What we do

Building Social Impact

ACT is dedicated to building strong, vibrant communities by partnering with nonprofit and for-profit organizations to develop community investment strategies that have lasting social impact and create economic opportunity.

As a community partner, ACT facilitates inclusive economic development that recognizes local culture and history, enhances existing assets, responds to needs, and builds community wealth. ACT desires to see residents of all backgrounds develop an enhanced sense of control and ownership in the community that results from being engaged, informed, and connected to power.

As an investor, ACT seeks to widen pathways to formal economy through job creation, build community wealth with new amenities, and services, and help to recirculate money in a community’s local economy through local procurement of resources.  

As a real estate developer, ACT demonstrates inclusive economic models in partner communities that are well-documented, replicable, and attractive to residents, investors and other stakeholders. ACT seeks to use this experience to inform public policy in economic development and successfully mobilize others to effect positive change.

Through our work we harness national best practices, deep expertise, and innovation to create lasting benefits for resilient communities. ACT carries out this work through three platforms focused on Community Assessment, Community Action, and Community Advancement.

Our Platforms

Community Assessment

We help to ensure that projects offer meaningful, measurable benefits for all residents, and we help track outcomes.

  • Community needs assessments

ACT helps clients understand community Demographics, identify Assets, and assess community Needs.

  • Community benefits planning and reporting

ACT helps developers work with communities to negotiate meaningful and measurable Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) that respond to community need while aligning with project development goals. We monitor and provide customized impact evaluations for the life of the CBA.

Community Action

We help nonprofit, community and public entities respond to economic development challenges through planning & partnerships.

  • Strategic Planning

ACT develops Strategic and Master Plans that support client goals.  On behalf of community organizations, ACT may also facilitates the process of developing those plans with other third party consultants to ensure an inclusive and effective result. 

  • Community Partnerships

ACT builds Coalitions and Partnerships in communities as a means of enhancing a project’s community benefits.

Community Advancement

We help secure funding for economic development projects that promise significant benefits.

  • Community investing

Working with Urban Action Community Development, ACT helps clients identify and vet projects for public subsidy. ACT establishes and manages community impact funds, providing loans, grants and technical assistance to low-income communities where our clients invest.

  • Project funding and grant writing

ACT develops grant funding strategies to supplement capital stacks on development projects or increase operating budgets. ACT drafts grant applications and proposals that respond to donor priorities.

Select Clients

 

20120227184450!Baltimore_City_Public_Schools_logo CapitalOne Seattle
Drexel KS LISC Philadelphia Logo
Print UACD-Logo Tippmann
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