On September 23, 2024, we gathered at LISC Houston for the much-anticipated Third Quarter Deep Dive of the Supporting Empowered Emerging Developers (SEED) Academy, focusing on "Partnerships" in the development sector. This marks our second exploration of this vital topic, emphasizing how strategic partnerships with larger developers and industry allies can enable emerging developers to gain the experience needed to scale their operations and pursue larger deals independently. The SEED Academy is an 18-month-long, free professional development accelerator program for emerging developers composed of training, mentorship/coaching, and access to grants/capital.
The event featured insights from established firms like Gilbane Development Company and key local organizations, such as the Houston Land Bank. Franchell Abdalla, CEO of Be Good Development Partners, a consultant for an upcoming LISC initiative, also presented.
The agenda began with welcoming remarks from Jason Grant, Program Officer for Housing and Strategic Initiatives at LISC Houston, and Courtney Pogue, Senior Director at Grow America. They highlighted the essential role of partnerships in achieving sustainable community outcomes.
Rickie Bradshaw, Senior Program Officer at LISC Houston, followed with a presentation on aligning stakeholder interests and evaluating potential partners. He emphasized that successful collaborations are built on trust, transparency, and shared goals.
Christa Stoneham, President and CEO of the Houston Land Bank, discussed the organization's role in repurposing vacant properties to meet community needs. She illustrated how land banks can guide developers through the complexities of the development process, offering resources like feasibility studies and project design assistance.
Bobvala Tengen, Senior Development Manager at Gilbane based in Washington D.C, shared valuable insights on fostering partnerships and overcoming challenges in the development landscape. He highlighted several successful collaborations between Gilbane and emerging developers nationally.
Two SEED Academy Houston graduates, Vanessa Cole and Zion Escobar, presented their development projects and highlighted the transformative impact of SEED and their ongoing relationship with LISC Houston. Vanessa, co-founder of Cole Klein Builders, shared how her exposure to multifamily affordable housing development has enabled her company to expand its focus beyond single-family homes. Zion, founder of the Freedmen’s Town Community Investment Project, discussed how her partnership with LISC, initiated through the SEED Academy, facilitated pre-development funding for her Victor St. Rowhouse Rehab project in historic Freedmen’s Town.
Franchell Abdalla, another SEED Academy graduate from Omaha, provided firsthand insights into leveraging training from emerging developer programs to collaborate with city agencies such as the Omaha Land Bank on community developments. She participated in an engaging developer panel alongside Zion and Vanessa, where they exchanged experiences and strategies for effective collaboration in community development. This interactive session allowed attendees to connect directly with the speakers and fostered thoughtful discussions about the significance of partnerships in advancing community goals.
The Deep Dive proved particularly impactful for Franchell, as she gathered essential information that will help shape the curriculum for the upcoming LISC Emerging Developers initiative set to launch in 2025.
The Q3 Deep Dive of the SEED Academy proved to be an enriching experience for all participants. Focused on building partnerships, attendees left inspired and equipped with new strategies to foster collaboration within their communities. We look forward to future events as we continue our mission to support empowered emerging developers in their quest for sustainable development.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming initiatives and thank you to everyone who participated in making this Deep Dive a success!
For more information, please reach out to Jason Grant at jgrant2@lisc.org.