Each year SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties recognizes owners and entrepreneurs that have demonstrated unique vision, innovation, and achievement in support of our local economy and small business community.

Congratulations to the six small businesses and nonprofits honored on June 6 at the annual Small Business Achievements Awards event at Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester.

Meet Award-Winner Annette Pyatt, Executive Director, and Larry Douglas, Housing Program Manager for Chester Community Improvement Project.

Despite inflation and high mortgage rates in recent years, CCIP assisted more new homeowners with settlements and financial training.

The true test of a successful nonprofit organization is the consistent quality delivery of their mission and services to the community over time…while seamlessly navigating ongoing changes in the marketplace and needs of the community in good times and times of crisis.

Chester Community Improvement Project (CCIP) is a long-standing nonprofit founded in 1978 that assists low- and moderate-income families with home ownership counseling programs in the City of Chester and throughout Delaware County. It is focused on stabilizing communities with rehabilitated vacant properties, new construction, and building the base of homeownership.

In 2021, CCIP was honored as a SCORE Small Business Achievement Award winner for their timely and successful implementation of a comprehensive transition in their service model from one-to-one in person to 100 percent virtual programming when the 2020 pandemic crisis halted life as we knew it. 

Annette Pyatt, Executive Director, took bold steps to communicate virtually with families seeking affordable homes and improve online fundraising efforts.

Annette’s team met with SCORE mentors to learn how to strategically pivot services to using digital marketing, website updates, email and virtual meeting technology to continue counseling services and workshops about the process of buying, owning and maintaining a home – remotely.

In 2024, SCORE followed up with Annette to hear how CCIP is moving forward in the post-pandemic marketplace, surprisingly inundated by a new set of market conditions!

The Path to Success

Annette and Larry Douglas, Housing Program Manager, shared their views of recent trends and how the home buying market suffered since 2022 as the health crisis subsided.

During COVID and following the pandemic crisis, the housing market was experiencing a boom that was not particularly kind to the underrepresented home buyers in Delaware County.

 As was the case all through the US, there were a growing list of issues.

Home prices were out of balance with real property values. Real estate inventories were low and buyer demand was high.  Building material inventories were scarce and costs skyrocketed. Mortgage rates went from a low of 5 percent in 2022 to a high of 7+ percent by early 2024.

“In 25 years, I have never seen property values spike 50 percent – ever!” Larry said.

The effect on residents in the City of Chester and Delaware County who wanted to purchase a home was difficult. Properties were being purchased over asking price, 30-50 percent higher than pre-COVID times just a few years earlier. Many buyers were desperate to own a home.

In spite of these unprecedented trends and excessive home prices, CCIP was able to assist families through almost 30 new home settlements in the past few years.

These new home owners had access to CCIP financial literacy counseling to help them develop a financial plan as well as post-purchasing training to prevent defaulting on the mortgage and learn about refinancing for home improvements and repairs.

Read the full story.

Find a SCORE mentor today.

SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business experts, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals.

Since 1964, SCORE has provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs nationwide.

SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties has been operating since 1985, with 100 dedicated volunteers today who provide confidential mentoring at no charge and offer business seminars, workshops and webinars to benefit the local community. 

SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).