Power of Local, Emerging Developers on Display at R2U, in Nebraska Legislature
by Buey Ray Tut
In March, I wrote about how small developers can play a critical role in the local response to the housing crisis. We’re already seeing the power of small developers stepping up to meet the moment!
On June 4 and 5, 2025, we convened over 280 local emerging developers and professionals in the real estate development ecosystem for the second Reignite2Unite Development Symposium. In partnership with Front Porch Investments and the Omaha Municipal Land Bank, the conference brought together emerging developers with regional and national speakers, all in hopes of creating an equitable ecosystem for development in the Omaha metro. Through more than 40 breakout sessions, attendees learned about innovations in housing construction, policy work that has been effective across the country, along with information about the fundamentals of real estate development and financing.
Emerging developers got another win in Lincoln in late May when the legislature passed LB 288, later signed into law by the governor. LB 288 expands the Middle-Income Workforce Housing program to include rent-to-own housing, creating an entry point for local developers in a rental housing market saturated with out-of-state landlords and private equity interests. The bill extends pathways to homeownership for tenants who aren’t ready to buy, creating homeownership incentive reserve accounts to build up to a down payment. Other helpful provisions folded into LB 288 will help small-scale developers create affordable housing. For example, the bill exempts housing funded by the state Affordable Housing Trust Fund from duplicative building design review requirements, improvesaccess to capital for developers by advancing grant funds, and allows cities to declare blighted areas based on a lack of affordable housing, unlocking TIF incentives for those neighborhoods.
Taken together, these positive developments pave the way for emerging developers to broaden their impact and address the housing crisis. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Applications open July 1 -31, 2025, for the fall Omaha Spark Developer Academy! This is a highly competitive process, so don’t wait until the last minute to fill out your application. Our amazing Advisory Group reviews all applications, prioritizing for experience, track record, and readiness.
The Spark Developer Academy is a week-long intensive training and networking opportunity for local emerging real estate developers who have an authentic connection to the communities they seek to transform. The course is designed to assist new real estate developers with four main professional development goals:
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 Fall Developer Academy will be held September 22-26, 2025, at the Mastercraft Building in Millwork Commons in downtown Omaha. Attendance at all five full days is mandatory, as is participation in the Capstone celebration on October 10, 2025, from 1-4 pm. Contact Deauna Goodwin with any questions you may have!
Our lending arm has been hard at work to deploy the loan capital we have secured for emerging developers. In the first six months of 2025, we have lent more than $3.5 million in flexible capital to increase housing options in North Omaha. These include the following:
2 traditionally constructed homes with Dons Property at 32nd and Charles, and Brooks Builders near 40th and Hamilton
1 complete home renovation with Marquez Company at 20th and Fowler Avenue
And we have even more wonderful news: This month Spark Capital was awarded a $1.9 million grant from Middle-Income Workforce Housing Funds to support additional lending to emerging developers!
Check out our loan products and when you are ready to talk about financing, contact Lending Manager Brian Doyle to set up a call!
June 2, 2025- Groundbreaking Ceremony of Partners for Livable Omaha at 58th and Corby.
Project Update: 2219 Lothrop St
Co-Developers Jewel Rodgers and Akeydra Hagens initiated pre-development work at 2219 Lothrop Street. The project will transform a vacant lot in the heart of North Omaha into attractive housing units, creating an opportunity for attainable homeownership in an ideal location near Lothrop Elementary, a daycare, and historic North 24th Street. We can't wait to update you as the project progresses and their vision becomes a reality!
Know someone who might want to buy a new home in the next year? Interested in qualifying for down payment assistance? Inquiries about purchasing one of these homes may be sent to ryan@sparkcdi.org.
coDA Accepting Applications!
Did you know that coDA accepts applications from prospective co-developers year-round? Our application is available on our website, and new submissions are reviewed quarterly. Interested in leading a coDA project? Apply now to be considered in our next quarterly review cycle. Next application deadline: July 31.
Visit our website or email ryan@sparkcdi.org for more information. We anticipate launching 1-2 new cohorts in the second half of 2025, so now is a great time to apply.
We’re excited to announce the kickoff of ChangeMaker Academy 2025!
Four fellows participated in a half-day workshop designed to equip them with the tools to implement a community project along the North Omaha Trail. The session covered everything from placemaking principles and trail-oriented development to public art, partnerships, impact, and evaluation.
Each participant will now begin designing a project rooted in community needs and creativity, with guidance from Spark’s Urban Design team. Their initiatives will be completed by the end of 2025, bringing new energy and vision to the North Omaha Trail.
We’ve got new and official social media pages!
Fabric Lab has launched its brand-new Facebook and Instagram accounts, and we’d love for you to follow along! These are your go-to spots for updates on events, collabs, and all the creative work happening in our community.
Help us spread the word. New pages, same community spirit.
Let’s build community together!
Attend a District Dialogue!
District Dialogues are tabletop conversations held in each council district where Omaha residents can discuss how to bring the Guiding Principles to life with their neighbors, planning staff, and their City Councilmember.
No matter what district you call home, you’re invited to the join the conversation!
