Affordable homes contractor receives governor's volunteer award

Affordable Homes Development Inc. co-owner Marie Carmichael last week was presented a volunteerism award at the 2014 Governor's Conference on Economic Development.

Carmichael received the Hawthorn Foundation Volunteer Economic Development Award, designed to honor someone who has significantly contributed to their local economy through volunteer efforts, according to a news release.

Springfield-based Affordable Homes Development, which Carmichael owns with her husband, attorney Joe Carmichael of Carmichael & Neal PC, specializes in affordable housing projects, such as the Westport Park Apartments, 250 N. Hilton Ave., that were supported by $12.2 million in state and federal housing tax credits through the Missouri Housing and Development Commission. Westport Park provides affordable housing for tenants who earn between 60 percent and 80 percent of Greene County’s median income of $41,622, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Marie Carmichael is the current secretary of the Missouri Partnership board, which works to bring new businesses to the Show-Me State; has served as chairwoman of the Missouri Development Finance Board since 2010; and has been a member of the Hawthorn Foundation board since 2009. The Hawthorn Foundation raises private-sector money to fund items such as trade mission support and economic development marketing and business recruitment, according to its website.

Gov. Jay Nixon held the annual Governor's Conference Sept. 3-5 in Lake of the Ozarks, according to the release.