Real Estate Pros: Do You Dream of Transforming Your Community?

Local real estate developers and enthusiasts: we’ve got exciting news!

For the first time ever, Spark will be hosting Developer Academy, its week-long, intensive training program and networking opportunity in Fremont from April 27 - May 1st.

Any real estate professional who wants to take a deep dive into the world of community development and enrich the connections they share with the neighborhoods they serve is encouraged to apply by the March 13 deadline.  

“We have commissioned multiple studies of the housing market in Fremont and greater Dodge County in recent years, and the number one takeaway from all of them is this, there is simply not enough housing in our community at price points that most people can afford,” said Ryan Kephart, Greater Fremont Development Council’s Director of Community Development & Grant Administration.

This program is designed to empower local entrepreneurs to help tackle that problem head on and help them to build a better Fremont, one small step at a time, he added. “No one in Fremont will better understand or be more driven to improve the quality of life in our community, including affordable housing, than Fremonters.” 

A Holistic Approach to Community Development

Located in Omaha, Spark is a non-profit with a mission to help "profoundly transform disinvested neighborhoods into prosperous and thriving communities.”

That goal is accomplished holistically, by supporting and supplementing the work of existing organizations to provide funding opportunities and leverage existing resources to close funding gaps.

By doing so, they can not only educate developers but also minimize the risk for those who might not otherwise invest in these neighborhoods. The Developer Academy is Spark’s signature education course. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Developer Academy

1. When is the Developer Academy coming to Fremont?
   The Developer Academy is coming to Fremont on April 27 through May 1. 
2. How are participants selected for the Fremont Developer Academy?
   Participants of the program are selected through a competitive application process. For questions about applying or to be added to the waitlist, please email Ryan Kephart or call at (402) 753-8126.
3. When is the application deadline?
   The deadline to submit your application is March 13. 
4. What’s the criteria for applying to the Developer Academy?
   The ideal participants don’t have to have years worth of successful experience, but rather, some initial experience functioning as a real estate developer, regardless of whether those development goals succeeded or not. They also tend to put a high value on networking and also have the time to devote themselves to developing a new skill set. 
5. How will the Developer Academy help me grow as a real estate professional?
   The four professional development goals of the course will:

• Provide access to training in the fundamentals of real estate development
• Create networking opportunities to develop formal and informal business relationships with each other
• Develop a supportive and equitable ecosystem that includes lenders, grant-makers, city staff, development professionals, and mentors
• Create opportunities to access financing for their projects.

“The class is designed to meet you where you are at in your journey in real estate development. It provides a comprehensive overview of the development process, connections to professionals and peers, and resources to help you as you continue to grow. It is an intensive "bootcamp" model, but it can help kickstart your understanding about development. There is no other local option to learn this information,” said Kephart.

Want to learn more? Click here to explore the full Spark Developer Academy program.