Michigan Chronicle
April 24, 2023
Ebiara, a newly developed fund in partnership with URGE Imprint, The Kresge Foundation, and Invest Detroit, recently hosted an educational event titled “Expanding the Real Estate Landscape for Women” at the Marygrove Conservancy on April 10th, 2023. The event brought together over 100 women who identify as real estate professionals or were interested in learning about development, with the aim of supporting equitable opportunities in Detroit’s real estate development community through education and resources.
The $11M fund, which was introduced in June 2022, seeks to provide resources and technical assistance to minority-owned development companies, thus increasing their impact on Detroit’s growing economy. The fund aims to broaden access to capital, build a transaction pipeline, and secure the best talent available for Black- and Brown-owned development firms.
According to Roderick Hardamon, CEO and Chief Strategist for URGE Imprint, “Ebiara exists to help combat the challenges that minority developers face growing their business–from accessing capital to securing talent and resources.”
The event served as an introduction to Ebiara’s educational event series and featured a panel of well-versed experts in the real estate development, capital, and impact space. Attendees heard from seasoned panelists, including Keona Cowan, Executive Vice President of Lending at Invest Detroit, Sonya Mays, President and CEO of Develop Detroit, and Carla Walker-Miller, Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services. The event was moderated by Roderick Hardamon.
Attendees left with notepads filled with information and resources, as well as the peace of mind that they are now a part of a budding ecosystem curated to support the growth of Detroit’s Black and Brown women-owned development firms. Lindsay Russ, an attendee, expressed her appreciation for the event, saying, “We need more events like this. Having a space where the community comes together to uplift, build, and grow through honest conversation and resource sharing is invaluable, especially for women and other underrepresented groups.”
The second event is slated to take place in the heart of Southwest Detroit in Summer 2023, with details being released soon. For more information, visit Ebiara.com.