How To Use Historic Tax Credits To Promote Community Development

By Danielle Graceffa, Senior Director, Legal Services

Real estate development has always been a risky proposition, fraught with numerous challenges that must always be carefully balanced against the promise of reward.

Throw in the possibility of rehabbing historic properties and that risk-reward scenario is certainly amplified. The city of Detroit, where we have our Midwestern office, is a perfect example.

Founded in the 1700s, the city has witnessed various transformations, with Henry Ford setting the stage for Detroit to become the booming manufacturing center that it is best known as. During that time, the population swelled from around 200,000 residents to well over 1.5 million.

Ellis Carr, president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners

Pivoting to Create Opportunity Amidst National Change

Ellis Carr, President and CEO

2016 was marked by change—both for the U.S. and for Capital Impact. Our country witnessed a transition in leadership and with it words and actions that have divided our country. Part of this division included the voices of many who felt the American Dream had passed them by.

Investing in Detroit’s Comeback: Optimism & Challenges on the Road to Inclusive Growth

By Bradford Frost, Director, Detroit Program

2015 was a year of optimism for post-bankruptcy Detroit.

We saw significant investments pour in, including the first projects due to the $100 million pledge from JP Morgan Chase. Combined with the $30 million Woodward Corridor Investment Fund, new and rehabbed buildings are getting developed at a fast clip. Thousands of new streetlights are on. Blight is being tackled at a faster pace than ever before. Detroit’s comeback story is replacing the apocalyptic headlines of recent memory.

Finding the Right Partners to Make a Difference in Underserved Neighborhoods

By Ian Wiesner, business development manager

For many of us, a weekend trip to the grocery store or farmers market to buy fresh produce is such a regular part of our routine that it hardly merits a second thought. But for many others, access to fresh produce may be an hour-long bus ride away. A balanced diet is necessary for health and wellness, but not everyone has access to good nutrition. More than 23 million Americans live in areas where fresh food isn’t easily accessible, and many are residents of inner city, underserved communities.