Norfolk, VA (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) – The inaugural R.E.D. Academy-Hampton Roads cohort will step into the spotlight with a Celebration event on Wednesday, August 19 designed to introduce the cohort to the Hampton Roads market and the broader community.
The invitation-only gathering will bring together the fellows with elected officials, Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth housing authority leaders and regional partners central to the Academy’s local expansion. The cohort includes 11 fellows, each bringing different levels of affordable housing development interests – from single-family housing to larger-scale and mission-driven projects.
The R.E.D. Academy® program – launched in August 2025 in partnership with Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA), Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NNRHA), Portsmouth Redevelopment Housing Authority (PRHA), PNC Bank and Baker Tilly – supports under-resourced emerging developers scale with a focus on affordable housing. The fellows leverage an ecosystem of resources and opportunities to assist in solving the housing issues of their communities and region.
Carolyn Coleman, Director of Programming for R.E.D. Academy®, said this occasion is to not only showcase but share.
“This is essentially an unveiling,” she said. “It gives us an opportunity to introduce who they are – their companies, their development focus and the path they want to pursue.”
Another program aim is to accelerate those connections by placing fellows directly in front of the leaders who influence land use, financing and project approvals – key factors that often determine whether projects move forward. According to Coleman, relationships are critical for developers navigating the complexities of real estate projects.
“We’re not looking for someone who wants to do just one project,” Coleman said. “We’re here to help them develop their business and scale it. Development has to flow through multiple entities. You need to understand who to talk to and how to build those connections with housing authorities, planning departments and city officials, etc.”
While some officials have previously been introduced to the program, the meet-and-greet event will provide a more complete picture of each fellow’s development goals and capabilities.
“This event affords the fellows to receive recognition,” Coleman said. “So hopefully, when opportunities arise, leaders will remember meeting a developer who focuses on a certain type of project.”
The introduction event comes months after the cohort began the Academy’s accelerator 20-month training program in March, convening on a rotating location schedule beginning at NRHA’s Grandy Village Learning Center. Fellows have since worked through foundational coursework that brings participants – regardless of prior experience – to a shared starting point. From there, the curriculum introduces key components of development, including building a trusted professional team, understanding financing structures and establishing relationships across the public and private sectors.
Future modules will delve deeper into policy, financing tools such as tax credits, sustainability and construction management – areas critical to delivering successful housing projects.
The Hampton Roads cohort marks a significant milestone for the R.E.D. Academy®, which is based and operated in Nashville. The local launch represents the program’s first expansion beyond its original market.
Regional leaders have emphasized the importance of the Academy in addressing long-term housing needs by cultivating developers who understand the communities they serve and are equipped to deliver projects locally. The current cohort is expected to complete the program in December 2027, with graduation marking the culmination of two years of accelerated training and hands-on learning.
In the meantime, organizers say the cohort introduction is a key early milestone – one that bridges the gap between training and real-world opportunity.
“This is where those connections begin,” Coleman said. “It’s about ensuring they’re seen, recognized and positioned for what comes next.”
For more information about this story, dcuenca@nrha.us.
About Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Founded in 1940, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) is Virginia’s largest redevelopment and housing authority and a nationwide leader in real estate development and property management. With its annual capital and operating budget, NRHA continually works with Norfolk residents to renew and revitalize the city. For the latest information about NRHA, visit our website at https://nrha.us.