This summer, the Tadler Summer Fellowship Program paired me with Blueprint Local, an impact investing fund founded by UVA graduate Ross Baird. I was inspired to work with impact investing as a Tadler Fellow after taking an immersive J-term course, Impact Investing in Action, where I learned about impact investing in Appalachia over the course of a 10-day road trip. After learning about the work of impact investing last January, Blueprint Local seemed to be a perfect fit for this summer. Blueprint Local is an Opportunity Zone investing specialist, focusing on community development through affordable real estate.
My central task for the summer was to develop a $10 million Virginia impact fund to support and invest in mission-aligned businesses and real estate. Through a partnership with Opportunity Virginia, I identified numerous multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial real estate opportunities throughout Virginia, ranging from downtown Richmond to Virginia rural communities such as Pulaski, Danville, and Lebanon. For example, I researched and pitched an investment to redevelop two historic buildings in Danville into numerous multi-family apartments and commercial spaces, both to expand affordable housing options in Danville and to create economic opportunities in an area overlooked by traditional investors.
I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a Tadler Fellow this summer. I have learned so much about impact investing, community development, and myself. I am excited to see how impact investing continues to grow in Virginia and how this summer connects to my future professional life.