When ROI completed the 2023 Indiana Uplands Housing Study Update, it emphasized a consistent need across all 11 counties for strategies to address infill and small-scale development, including home rehabilitation. To address this need, ROI launched a new housing initiative earlier this year in collaboration with the Incremental Development Alliance (IDA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping local communities strengthen their neighborhoods through small-scale real estate development.
In January, ROI hosted informational sessions in Bloomington, Jasper, and Salem to introduce incremental development and identify stakeholders interested in learning more about it. A follow-up workshop was held in March for individuals interested in becoming developers, municipal planning and zoning staff, local economic development professionals, investors, and banking representatives. The workshop participants represented all of these key groups in the development ecosystem.
Incremental development trainings culminated in a four-week virtual boot camp, during which 20 individuals refined potential projects through the financing, zoning, and design phases, resulting in a complete “pitch package” to share with potential investors and bank representatives. Participants in the boot camp also had the opportunity to practice their pitch with IDA faculty and follow up via office hours.
“The Incremental Development Alliance Bootcamp was an incredible experience,” said Grant Henry from Monroe County. “I learned a ton about the small-scale development industry and the intricacies of all the levers and necessary steps to comprehensively and sustainably develop infill and smaller-scale developments that benefit communities holistically. As a rising affordable real estate developer, I will take these lessons and the applicable teaching forward into my future. Quite honestly, I learned so much from the training and count myself sincerely blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in the SIDC Inc Dev training.”
“In my profession as a realtor, my capacity as a town councilwoman, and member of the Planning and Redevelopment Commissions in my small southern Indiana town, the Incremental Development Alliance boot camp experience brought together ALL the pieces of the puzzle,” said Arla Jean Frazier from Orange County. “This knowledge will allow me to help lead efforts and build ideas/platforms for discussion about development in my community. Without the knowledge it’s like a maze of not knowing where to begin.”
“I had an amazing experience with this training,” added Kovenant Liby from Owen County. “The speakers were knowledgeable, thorough, and did an excellent job equipping participants with the tools and the confidence to take on our first small-scale development projects.”
ROI has additional scholarships available for any individuals who live in the Uplands region and are interested in attending a virtual incremental development boot camp. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Halbig, Vice President for Economic and Community Development, at juliehalbig@regionalopportunityinc.org.