The word "LISC" is an acronym that stands for Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a non-profit organization that provides funding and technical assistance to community development projects. The spelling of "LISC" is phonetically transcribed as /lɪsk/, with the "s" sound pronounced as "sk" due to the influence of the "c" sound. This spelling convention is also used in other words with the "sc" or "c" followed by "i" or "e," such as "discipline" and "century."
LISC stands for Local Initiatives Support Corporation. It is a non-profit community development financial institution that works towards providing financial resources and support for the development of low-income communities and neighborhoods across the United States. LISC's primary goal is to foster economic opportunity, nurture healthy communities, and promote affordable housing.
With a network of local organizations and partners in various cities and rural areas, LISC strives to address the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities by mobilizing capital, offering technical assistance, and advocating for policies that create sustainable change. They support a range of initiatives, such as affordable housing development, economic development and job creation, community safety and health improvement, and education and youth programs.
LISC plays a crucial role in revitalizing struggling neighborhoods. It provides loans, equity investments, grants, and other financial tools to local organizations, community development corporations, and small businesses, helping them build essential community assets, affordable housing units, and commercial facilities. Additionally, LISC promotes collaboration among stakeholders, including residents, businesses, local government officials, and philanthropic organizations, to ensure that community development efforts are inclusive, comprehensive, and rooted in local needs and aspirations.
By leveraging resources and expertise, LISC endeavors to strengthen the social fabric, expand economic opportunities, and create vibrant and thriving neighborhoods. Through its comprehensive community development approach, LISC seeks to address systemic inequities and empower individuals and communities to overcome the barriers to prosperity and well-being.