Develop the Developer
The Develop the DeveloperSM program inspires reinvestment and development in historically underserved communities. Through the Develop the Developer program, aspiring developers, including women and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) developers, are connected with the tools and resources they need to build up their own communities.
Freddie Mac is committed to promoting sustainable homeownership and rental opportunities where it is needed most. Develop the Developer does this 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 that are dedicated to making significant strides in tackling the challenges of underserved markets.
The program is available in Omaha, Nebraska; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with plans to expand to additional markets in 2024.
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 in areas that have experienced long-term, perpetual disinvestment.
Develop the Developer: Brochure & FAQs
Download the brochure to learn more about how the program is stimulating community-centric creation of affordable housing supply.
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 minority-owned businesses and encourage economic progress.
This program and its participants drive economic growth by creating single-family and multifamily housing units that may not have otherwise been developed 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. Contact your nearest location to learn more about participating in the academy.
SPARK CDI
1111 13th Street, Suite 311
Omaha, NE 68102
sparkcdi.org
402-819-4885
Historic Greenwood District
307 N Greenwood Avenue, Suite 311
Tulsa, OK 74120
historicgreenwooddistrict.com
918-202-9123
LISC Milwaukee
234 W Florida Street #204
Milwaukee, WI 53204
lisc.org/milwaukee
414-273-1815
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:
119
graduates across eight cohorts
$123 M
in new construction financing
$37.8 M
in grant funding
36
active development projects
345
new single-family units
558
new multifamily units
In 2023, Profiles in Diversity Journal recognized Develop the Developer with its Innovations in Diversity and Inclusion Award, which honors businesses, organizations and agencies that have created effective programs aimed at fostering diversity, inclusion and equity in the face of challenging, long-standing issues.