Careers at Grow America

Grow America, formerly NDC, is the oldest national non-profit community and economic development organizationin the United States. NDC was founded in 1969 with a mission of increasing the flow of capital for investment, jobs and community development to underserved urban and rural areas across the country. For additional informationabout us, please visit growamerica.org.

The Field Director Position
Field Director (Directors) deliver Grow America’s core services, including technical advisory services and capacity building, to local governments and non-profit corporations. Grow America Field Directors provide expert technical advisory and development services for commercial and residential development and small business expansion. Grow America’s services and products are used to leverage private investment and make determinations for appropriately sizing public financial incentives in order to attract maximum private investment. 

Grow America seeks to add another full-time Field Director for its eastern United States team. A candidate based in the New York metropolitan area is preferred but not required. The position still will require travel. The person selected for this position will be expected to:

• Design, evaluate and implement economic and housing development programs.
• Evaluate markets and develop customized policy and program solutions.
• Evaluate real estate development proposals.
• Structure incentives and financing packages for real estate and operating businesses.
• Represent Grow America’s programs and services for practical application in client communities. These programs include
  • Grow America Fund – a small business lending company
  • Corporate Equity Fund – a syndicated fund that purchases housing and historic tax credits
  • HEDC New Markets – a community development entity (CDE) that has received several allocations of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs)
  • Housing and Economic Development Corporation – Grow America’s development affiliate involved withpublic private partnerships for public facility and social infrastructure development.
• Instruct public sector and non-profit staff in economic development and housing development financeincluding
  • Small business credit analysis and financing
  • Commercial/industrial real estate development
  • Affordable and market rate rental and for-sale housing development

Minimum Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, finance, planning, real estate development or other related fields. Master’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Ten years of increasingly responsible experience with economic development and housing development.
• Highly energetic, creative self-starter capable of managing various assignments for multiple parties.
• An extensive working knowledge with the principles and practices of business credit, real estate credit and affordable housing. Proven experience with underwriting operating businesses, affordablehousing developments, and commercial real estate developments.
• A solid working knowledge of existing economic development resources commonly used as a means ofencouraging private investment. These programs include but are not limited to
  • US. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Community Development BlockGrant (CDBG), Section 108 Loan Guarantee program, and HOME.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – 7(a) Loan Guarantee and 504 loan programs.
  • Federal Tax Credits including New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and Rehabilitation/Historic Tax Credits (RTC).
  • Tax Abatement and Tax Increment Financing.
  • Taxable and Tax Exempt Bond Financing.
• Ability to formulate and implement public policy to ensure client compliance with regulations, fiscal and programmatic accountability, and client goals and objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional colleagues, municipalclients, public officials, developers, and representatives from private and public financialorganizations.
• A demonstrated ability to solve problems in a collaborative work environment.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic financial knowledge and understanding, combined with an ability to clearlysummarize and communicate complex financial information. 

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to careers@growamerica.org. The position is open until filled.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package. Salary range
$120,000 – $150,000. Grow America is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.