Sixteen houses of worship from Atlanta and seven from South Florida were recently selected for our Southeast Faith-Based Development Initiative cohorts.
The participating faith-based organizations recently began their journey working to understand how to transform their underutilized property into critically needed affordable homes and facilities for their communities.
Members of the cohorts are:
Atlanta
- Ariel Bowen United Methodist Church
- Atlanta Good Shepherd Community Church
- Bible Way Ministries, International
- Cosmopolitan A.M.E Church
- First Baptist Church Gresham Road
- Flaming Heart Ministries
- Greater Turner Chapel AME Church
- Interdenominational Theological Center
- Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
- Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Carey Park
- New Jerusalem SDA Praise and Worship Center
- New Life Church
- New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ
- Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Atlanta
- St. Vincent de Paul Georgia
- Zion Hill Community Development Corporation
South Florida
- Believers of Authority Ministries, Inc.
- Bethel Apostolic Temple
- Collective Empowerment Group of South Florida, Inc.
- Community Christian Church
- Faith Community Baptist Church, Inc.
- New Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Harris Chapel United Methodist Church
Atlanta and South Florida are part of a nationwide expansion of our Faith-Based Development Initiative, supported by an $8.5 million donation from Wells Fargo. In Atlanta, the work receives additional support from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Bank of America and Capital One. We are partnering with the Collective Empowerment Group of South Florida for the expansion there, with additional support from JPMorgan Chase and Capital One.
Through FBDI, these organizations will receive a wide range of support to ensure a successful development process.
- Funding: Support for market/feasibility studies and pre-development activities
- Training: Virtual and in-person trainings to help participants understand the ins and outs of the development process
- Technical assistance and tools: One-on-one technical assistance to help overcome obstacles during the development process, as well as access to informational tools and resources
- Access to experts: Introductions to information on development partners, such as architects and designers, real estate lawyers and development consultants
- Peer-to-peer learning: Geographic cohorts of faith-based organizations will network and learn from one another as they go through the process of housing development, and a national summit will bring faith leaders from across the country together to advance program learnings and celebrate successes
For more information about FBDI in the Southeast, contact Senior Program Director Timothy Block.