Commitment to California (C2C):
We’re Looking For Our 2026-2027 Merritt Scholars!
Play a key role in building the next generation by helping us find future leaders in affordable housing! The Merritt Scholars program supports emerging talent by offering:
✅ A $10,000 scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students
✅ Peer collaboration and direct access to industry leaders
✅ One-on-one mentorship
✅ Fully funded attendance at key industry conferences
✅ Leadership development to build your competitive edge
We are looking for strong candidates to join our 2026-2027 cohort, and this is the perfect opportunity to encourage early-career professionals in your network to submit an interest form or send candidates our way!
Ahead of applications opening in February, submitting an interest form is the first step to learning more and staying informed. Interest forms can be submitted here: https://bit.ly/MerrittScholarsInterestForm
Merritt’s 2026 Job Demand Study is Out!
The future of affordable housing depends on a strong, well-equipped workforce. Having current industry data is critical to learning about which jobs and skill sets are needed in today’s market.
Merritt’s 2026 Job Demand Study survey is now open! Your insights will help guide how we shape our C2C programs – this is your opportunity to share what you know. Complete the survey today!
Recent Property Closings & News
Congratulations to Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MAAC) on their recent project, Seniors on Broadway Apartments, located in San Diego, California. As a community that is focused on keeping seniors safely housed and uplifting their day-to-day living, Seniors on Broadway will provide housing to 41 homeless households.
Merritt is proud to support this project by providing $4.8M in tax equity. Special thank you to our financing partners at California Bank & Trust and the City of Chula Vista for making this project possible!
Congratulations to American Family Housing, Inc., County of Orange, and California Bank & Trust for the recent groundbreaking of Casa Colibri! Merritt is proud to support this new 50-unit affordable housing community in Midway City, CA.
Special thank you to our President & CEO, Ari Beliak, and our CDFI Director, Pavlin Buchukov, for representing Merritt at this celebration!
PEOPLE UPDATES
Welcome to Our New Board Members!
We’re pleased to welcome Kim Liautaud to Merritt’s Board of Directors! Kim serves as Managing Director and Group Head of the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) & Infrastructure group at BMO Bank and brings more than two decades of experience in commercial real estate finance.
Kim’s perspective and strategic leadership will be valuable as we continue to support affordable housing communities across California. Welcome, Kim—we’re thrilled to have you join our Board!
Please join us in welcoming Courtney Williams to Merritt’s Board of Directors! Courtney serves as EVP, Director of CRA Strategy & Administration at Mechanics Bank, where she leads the strategic direction and performance goals for the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) programs.
Her leadership and commitment to community will be a tremendous asset in supporting our mission: investing in affordable housing and people, building a stronger California. Welcome, Courtney—we’re honored to have you join our Board!
Merritt is Hiring!
We’re seeking a mission-driven, energetic, and creative Impact Associate who is passionate about affordable housing, professional development, and guiding individuals to pursue purpose-driven and impactful careers.
As the right hand to our Impact Manager, this individual will play a vital role in executing our C2C initiative, Merritt’s workforce development arm.
Get all the latest Merritt news, updates, and announcements!
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
As a nonprofit investor and lender in affordable housing, Merritt Community Capital Corporation has invested more than $1.7 billion to create and preserve over 12,500 affordable homes, providing housing for more than 30,000 residents. For over 35 years, Merritt’s mission has remained at the core of its work.
Merritt partners with mission-aligned developers and funders to tackle some of the most challenging and impactful affordable housing projects. Through equity and lending capital, Merritt provides flexible financing solutions designed to meet today’s needs while preserving affordability for the future.
Through its Commitment to Community (C2C) initiative, Merritt extends its impact by investing in people—attracting, training, and retaining the next generation of affordable housing leaders.
Merritt is also the west coast member of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF), which empowers locally engaged, mission-driven housing and community investment partners to build thriving communities.