VEDC Wins Honors

The Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC), a non-profit center in Van Nuys, and its President Roberto Barragan, were awarded the James Rouse Award by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) at the 2006 NCRC Conference in Washington D.C. The award recognized VEDC and Barragan for their contributions to economic justice and community development. Among VEDC’s accomplishments included bringing Wells Fargo Bank to Pacoima in 2003 and opening the first credit union in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. The award is named for James Rouse, an urban planner and real estate developer responsible for the formation of the Enterprise Foundation, which created affordable housing for low-income families. Rouse also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in urban areas.