Develop the Developer
The Develop the DeveloperSM program inspires reinvestment and development in communities across the country. Through the Develop the Developer program, aspiring developers are connected with the tools and resources they need to build up their own communities.
Develop the Developer promotes sustainable homeownership and rental opportunities by:
- Closing knowledge gaps for aspiring developers through standardized educational and training opportunities via the Develop the DeveloperSM Academy.
- Supporting the work of aspiring developers who are dedicated to making significant strides in tackling housing supply challenges.
The program is offered through local partners in nine major metro areas, with plans to expand to additional markets.
Developing aspiring developers who live in the neighborhoods where they work helps foster better relationships with community stakeholders and may preserve the historical and cultural attributes of the community.
In addition, providing education and resources to aspiring developers both supports professional development that spurs economic opportunities and increases the community’s chance to gain investment opportunities.
How Does it Work?
The Develop the Developer Academy is an intensive 36-hour curriculum that helps community members remove barriers to access capital. Develop the Developer Academy graduates obtain guidance and technical assistance to secure funding through various sources, including grants, loans, angel investors, and foundations that support local businesses and encourage economic progress.
This program and its participants drive economic growth by creating single-family and multifamily housing units in their communities. Many developers work on vacant land lots that have been undeveloped for decades.
The Develop the Developer Academy is offered through established academies and is integrated within those local educational organizations’ programs.
The Academy is currently available in the following metro areas:
Baltimore, Maryland; Des Moines, Iowa; Las Vegas, Nevada; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Richmond, Virginia; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Contact us to learn more about enrollment.
Applications to host a 2026-2027 Develop the Developer Academy are now open! Contact us to learn more or apply.
Giving Developers the Tools to Build Up Their Communities
The Develop the Developer Academy gave Tamara Brunow the resources and connections she needed to break ground on a brand-new single-family development that offers affordable and sustainable housing for families displaced by flooding.
Making a Difference
Develop the Developer Academy graduates represent a variety of backgrounds including engineers, real estate agents, urban planners, community development staff, pastors, entrepreneurs and business consultants. To date, the Develop the Developer Academy has accounted for:
207
graduates across 14 cohorts
$213.8 M
in new construction financing
$50.1 M
in grant funding
43
total development projects
552
new single-family units
1,122
new multifamily units