300 FAMILIES WERE DISPLACED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE INTERSTATE.

NOW, MORE THAN 50 YEARS LATER, THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS TAKING STEPS TO REMOVE THE VIADUCT AND WORK ON OTHER PARTS OF I-81.

REVITALIZING PARTS OF SYRACUSE THAT WERE LEFT IN DISARRAY FROM THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.

CREATING A NEW COMMUNITY GRID TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CITY, THAT IS PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETED OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS.

OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS.

>> THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS THE 1.4-MILE STRETCH OF ELEVATED HIGHWAY IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE THAT IS AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

IT'S ALSO-- IT DOESN'T CONFORM TO HIGHWAY STANDARDS ANYMORE.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE THE VIADUCT DOWN AND REPLACE IT.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO BRING IT TO STREET LEVEL AND INTRODUCE NEW ACCESS POINTS FROM DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND THE CITY TO CREATE WHAT IS CALLED A COMMUNITY GRID OF STREETS.

THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT IS A $2.25 BILLION PROJECT WHERE 80% OF THE FUNDING FROM THE PROJECT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 20% OF THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM NEW YORK STATE.

NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MOD MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA, BUT WITH THE CONTRACTORS WHO ARE COMING IN AND WORKING, THEY'RE SPREADING MONEY AROUND INTO THE ECONOMY AS WELL.

THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT IS STRUCTURED IN EIGHT DIFFERENT CONTRACTS.

AND SO, SO FAR ALREADY, WE HAVE FOUR OF THOSE CONTRACTS IN CONSTRUCTION.

WITH THE FOUR, IF YOU ADD THE COST OF ALL FOUR OF THOSE CONTRACTS, WE ARE ALREADY MANAGING NEARLY $1.3 BILLION OF CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING IN AND AROUND SYRACUSE RIGHT NOW.

WITH OVER $200 MILLION OF CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE ALREADY.

THEY ESTABLISHED A GOAL WITH THE CONTRACTORS OF A 15% LOCAL HIRE.

MEANING THAT ANYONE WHO LIVES IN THE SYRACUSE CITY ZIP CODES OR ONONDAGA NATION, THEY'RE CONSIDERED LOCAL HIRES AND THE CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SET ASIDE 15% OF THEIR WORK HOURS FOR THESE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THE PROJECT.

NO MATTER WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS, NO MATTER, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, WE HELP WITH ALL THAT TO GET THEM HIRED ON THIS JOB.

WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW THE I-81 VIADUCT PROJECT HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

WHEN THE PROJECT WAS IN ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PHASE, THE SYRACUSE HOUSING AUTHORITY KNEW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY OF THIS MODERNIZED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING AND THEY HAVE A PROJECT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON TO REDEVELOP SOME OF THE HOUSING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING SECTOR OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

WHEN I-81 WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1960s, IT RAN RIGHT THROUGH A VERY PROMINENT, THRIVING BLACK AND JEWISH COMMUNITY.

AT THE TIME, IN ORDER TO BUILD THE HIGHWAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD TO BE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.

THE THRIVING COMMUNITY WAS JUST DEMOLISHED AND PEOPLE HAD TO MOVE OTHER PLACES.

IT DID CREATE SOMEWHAT OF A SEGREGATION BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE AND WEST SIDE OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

IN THAT AREA WHERE THE VIADUCT IS TODAY.

SO NOW WITH US TAKING THE VIADUCT DOWN, WE ARE STITCHING BACK THAT COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU INVEST $2.25 BILLION INTO A COMMUNITY, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF A DIRECT CORONATION CORRELATION OF US CORONATION CORRELATION OF US UPDATING THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SKI OF SYRACUSE >> THIS WEEK FOR BY THE NUMBERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF LOVE.

ZOLA'S FIRST LOOK REPORT SURVEYED CLOSE TO 7,000 COUPLES GETTING MARRIED IN 2024 AND FOUND THE AVERAGE COST OF A WEDDING IS ABOUT $33,000 BASED ON 100 GUESTS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP EXPENSES FIRST THING IS THE VENUE, $6500 TO $12,000.

