The Real Estate Co-Powerment Series is an education platform designed for community members, nonprofits and small businesses, that demystifies the real estate development process so they can better participate in and benefit from their own neighborhood revitalization.
Over seven weeks, the participants explore topics such as acquisition, architecture, city planning, funding, and more. They leave feeling more confident in their ability to influence, start, or continue successful real estate development projects in their neighborhoods.
But the value of the series extends far beyond the knowledge gained in just a few short weeks. With an alumni network of over 300 graduates, participants gain access not only to essential knowledge, but also to lasting connections and shared resources that continue well after the course concludes.
Earlier this month, we hosted a networking mixer that brought together past graduates and participants of our upcoming Winter cohort, beginning November 4th. The event was a lively space for alumni—from our first 2017 cohort to today—to reconnect, share updates on their projects, and celebrate the expertise across the network. It also offered new participants an opportunity to learn from those already putting their skills into practice. We look forward to continuing to create space for these important touchpoints.
Graduates of the course often continue to engage with Neighborhood Allies through additional Real Estate Department programming, which can include up to $15,000 in predevelopment funding, advisory services, flexible grant opportunities, technical assistance for other grant applications, and even direct equity investments. For example, we played a key role in several projects funded by Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) grants this past summer.
Here’s what Sylvie Celeste Deaderick, President & CEO of PA Home Matters and $200,000 PHARE Grant Awardee:
“The Real Estate Co-Powerment Series gave me the tools and confidence to submit our award-winning PHARE Grant application. I’d started the project out of pocket without support until Neighborhood Allies’ predevelopment grant. The cohort empowered me to apply and win PHFA’s very competitive grant for affordable housing.”
Her project, the South 7th Street Apartments, is a complete rehabilitation of an abandoned property in the City of Duquesne. Once finished, it will offer ten affordable two-bedroom units and bring a long-forgotten building back to life for the Duquesne community.
