The Community Economic Development Alliance was established by a group of minority contractors in order to stabilize, preserve and revitalize distressed communities by undertaking real estate development projects that will make them more enjoyable and more fulfilling for their residents – and by helping local minority contractors establish and/or expand their own business operations in those areas.
Team Directory
Bryant Shannon
Julius T. Wilson
CEDA was organized by several independent minority contractors who knew – from their own individual experiences – the types of problems that start-up contracting firms have to overcome in order to be successful. Rather than looking at other start-up firms as potential competition, these contractors viewed them as the future of their industry – and as the potential cornerstone of those firms’ communities.
The founders of CEDA all began working as employees of contracting firms. Later in their careers, they all started their own contracting companies.
As their respective companies grew, the founders of CEDA were able to take on larger and larger projects. But along the way, their growth was often stymied – not by the inability to complete such projects but rather by the inability to obtain the financing those projects required.
In an effort to help other minority contractors avoid similar issues – and to assist those who are interested in launching or expanding their own contracting firms – the founders banded together to create CEDA. In doing so, the founders chose to focus on helping financially distressed communities – and minority contractors who can undertake work in those communities.