CATERING, WE HAVE TO FEED PEOPLE.

THAT'S GOING TO COST BETWEEN 6500 TO $10,000.

WE NEED GOOD MUSIC, BAND OR A DSM J.

IS GOING TO COST YOU BETWEEN 2,000 AND 7,000.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO CAPTURE THE MEMORIES.

A PHOTOGRAPHER WILL COST BETWEEN 3500 AND $6500.

NOW THERE ARE SOME CHEAP EXPENSES.

THE CAKE, CEREMONY MUSIC AND THE HAIR AND MAKEUP SERVICES.

BUT YOU HAVE OTHER EXPENSES LIKE VIDEOGRAPHER, FLOWERS AND DECOR, TRANSPORTATION, ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGES, THE SUIT, THE DRESS, THE RINGS AND SO MUCH MORE.

BUT MY QUESTION IS HOW ARE COUPLES PAYING FOR THEIR WEDDINGS.

TODAY THE MAJORITY OF THEM CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WEDDING EXPENSES IN SOME WAY.

THE SURVEY SHOWS THAT OVER 31% WILL UTILIZE CREDIT CARDS.

OVER 50% HAVE SAVED FOR YEARS TO PREPARE.

AND ABOUT ALMOST 17% ARE INCLUDING CASH FUNDS ON THE REGISTRY TO COVER WEDDING COSTS.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT PROPOSING OR PLANNING A BIG WEDDING, EITHER START SAVING NOW OR YOU CAN DO SOMETHING SMALL AND INTIMATE.

THESE ARE YOUR NUMBERS FOR THIS WEEK.

WE CAN'T WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J. DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS LONG BEEN A GIVING COMMUNITY, WITH MANY RESIDENTS OFFERING THEIR TIME, TALENTS OR TREASURE TO VARIOUS NEEDS AND CAUSES.

ONE SYRACUSE MAN SAW A GREAT NEED IN HIS HOMETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD FOLLOWING YEARS OF DECLINE SINCE HE LAST WALKED THOSE STREETS.

CHEDY HAMPSON GREW UP IN SYRACUSE'S SOUTH SIDE - AN AREA LACKING MANY AMENITIES BUT PROVIDING ENOUGH ACTIVITIES TO OFFER HIM ENCOURAGEMENT.

WHILE ACTIVE IN BASEBALL, HE ALSO HAD AN AFFINITY FOR ONLINE GAMING - AN INTEREST WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO HIS ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE MARKETING COMPANY.

THAT COMPANY, TCG PLAYER, SAW TREMENDOUS GROWTH OVER THE YEARS - SO MUCH SO IT WAS ACQUIRED BY EBAY FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

PROCEEDS FROM THE BUYOUT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO EMPLOYEES AND TO CHEDY - BUT HE WASN'T ABOUT TO JUST CASH IN AND RETIRE - HE'S NOW ON A MISSION TO REVITALIZE HIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

OUR DANIEL PLUFF JOINED CHEDY AT ONA JAVA - A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUSE AND A SIGN OF EARLY PROGRESS .

SO BEYOND THE SALE, AND BEYOND THE COMPANY AND I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE CLICHE TO SAY WELL MAYBE YOU WENT BACK TO YOUR ROOTS, STOW SPEAK.

BUT YOU KIND OF DID.

>> YES.

>> YOU WENT BACK TO THE SOUTH SIDE, TOOK A LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M GUESSING YOU DIDN'T LIKE WHAT YOU SAW.

>> CORRECT.

FROM A BUSINESS CONCEPT, TO ME, IT HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO A MARKETPLACE.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT THERE WAS JUST PARTS OF THAT COMMUNITY THAT WERE MISSING FROM WHEN I WAS A YOUTH.

AND IT WAS JUST A CONCEPT OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THOSE PIECES COULD BE BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER.

