Supporting Empowered Emerging [Housing] Developers (SEED) Academy
LISC Houston, in partnership with JP Morgan Chase and the National Development Council (NDC), launches the Supporting Empowered Emerging [Housing] Developers (SEED) Academy in Houston, TX. A first-of-its-kind program in Houston, the SEED Academy builds capacity for emerging developers.
The goal of the SEED Academy is to help emerging developers expand their capacity and project access, while becoming more competitive as Houston MSA’s affordable housing project pipeline grows and more market opportunities arise.
The Academy is an 18-month-long, free training program composed of five consecutive in-person training days, a capstone presentation day, and quarterly, virtual deep dive sessions. The training is focused on supporting emerging developers to build their skills and capacity in all stages of the development process: from creating a concept to land acquisition to financing, construction and completion. This program will create a network of academy graduates that can share best practices in expanding equitable development and gain support to tackle larger and more complex projects that meet the needs of underserved and mixed-income communities.
In addition to training, through Academy participation, developers will be provided technical assistance, mentoring and coaching, and access to resources/capital to reduce barriers of market entry and build their capacity to expand their existing portfolio of real estate projects.
The program is a component of LISC Houston’s initiative to build out an ecosystem of minority-led development firms, community development corporations, Community Development Financial Institutions, government agencies, real estate trade associations, and other stakeholders that supports knowledge exchange and networking to facilitate business opportunity development.
The application period is now closed. Applicants were notified of their status by Wednesday August 30, 2023.
Eligibility Requirements
- Individuals/firms located in or interested in developing affordable housing in the Houston MSA.
- Inidividual/Firm is able to demonstrate experience in real estate. For example, property flipping, and/or experience with developing/building one or two projects
- Interest in developing small scale affordable housing projects (1 to 6 units) with a focus on:
- income producing products (single family, multi family, mixed use – for rent)
- including a residential component
- launching an affordable housing real estate project within 3 years post-graduation
Program Elements
- In-person classroom sessions
- Virtual subject matter specific deep dive sessions
- Coaching by experienced real estate developers
- Real time assistance with deals in the project pipeline
- Real time support developing agency and industry relationships
- Access to equity capital
EVENTS & TRAINING SCHEDULE:
Orientation (virtual): Sept. 15, 12p – 1p
SEED Happy Hour & Networking (in-person): Sept 15, 5p – 7p (location TBD)
SEED Academy (in-person): Sept. 18 – 22, 9a – 5p (location to be shared once enrolled)
SEED Capstone Day (in-person): October 16, 9a – 1p (location TBD)
SEED Quarterly Deep Dive Training (virtual): Q1 2024, Q2 2024, Q3 2024, Q4 2024 (dates to be determined)
Steering Committee
Thank you to our Steering Committee Members for their input and guidance:
- City of Houston Planning and Development Department
- Houston Housing Collaborative, Inc.
- Houston Land Bank
- HAR
- Greater Houston Community Foundation
- Chase Bank
- Freddie Mac
- Frost Bank
- METRO
- Five Woods Realty
- Tejano Center for Community Concerns
- Fifth Ward CRC
- Property Manager/Real Estate Agent
- New Hope Housing
- 3rd I Procurement
- Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation
For questions or more information on participating in the SEED Academy – Houston, email houstoninitiatives@lisc.org
