Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY — To address the growing need for affordable housing in the Gainesville/Alachua County metropolitan area, the Alachua County Affordable Housing Coalition will host its first Affordable Housing Forum to discuss "The State of Affordable Housing." This forum will bring together the major stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to one table to discuss issues and brainstorm solutions for Alachua County. The Alachua County Growth Management Department is a member of the Coalition.

This forum will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2006 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eastside Community Center, 2841 E University Ave., Gainesville.

The forum will include a keynote address from a representative of the Florida Housing Coalition, as well as a panel discussion including Edwin Dix of EDix Investments, Inc., Jack Kolberg of SunTrust Bank, Marilyn Mason of Vantage Mortgage, Ishmael Rentz of SL Construction, Inc., Leslie Suskin from the Gainesville Alachua Association of Realtors, and Dr. Bob Stroh, Director of the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing at the University of Florida.

For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Teresa Osoba, President of the Alachua County Affordable Housing Coalition at osobatd@ci.gainesville.fl.us or (352) 334-5026.