NC REALTORS® 2017 Innovation Grant Recipients
Greensboro, North Carolina (August 16, 2017) – Three local REALTOR® associations were recently awarded 2017 Innovation Grants by NC REALTORS®. High Point Regional Association of REALTORS® (HPRAR), Carolina Smokies Association of REALTORS®, Inc. (CSAOR) and Mid Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® (MCRAR) each received a $5,000 grant. The grant program funds innovative community programs across the state, which closely align with the REALTOR® mission and values. NC REALTORS® sought out programs, events, or plans that change the way the real estate industry is perceived or how business is conducted with an emphasis on promoting affordable housing.
“We are excited about the work our local associations are doing within their communities, elevating the REALTOR® brand,” stated Andrea Bushnell, Esq., CEO of NC REALTORS®. “This grant program acknowledges the powerful impact of REALTORS® across the state, and the associations rewarded with this round of grant funding excelled in delivering value to our members and communities through innovative thinking and programming.”
HPRAR’s vision is to enhance the quality of life in the communities served by the association, particularly through involvement in the Thomasville Area Habitat and the First Responder Recognition Service, as well as in the training of low income and affordable housing homeowner responsibilities. It aims to improve the REALTOR® image by demonstrating that earning a commission is not the sole motivation for the REALTOR® Family, while also increasing the number of marketing opportunities for members.
CSAOR’s grant will help continue to fund its successful Participation Point System (PPS), which they use to encourage more participation and involvement from membership. The program provides cohesion among membership, fund raisers, resources from local media and publications, and an increase in community involvement. Creating this incentive plan will generate more advocacy and provide a voice in real estate for NC REALTORS®.
MCRAR plans to use the funds to promote the importance of REALTOR® participation on all levels of associations: local, state, and federal. Its goal is to invite REALTOR® speakers from across the state to visit and discuss their motivations for involvement in the REALTOR® party and REALTOR® associations. In reaching out to past and future presidents of NC REALTORS® and MCRAR, as well as members who are involved in local and state committees, MCRAR believes others will hear the stories and get involved, which in turn will help the organization become stronger and more engaged.
About NC REALTORS®
NC REALTORS® is a non-profit trade association, representing more than 40,000 members and 48 local associations throughout the state of North Carolina. NC REALTORS® serves to promote the success of its members and enhance the quality of life in North Carolina by promoting housing affordability and the protection of private property rights. Founded in 1921, the association is headquartered in Greensboro, with an additional office in Raleigh. For more information on the association, visit ncrealtors.org.