AND THE TIMING OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS IN THE SALE COINCIDED WITH A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITY HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SO IT WAS A FEELING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT FELT LIKE IT WASN'T GOING TO HAVE A LONG LASTING IMPACT.

IT FELT LIKE EVERYTHING AROUND US IS IN A POSITIVE MOMENTUM.

>> SO YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

>> YES.

>> YOU START A FOUNDATION.

I MEAN HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT STARTING A FOUNDATION.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW.

>> YOU DO NOW.

>> I DO NOW.

YEAH, SO THE FIRST THING I DID WAS I THOUGHT THE SAME THING FROM BUSINESS, WHAT IS A GREAT TEAM.

SO I WENT AND RECRUITED AN INCREDIBLE BOARD OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NON-PROFITS AND GOVERNMENT AND THEY WERE-- I WAS THANKFUL THEY ALL SAID YES.

>> SO HOW IS THIS FOUNDATION FUNDED THOUGH?

IS IT ALL PERSONAL MONEY?

ARE OTHER PEOPLE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS?

WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

>> THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE CAME FROM MYSELF.

I HAVE HAD OTHER SOURCES THAT HAVE STARTED TO COME IN.

LOTS OF INTEREST IS BEING EXPRESSED.

I THINK THE BIGGEST EYE OPENER TO ME WAS I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WOULD PRIMARILY BE DOING.

BUT THE INTEREST FROM OUTSIDE OTHER FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES, REALIZING WHAT THE GOVERNMENT, AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL COULD PROVIDE OPENED MY EYES AND REALIZING THAT EVEN WITH MY CAPITAL, IT DOESN'T MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THAT I WANT TO MAKE AND IT'S SO MUCH BIGGER.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THOUGH, NOT THAT THERE WAS ANY SINGLE ISSUE, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

WHAT CAUSED THE SOUTH SIDE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY TO MAYBE GO INTO SOME DECLINE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT REALLY DOES GOLF COURSE OF BACK TO I-81.

IT GOES BACK THAT FAR.

IT WAS THE MOMENT THAT THAT WENT UP, PROPERTY VALUES OF HOMES RIGHT NEXT TO I-81 DROPPED, PLUMMETED AND BECAME SOMETHING YOU COULD NEVER INVEST IN.

>> YOU COULD PINPOINT IT TO THAT TIME?

>> I CAN BECAUSE YOU CAN WATCH THE THREAT BLOCK BY BLOCK.

IT TOOK 30 TO 40 YEARS BEFORE SOMEBODY'S ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE QUESTION OF THAT HOME OWNERSHIP, WHY WOULD YOU SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX YOUR ROOF WHEN YOUR HOME VALUE HAS DROPPED BY HALF.

>> SURE.

WE ARE COMING UP TO THE POINT NOW WHERE FUNDS WILL START TO GET DISTRIBUTED.

WHO DECIDES, LIKE HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION ON WHERE TO GO WITH THE FUNDS?

DO PEOPLE COME TO YOU WITH REQUESTS?

LIKE YOU KNOW, GRANT REQUESTS?

IS THAT HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK?

>> I MEAN NOT IN THAT WAY.

WHAT WE ARE REALLY DOING IS TAKING FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE PROBLEMS LIE.

OBVIOUSLY HOUSING IS A HUGE ONE.

NOT JUST FROM A LACK OF HOUSING, BUT JUST THE STATE OF THE HOUSING.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ME PROUD TO SEE BOARDED UP WINDOWS OR TO SEE JUST COMPLETELY EMPTY LOTS.

SO LIKE THEY WANT TO SEE MORE LIFE, MORE ENERGY AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE PRIORITIZE THOSE PROBLEMS, WHICH ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING IS OUT THERE AND HOW DO WE SORT OF TACKLE THOSE PROBLEMS?

>> I HEAR YOU.

SO THAT'S MY, I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE?

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOUSING NEEDS.

WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED?

THE SOUTH SIDE?

>> AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

ACADEMIC DAYCARE AND THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN ALL OF IT IS TRANSPORTATION.

