LISC has named a community development leader with deep experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to expand its work in Memphis. P. Nigel Roberts will lead investment and program strategies that build equity and opportunity in underserved Memphis communities.
MEMPHIS, TN (July 11, 2024)—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named P. Nigel Roberts as executive director of LISC Memphis, a locally driven investment program focused on strengthening the infrastructure of underserved communities, including affordable housing, small businesses, health, education, safety and jobs.
Roberts has spent more than 30 years leading high-impact community and economic development efforts across four states. Most recently, he served as senior vice president at Hope Enterprise Corporation in Memphis, where he managed financing plans for health care centers, charter schools, housing developments, grocery stores and other critical facilities across Tennessee and Alabama.
Prior to that, he led community and workforce development efforts for the Jefferson County Commission in Birmingham, Ala. There, he connected local strategies to federal funding via the Economic Development Administration, the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), among other programs.
“There is no single lever to pull when it comes to creating economic opportunity for people and communities that have long been denied it,” explained Michael T. Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “That’s why we are so excited to have Nigel on board. Year after year, he has proven that he understands how to implement multi-faceted plans with public and private partners that give people the chance to build a good quality of life, while also fueling sustainable growth.”
In fact, throughout his career, Roberts has collaborated at many levels of the community development process—with nonprofits, municipal agencies, state government, federal government, philanthropic partners and impact investors, all focused on community impact. His experience spans agencies and programs in Birmingham, East Point, Fairfield and Mobile, Ala.; Delray Beach, Fla., and Atlanta, Macon and Fulton County, Ga., in addition to investing in communities across Tennessee.
“What I’ve learned over the years is that any community—no matter how deeply affected by discrimination and disinvestment—can be a good place for people to live, raise their children, work and age with dignity,” Roberts said. “But there is no cookie cutter approach. Place-based investing succeeds when local partners develop targeted strategies and are supported by significant commitments of capital and expertise. That’s what attracted me to LISC. There is a real energy here to drive progress in Memphis and beyond.”
Roberts earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Alabama A&M University and his Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. In addition to his track record of professional success, Roberts has volunteered his time with numerous boards and organizations, including the Grounds Committee, TruFund, Low Income Housing Coalition of Alabama, and as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Roberts can be reached at NRoberts@LISC.org.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country's largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works 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 its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $32 billion to create more than 506,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 82.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances.
LISC launched its LISC Memphis program in late-2020. It is one of 38 locally led LISC program offices throughout the country. For more, visit www.lisc.org and www.lisc.org/memphis.