A Local Real Estate Developer Selected For Emerging Developers Program

– Jovan Crawford Sr. is the Executive Director of Community Building Solutions. J’Marie photography LLC
– Jovan Crawford Sr. is the Executive Director of Community Building Solutions. J’Marie photography LLC

A Local Real Estate Developer Selected For Emerging Developers Program

By Tia Carol Jones

Jovan Crawford, Sr., is the Executive Director of Community Building Solutions. The community-based real estate development company specializes in working with renters with the goal of helping them to become homeowners, by providing them with the necessary resources and education to do so. The company partners with residential developers and connects them with potential renters who are looking to become homeowners, providing them with information about grants and how to get into real estate. It also purchases properties in communities like Austin, rehabbing and fixing up the properties for people to reside in.

Crawford is one of 16 emerging developers who were selected for the Next Generation Capacity Building Initiative (Next Gen). This is the third cohort for the program, which is led by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA).

The goal is to prepare the participants in the program to move affordable housing projects from concept to construction. Crawford said he wanted to participate in the Next Gen program because it is an amazing program that helps emerging developers and gives them access to affordable housing opportunities. He said he wasn’t ready when the first cohort took place but vowed, he would participate when he was ready.

As part of the Next Gen program, Crawford and the other participants receive mentorship, partnership, and the opportunity to collaborate with developers who are already established in the affordable housing space. Crawford said that while the program is just starting, he and the other participants have learned a lot.

“LISC has done a really good job with having the mentors and developers available on the very first day, doing tours and meeting with other developers,” he said.

Crawford said he is really looking forward to being able to expand as a part of this program and develop affordable housing in the community. He has been able to get to know the other people in his cohort and that has led to opportunities for networking, which he hopes will also lead to future collaborations. He said that because everyone comes from different backgrounds and walks of life, they are able to share their different experiences and perspectives. He said they are also all on a group chat, which he said is helpful to assist each other as they set out to complete assignments.

Crawford said that he is also learning how to navigate barriers which include not having access to capital, not knowing who to talk to, and how to submit applications to IDHA. He said those are things that he learned just in the first two days of the program. Crawford said he has also learned about the shortage of affordable housing that exists in the state of Illinois. He encouraged other developers to participate in the Net Gen program.

“If they have the opportunity, they should definitely become part of it and try to be part of a cohort. You have everything that is needed to be a successful affordable housing developer,” he said. He added that although it is hard work, it is worth it, because it will help the participant, and help to expand affordable housing in the community.

For more information about Community Building Solutions, visit communitybuildingsolutions.com. For more information about LISC and the Next Gen program, visit www.lisc.org/central-il/. For more information about the IDHA, visit www.idha.org.

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