Invest with Values

The Investor's Gateway to Positive Change

The Investor's Gateway to Positive Change

  • RESOURCE DIRECTORY
    • GETTING STARTED
    • FULL DIRECTORY
    • Top Resources
    • Share a Resource
  • NEWS CENTER
    • NEWS CENTER
    • By Category
      • Local Banking
      • Community Investing
      • Impact Investing
      • Sustainable-Responsible Investing
      • Featured Articles
      • Beyond Investing
      • IWV news
      • Top Resources
    • News Partners
      • 3BLmedia
      • AllianceMagazine
      • CorporateKnights
      • GreenMoney
      • Locavesting
      • MaxImpact
      • InvestWithValues Sponsors
      • InvestWithValues Partners
    • Newsletter Sign-up
    • Newsletter Archive
  • About
    • About Us
    • Brian Kaminer
    • Learn More
    • Testimonials
    • Investments Talk! Video
    • Launch Press Release
    • News Center Press Release
  • Sponsors & Partners
    • Sponsors
    • Partners
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Survey
    • IWV News
    • Share a Resource
  • Spoiler title
    Free GuideSubscribeClose
    Get a free 30 minute personalized guide to
    Invest With Values, after subscribing.
    * = required field

Buy The Block Empowers Black Communities to Invest in Themselves

October 3, 2018 By Locavesting

In this age of wealth inequality, runaway development and gentrification, it’s easy for communities to feel powerless in the face of rapid change. Lynn Smith founded Buy The Block, a real estate crowdfunding portal and the first portal that is African American-owned, to help change that dynamic.

Smith (pictured above) has invested in real estate since she was 21, and experienced firsthand how difficult it can be for small investors to get financing. She also saw how the North Miami neighborhood where she grew up was radically altered by development, without any input from residents. Those experiences led her to found Buy The Block.

“I wanted to be able to offer an alternative financing source for developers and allow the community to be the financiers for these deals,” says Smith.

“As investors, we don’t always necessarily get access to these deals,” she continues. “XYZ developer that we’ve never seen or heard of before comes in and before you know it, the whole neighborhood gets turned around.” Buy The Block, she says “allows individuals to play a role in their community. They can actually see their money being put to work, and potentially get a return or interest.”

Even a single $100 or $500 investment in an apartment complex in Detroit, for example, can help to turn a block and a community around, she says. “There is empowerment in it.”

From Solar Farms to Food Deserts

To launch the Buy The Block, Smith raised close to $110,000 from 455 backers who donated money to a crowdfunding campaign she ran on BBnomics, a donation crowdfunding site she also owns. The campaign urged people to “Buy the Block and stop gentrification.”

Buy The Block, which is based in Denver, got its FINRA approval and opened its doors in October 2017. The portal handles Regulation Crowdfunding offerings, which are open to all investors, as well as offerings under Regulation D, an exemption limited to accredited investors that has no limits on how much money can be raised.

[…]

The post Buy The Block Empowers Black Communities to Invest in Themselves appeared first on Locavesting.

Share This:

The full and original article can be viewed on Locavesting.com


home-compass-croppedVisit the Invest With Values - Resource Directory to access leading investor information, opportunities, organizations, events, groups and tools.

Filed Under: -Community Investing, -Impact Investing

About Locavesting

Locavesting - A book, a movement... now a media site! News, analysis and resources focused on the intersection of community + financial innovation. Founded by Amy Cortese.
Learn more about Locavesting and their articles.

News Search

Sponsors

Talgra RSF RSF Social Finance logo Trillium MicroVest MicroVest LOCUS LOCUS Impact Investing CFC capital for change

Events

All News by Category

Take the Survey

Why do you care about money and investing?
  • Home
  • Directory
  • News Center
  • Sponsors & Partners
  • About
  • Connect
  • Google Plus
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Copyright © 2023 • Invest with Values • All Rights Reserved • 914-230-0741 · info(at)talgra.com
Created and Managed by Brian Kaminer of Talgra LLC

Disclaimer: The information shared through investwithvalues.com has been provided by Talgra, LLC (“Talgra”). No representation or warranty, expressed or implied is made by Talgra, the sponsors, partners or contributors as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. The website is for educational and informational purposes only and is subject to change. This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation to purchase or sell any security, and nothing herein should be construed as such. The opinions represented in this directory are those of Talgra and should be considered in conjunction with advice from a professional advisor in the context of your particular investment situation. The specific investments included in this website are examples of investments that can be made in each of the different investment categories and are not recommendations to purchase any individual security or investment vehicle.