On March 9, 2026, Neighborhood Allies President & CEO, Presley Gillespie, joined national policymakers, CDFI leaders, philanthropic partners, and developers at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., for a high‑level roundtable focused on strengthening the ecosystem for small and emerging affordable housing developers.

The conversation centered on a key challenge facing communities across the country: how to help emerging developers move from one-off projects to sustained, neighborhood-based development pipelines without increasing risk or slowing housing production.

Throughout the afternoon, participants explored:

• Where the affordable housing development process breaks down for small and community-based developers
• Federal policy opportunities that could streamline timelines, reduce risk, and expand access to flexible early-stage capital
• Local and state innovations that are helping emerging developers scale while maintaining strong community accountability
• Systemic barriers that prevent neighborhood-level projects from advancing and generating lasting local value

As a national voice for equitable community development, Presley shared insights on the role intermediaries like Neighborhood Allies play in building investable, community-led development pipelines that anchor wealth locally. He emphasized that increasing housing production must go hand in hand with strategies that support local ownership, strengthen neighborhood institutions, and create pathways for residents and community-based developers to participate in and benefit from development.

“This conversation has to be about more than production,” Presley said. “It’s about community wealth building and ensuring that the people closest to neighborhood challenges have the capital, capacity, and long-term support to shape development that creates stability, opportunity, and lasting value for their communities.”

This convening was supported by the Amazon Housing Fund.