"This award recognizes programs that best support the new construction of affordable rental housing, and I am very proud that WHEDA took top honors for our innovative approach to encouraging new production," said WHEDA Executive Director Antonio Riley. "WHEDA hopes the introduction of our Co-Developer Mentor Protégé program will encourage other Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) across the country to create similar programs supporting minority developers."

To date, WHEDA’s Co-Developer Mentor Protégé program has produced two projects where the minority developer received low-income housing tax credits.

Awards at the conference were presented in six permanent categories including home ownership, rental housing, special needs housing, management innovation, communications, and special achievement. WHEDA’s award fell into the rental housing category under the subcategory, "Encouraging New Production."

Now in its 24th year, NCSHA’s awards program mission is to share information about the most successful housing programs, identify industry best practices, recognize exemplary HFA efforts, and encourage HFA innovation.

"The Awards Program represents the best work of HFAs from across the country. It’s a great way to share information about what works. It is this sharing that, over the years, has made all HFAs more successful in achieving our common mission of providing affordable housing for those who need it. Congratulations to WHEDA for this outstanding accomplishment," said Barbara Thompson, NCSHA’s executive director.

Riley, who has served on the NCSHA Board of Directors for the past two years, was also re-elected to a second, two-year term at the conference. NCSHA’s Board of Directors is comprised of HFA executive directors, who are elected by their peers.

NCSHA is a national, nonprofit organization created more than 30 years ago by the state HFAs to coordinate and leverage their federal advocacy efforts for affordable housing. NCSHA’s members are the HFAs of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCSHA represents these agencies in Washington before Congress, the Administration, and the federal agencies concerned with housing, such as HUD and the Treasury.

WHEDA is an independent state authority that works with lenders to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. For more information on WHEDA's housing programs, call (800) 334-6873 or browse this web site.