A seasoned community development official from Virginia is taking the helm of LISC’s Hampton Roads program, driving local efforts to invest in affordable housing, small businesses, health, safety and jobs throughout the region.
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (June 6, 2022)—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named a top Virginia community development official as executive director of LISC Hampton Roads, one of 39 LISC metro-area programs across the country investing in affordable housing, small businesses, health, safety, and jobs. LISC’s rural investment program also fuels gains in 2,000 counties nationwide, including throughout much of Virginia.
Jay Grant takes the helm of LISC Hampton Roads on June 6th after spending more than 15 years helping design and lead investment and revitalization efforts with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“We are so excited to have someone of Jay’s caliber taking charge of our local efforts,” said Denise Scott, LISC president. “His deep relationships in Virginia, as well as his extensive experience fueling progress in underserved communities, will help us put high-impact capital to work throughout the region and support programs that have a significant impact on the quality of life of residents.”
Jay Grant, Executive Director of LISC Hampton Roads
At DHCD, Grant fostered long-term public-private partnerships to support development projects and strategies related to housing, economic development and community engagement. He was deeply involved in COVID-19 relief efforts for the state, as he managed a $50 million annual community development budget. He most recently served as director of outreach, planning and compliance and, previously, as deputy director of community development.
At HUD, Grant spent nearly a decade managing multi-jurisdictional efforts related to housing, infrastructure and neighborhood revitalization in his role as a senior community planning and development representative. Earlier in his career, he assembled and analyzed community development data for the state and also worked in the policy and lending departments of The Reinvestment Fund.
“I am a firm believer in a holistic approach to community development that is not just designed for local residents, but designed with them, making sure to reflect their aspirations for the future,” Grant said. “With responsive community investments, we can break down barriers related to race and income, catalyze opportunities for local families, and grow our regional economy, so that everyone has a fair chance to succeed. That’s what LISC does, every day.”
Grant has a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). He volunteers his time as a youth basketball coach and as an advisory committee member for the Customer Experience Certificate Program at the University of Richmond, among other things.
LISC Hampton Roads was launched in 2020 with support from Sentara Health, which is investing throughout the region to address social determinants of health. Last year, LISC Hampton Roads worked with private funders as well as state and local governments to provide nearly $9 million in grants that helped small businesses, housing providers and other local nonprofits sustain operations and jobs during the height of the pandemic.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. We work with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since our founding in 1979, LISC has invested $26.7 billion to create more than 463,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 78.5 million square feet of retail, community and educational space and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. For more, visit www.lisc.org.