RALEIGH, NC – CAHEC, a community investment organization, presented its annual awards on June 9 at the Partners Conference Awards Luncheon in downtown Raleigh, honoring individuals and organizations that have made meaningful contributions to affordable housing and community development. The 2026 CAHEC Awards recognized five standout recipients across various categories.
The Development of the Year award went to Valley River Apartments, a 56-unit affordable housing community in Murphy, North Carolina. Completed in 2025, it was developed by Western North Carolina Housing Partnership (WNCHP) in collaboration with FGM Development, LLC. Valley River represents CAHEC's seventh investment with WNCHP and its tenth with FGM Development. The project marked a significant milestone for Cherokee County, as it was the county's first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) award in a decade and the first new-construction LIHTC development in 26 years, addressing a critical need for affordable housing in Western North Carolina.
The Resident Spotlight Award was presented to Piok Chier, a freshman in high school living at Partridge Pointe Apartments in Louisville, KY. Piok has become a key figure in resident programming through CAHEC's partnership with the local YMCA, helping coordinate weekly youth activities such as soccer camps and educational programs. His leadership extends beyond his community; he volunteers with the Chestnut Street Family YMCA Summer Camp, participates in the Men of Quality program, serves on the Black Achievers Teen Senate, and volunteers with Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Piok's enthusiasm and dedication have made him an integral part of the program's success.
The Outstanding Community Impact award was given to the North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) in Jacksonville, FL. In 2019, CAHEC New Markets provided $10.25 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation to NFSSE for campus expansion. Serving approximately 248 students and over 100 post-graduates, NFSSE empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental differences through educational, vocational, and life-skills programming. The school has achieved a job placement rate of 56.2% among vocational training participants. NFSSE also operates a therapeutic equestrian center and social enterprises like Berry Good Farms, fostering inclusion through a reverse inclusion model that brings together individuals with and without disabilities.
First Bank was named Investor of the Year. Headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the bank has invested over $34 million across nine CAHEC-sponsored funds over 15 years, growing from approximately $1 billion to over $12 billion in assets. First Bank has also served as a construction lender on several CAHEC-syndicated developments, demonstrating a deep commitment to expanding access to affordable housing throughout the Carolinas.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Steve Rosenblatt, who has dedicated his career to affordable housing education and compliance. Starting in the mid-1970s, he managed a Rural Development housing portfolio before founding Spectrum Seminars in 1986 and establishing the Rural Development STAR designation. He later developed the C3P Section 42 training program and founded Spectrum Compliance in 1991, which now employs nearly 40 professionals. Rosenblatt has trained tens of thousands of housing professionals and contributed to numerous events sponsored by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and CAHEC.
CAHEC is a community investment organization based in Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, SC, offering housing and life-changing opportunities across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Its product areas include investing in low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and renewable energy credits, along with loan programs, wellness and education initiatives, affordable housing development, and property management services. For more information, visit CAHEC's website.
