Welcome to Equitable Devolpment Consultants, LLP - Updates 3/7/2007 -

 

In the spring of 2002, Craig Sawyer had the opportunity to assist a faith-based, community development organization plan and create its economic development strategic plan.  This work led to Craig Sawyer’s submittal of a funding proposal for a $75,000 community economic development planning grant for the organization.  Shortly thereafter, Craig was invited to join conversations with Mitchell Greene and Thomas Rogers, who was planning to launch a business development consultant firm. With entrepreneurial ambitions, we decided collectively to form a partnership to launch a full-service community economic development consultant company.  Eventually, this partnership grew to four partners which eventually incorporated in September 2002 to form Equitable Development Consultants, LLP.  

Collectively, each partner felt that with our diverse work experience, knowledge, talents, contacts and dedication, we could provide a valuable service in our community, and thus build a very successful consulting practice.  As the consulting team continued to work and plan, the company formed three different operating units: community economic development, business development and real estate development.  This was a logical structure given each partner’s background. 

Mitchell Greene, J.D., had served as the director of a statewide Business Development Center; specializing in providing technical assistance to minority entrepreneurs; including business formation strategies and obtaining Small-, Minority-, Women- and Disadvantaged- and SBA 8(a)- business certifications, and had served as an entrepreneurial training instructor.  Whereas, Thomas D. Rogers had served as a commercial and community development lender – evaluating and structuring commercial and real estate-based loan transactions.  And our fourth partner, Kenneth J. Carter, was a licensed Real Estate Broker and Certified Real Estate Teacher with expertise in marketing residential and commercial properties for sale and lease, site selection services and general real estate consulting for non-profit community organizations and investors.  In addition, Ken had residential development experience and was a HUD approved Real Estate Appraiser, licensed in five States.

In October of 2002, it was announced that the faith-based organization was awarded the $75,000 economic development planning grant, and Equitable Development Consultants, LLP was retained to provide the planning and development consultant services.  Within a few months, the company had secured several additional consulting contacts, and by the end of its first year, the company had added another partner, Paul L. Williams, MBA, and had gross revenue exceeding $150,000.  

With this initial success, Craig Sawyer, who served as the Managing Partner, took the leap, with faith, and went full-time managing and growing the company.  With faith and hard work, the company’s client base grew numerically and geographically.  Since inception, Equitable Development Consultants, LLP has serviced community development corporations, nonprofit organizations and intermediaries, community-based financial institutions, small businesses, merchant associations, entrepreneurs, investors, governmental agencies as well as neighborhood residents.  Geographically, we have worked in urban neighborhoods like Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and rural and historic communities like Exmore, Virginia, and Selma, Alabama.  

In 2006, Equitable Development Consultants, LLP forged strategic partnerships with several experienced and proven professionals in planning and community development, finance, organizational and resource development to expand and enhance services.  Our strategic partners are:

Carol A. McMillan-Lonesome, M.A., J.D. based in New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area

Samuel A. Washington, CCM, MBA based in North Carolina