- Name: Roy Hackworth, HDFP, Housing Division Manager, Department of Community and Economic Development, City of Cincinnati, OH
- Certifications earned: Grow America’s Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP)
- Favorite Grow America course: All of the Grow America finance-related courses
“Everything evolves, from development tools to new funding sources at the local and federal level, and when these things are introduced, you have to be able to absorb and understand them. Grow America’s training courses teach you how to adapt with confidence.”
Real-world results
Grow America training helped Roy to confidently initiate a myriad of projects over two decades, including one of his favorites: the revitalization of Broadway Square and the Pendleton community in Cincinnati, which transformed a then-blighted neighborhood into a thriving residential and commercial district.
Our industry-leading training programs are for professionals in housing, community, and economic development fields in any career stage and the proof of their effectiveness is visible in communities across America through the work accomplished by the program’s graduates, like Roy.
Challenge: Growing from intern to industry expert
With a degree in computer design and drafting from the University of Cincinnati, Roy started as an intern with Cincinnati’s Department of Community and Economic Development in 2002. At the time, he worked in compliance for the down-payment assistance and rental-rehabilitation programs.
By 2008, he was ready to move from program administration to development work, but the learning curve was steep and to advance in the field, Roy needed to understand development finance, underwriting, and analysis. His colleagues recommended Grow America’s training programs.
“I worked with many development professionals who’d taken the courses,” he says, “and they understood that it was important to my professional development within our industry and for our city.”
Professional certification and more
Based on his coworkers recommendations, Roy enrolled in the Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) certification program at Grow America.
“I was relatively new to the field when I completed my HDFP certification, and the courses helped me to make sense of the concepts that I’d hear every day at work,” Roy admits. “After the training and certification, when I looked at development deals, putting the coursework into practice brought everything together.”
Impact, Solutions, Results
Our courses combine experiences and insight from real-world practitioners using cutting-edge technology and hands-on case studies to create engaging and applicable learning experiences that build relevant skills. For Roy and others, Grow America’s training has proven invaluable for career growth, community impact, networking, and peer learning. Among the most valuable impacts, Roy cites:
- Learning from industry experts: “Although I was relatively new, I was at the table with people who had tremendous experience—both the trainers and the other students. I learned so much from them. Sharing experiences with people from different cities and disciplines but who are facing many similar challenges was invaluable.”
- Creating lasting impact: “Broadway Square in Cincinnati’s Pendleton neighborhood was my first exposure to New Market Tax Credits and Section 108 funding through HUD. The Grow America coursework helped me understand what to look for and how to evaluate and support the project. Until that point, the area was blighted and since then, the whole area is being revitalized. It’s vibrant and dynamic with active commercial space, more residential buildings, and a protected historic built environment.”
- Building skills for a changing field: “A developer might come to us with New Market Tax Credit equity investment, housing tax credits, historic tax credits, or grants from HUD, for example. After the training, you understand the implications of each of those and how they impact whatever funding you’re investing into a project.”
- Ongoing technical assistance: “Turnover is inevitable, but projects don’t stop moving forward. We also participate in Grow America’s technical assistance program. Our staff meets with Grow America consultants twice monthly—once virtually and once in person—to review ongoing projects and get additional expert guidance.”
Building team excellence
Today, as Housing Division Manager, Roy makes Grow America training a cornerstone of professional development—and certification is required for career advancement within his team.
“We do so much deal valuation and underwriting that, at a minimum, we want you to have this training and certification before earning a promotion,” Roy says, ensuring that the team can handle the ever-evolving world of development finance.
Grow America training: Transforming communities
The skills, networks, and confidence Roy gained through Grow America training have rippled outward, creating lasting change that extends far beyond any single project or career milestone.
To learn more about Grow America’s professional development programs and join a network of professionals making real impact in communities across the country, register today.