WNC Founder and Chairman Wilfred Cooper, Sr. Inducted into Affordable Housing Hall of Fame

Nov. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Wilfred Cooper, Sr., founder and chairman of WNC & Associates, will be honored as an inductee into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame on November 4, 2011. Cooper, Sr. is a pioneer in the industry, having made the first affordable housing investment in the United States.

“My father played an integral role in establishing the industry at a time when most people had never heard of affordable housing,” said Will Cooper, Jr., president and CEO of WNC. “His contributions have helped to provide safe and affordable housing for thousands of communities in need and laid the groundwork for the thriving affordable housing industry we see today.”

Cooper, Sr. founded WNC & Associates in 1971 as one of the first affordable housing investors in the U.S., growing the firm’s portfolio to more than $5 billion in assets spanning more than 1,100 properties in 45 states. WNC was one of the first companies to apply to and receive an allocation for New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and has been awarded four NMTC allocations to date, totaling $178 million, and has facilitated development of 12 low-income community projects.

As chairman of WNC’s board of directors, Cooper, Sr. remains an advocate for the affordable housing industry, having testified before numerous Congressional committees. He has advocated for the establishment and advancement of LIHTC legislation and the Community Reinvestment Act and is trustee of the NAHB Build Political Action Committee.

Affordable Housing Finance Magazine created the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame in 2006 to recognize visionary leaders who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the industry. The award will be presented at the Affordable Housing Developers’ Summit at the Swissotel in Chicago.  

Additional honorees include Amy Anthony, Founder and President of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH); Former Republican Congresswoman Nancy Johnson; and Jack Manning, President and CEO of Boston Capital.  

About WNC & Associates, Inc.

WNC & Associates, Inc., founded in 1971 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a nationwide investment firm specializing in Low Income Housing Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits. To date, WNC has acquired more than $5 billion of assets totaling more than 1,050 properties in 45 states. Additionally, WNC has been awarded four NMTC allocations to date, totaling $178 million, and has facilitated development of 12 low-income community projects. WNC’s investor base exceeds 19,500 institutional and retail clients, including Fortune 500 companies, multinational banks, and insurance companies. For more information please visit www.wncinc.com.