HOW WOULD YOU GET TO WORK AT MICRON IN A SPEEDY FASHION?

HOW WOULD YOUR BOY OR GIRL OR BOY AND GIRL GET TO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR OUTSIDE... >> IS IT GEARED MORE TOWARDS THE YOUNGER POPULATION, THE YOUTH OF THE AREA?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TARGETING?

>> IT'S TARGETED AT THE SINGLE PARENT WHO IS RAISING KIDS IT IS TARGETED AT THE KIDS BUT IT IS, I THINK IT'S MULTIGENERATIONAL IN NATURE.

SO WE ARE THINKING WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR SOMEBODY TO GROW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER 20 TO 30 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> I'M NOT HEARING-- IN WHAT YOU ARE PRIORITIZING-- I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT EDUCATION THOUGH.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A KEY ELEMENT AS WELL?

>> IT'S, FROM MY SIDE, IT'S NOT A KEY ELEMENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

IT'S ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MOTIVATED AND ENERGIZED OUTSIDE OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WHEN SCHOOL ENDS AT 3:30 AND THE PARENT IS OUT WORKING THEIR SECOND OR THIRD JOB, WHAT IS THE BRIDGE TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS HAVE ANOTHER PATHWAY TO CONTINUE LEARNING OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.

BUT ALSO PARENTS HAVE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT IS MY NEXT CAREER ADVANCEMENT GOING TO BE?

>> YOU DIDN'T GRADUATE COLLEGE.

>> I DIDN'T.

I TRIED.

MANY TIMES.

>> BUT THEN WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

YOU KNOW, IS IT SO NECESSARY TODAY TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I THINK THE CLASSES I TOOK WERE STILL EXTREMELY RELEVANT.

THERE WERE ECONOMIC CLASSES IN THERE, CALCULOUS CLASSES THAT I NEEDED.

>> CALCULOUS?

>> YES.

FOR PROGRAMMING.

>> NOT MY FAVORITE.

BUT I MEAN THAT HAS TO BE AN ELEMENT.

YOU NEED TO SPARK SOMETHING THERE, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> YES.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING, THAT YOU COULD BE SUCCESSFUL AT IT IF YOU TRY HARD ENOUGH.

I THINK TRAINING THE EXAMPLES THE ROLE MODELS TO BE PRESENT.

>> YOU HAVE MENTIONED YOU GREW UP HERE.

YOU ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU SPECIFICALLY?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S REALLY COMMUNITY IS ABOUT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT INTERESTS.

BEING ABLE TO CONNECT AND COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER IN A WAY THAT'S BEN IF ICIAL TO ALL OF THEM-- BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, BARBERS, GROCERY STORES, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUILD BUSINESSES, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RAISE FAMILIES FROM THE KIDS THEMSELVES.

THEY WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED.

THEY WANT THE KNOW THERE ARE ACTIVITIES FOR THEM.

ALL OF THAT HAPPENING IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE WAY THAT'S ENGAGING FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS.

>> WITHOUT SO MUCH BORDERS.

ONE COMMUNITY BLEEDS RIGHT INTO THE NEXT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT DOES, BUT IT'S ALL CONNECTIVE AND EMPOWERING AND SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN MISSING OR SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS ARE GONE.

THERE IS NO LONGER A BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT'S IN THAT COMMUNITY ANY LONGER UNTIL THEY HAVE TO LEAVE AND GO TO ANOTHER AREA AND THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU BUMP INTO THE ISSUES.

>> SURE.

NOW NO DISRESPECT HERE INTENDED AT ALL, BUT YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T JUST THROW MONEY AT A PROBLEM AND THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FIXED.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE RESULTS HERE?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS HAVING AN IMPACT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

STILL IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIGHT SURVEY AND DATA, BUT HOW PROUD ARE YOU TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE A GREAT METRIC.

THAT'S FROM THE PARENTS POINT OF VIEW, LIKE DO THEY FEEL THIS IS A PLACE THEY CAN RAISE THEIR KIDS?

AND THAT WILL BE A RESULT OF UNDERSTANDING IS THERE TRANSPORTATION THERE, IS THE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THERE.

DO THEY FEEL THEIR KIDS ARE SUCCESSFUL GOING TO SCHOOL.

ALL OF THAT WILL BE BUILT UP OVER TIME, OF COURSE.

BUT I DO THINK THERE IS SOME MEASURABLES THAT ARE IN THERE.

>> WE ARE TIGHT ON TIME BUT I HAVE TO KIND OF THROW THIS AT YOU OUT OF THE BLUE.

I JUST MET YOU RECENTLY.

YOU STRIKE ME AS AN AWFULLY NICE GUY.

I HOPE YOU WILL FORGIVE ME FOR WHAT IS A VERY SHALLOW QUESTION.

BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG ESPECIALLY DEFER YOU ARE TRYING TO TAKE ON.

THIS IS LIKE I'M GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD KIND OF A THING.

A LOT OF WORK.

WHY NOT TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN?

WHY NOT BUY YOURSELF AN ISLAND AND GROW COCONUTS?

WOULDN'T THAT BE THE THING TO DO?

>> IT WOULD BE VERY BORING.

I THINK THIS IS A TREMENDOUSLY FUN PROBLEM TO THINK ABOUT.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A BOARD GAME.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GETTING VERY FAR FROM MY ROOTS.

THIS IS HOW DO YOU-- >> YOU GREW UP HERE.

>> HOW DO YOU BRING THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER AND SOLVE IT.

THERE IS A CONNECTION TO IT AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING PROBLEM.

>> SO TELL ME THEN BEFORE WE END, TELL ME ABOUT LONG-TERM GOALS.

I MEAN HAVE YOU-- I'M SURE, OF COURSE YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE END GOAL HERE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT THREE, FOUR, FIVE, 10, 15 YEARS?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE ARE THINKING BEYOND MY LIFETIME, TO BE HONEST.

SO I THINK IT REALLY IS SEEING-- >> WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE THOUGH?

ISN'T THAT A NICE THOUGHT?

>> IT IS.

YEAH BUT I THINK HOW MUCH MONEY CAN WE BRING TO THE AREA IS A METRIC OF ARE WE TELLING A BIGGER STORY.

IT'S NOT JUST SMALL INVESTMENTS.

IT'S TAKING ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PRESENTING THEM IN A BIGGER LIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE, LIKE POLITICIANS, IF YOU WILL, THEY WANT TO MAKE BIG BETS.

SO WE WANT TO SHOW THEM THERE ARE BIG BETS AND BIG OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

BUT I THINK IT'S JUST SEEING THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY HAPPEN, PROUD PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS BEING RAISED HERE.

THE HOUSES STARTING TO LOOK LIKE WE REMEMBER THEM LOOKING.

>> TO YOUR POINT, I MEAN EVEN IF PART OF THIS WORKS, I MEAN THIS IS A GENERATIONAL THING.

>> OH YEAH.

>> IT COULD-- THEORETICALLY IN PRACTICALITY, IT WILL OUTLIVE YOU.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY WILL OUTLIVE >> YES, ABSOLUTELY WILL OUTLIVE ME.

NO QUESTION.

>> BIG THANKS TO CHEDY HAMPSON FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US.

IT IS THE END OF OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT BUT WE HAVE MORE FOR YOU• NEXT WEEK, JOIN US AS WE LEARN HOW THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, IS SUPPORTING THEIR PROGRAMS BY SELLING OFFICE SUPPLIES.

THEN, WE EXAMINE THE CAUSES OF RISING RENTS IN OUR AREA AND IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNS OF PRICES COMING DOWN.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES, J DANIEL PLUFF HEADS TO SHERRILL, NEW YORK TO VISIT THE ONLY FLATWARE MANUFACTURER IN THE UNITED STATES.

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I'M LAIZA SEMIDEY, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.