URA Staff Receive Grow America Certifications

This spring, several URA staff members earned certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through Grow America. EDFP Certification is a professional credential given to individuals who successfully complete Grow America’s intensive economic development finance training series. The training provides economic development professionals with instruction in business credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiation, and the creation and implementation of development programs.

Each of the four EDFP Certification Program courses is five days in length, and each concludes with an exam. Upon successful completion of all four courses, the candidate is awarded EDFP Certification.

The URA recognizes the dedication and hard work of these determined professionals who received their certification:

• Brooke Shetler – Community Development Investment Assistant
• Brandon Wilson – Senior Project Manager
• Maya Fews – Project Manager
• Laya Mathews – Senior Project Manager
• Michael Bitsura – Senior Lending Analyst
• M.L. Meier – Senior Director of Real Estate
• Oscar Medina – GIS and Data Analyst II
• Gordon Hall – Project Manager
• Donita Thomas – Manager, PEIDC
• Julia McMahon – Senior Project Manager

The Housing Development Finance Professional series follows a similar rigorous schedule, and the URA will recognize those who earn their certification later this year.

In the economic development and housing development fields, Grow America’s training programs have long been considered a gold industry standard. Many of the current and former leaders at the URA have completed these training series over the years.

In partnership with the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, the URA brought the training series to Pittsburgh. Generous support from the Hillman Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Buhl Foundation, Anonymous, S&T Bank and an in-kind contribution from PNC Bank enabled the URA to offer scholarships to all of the participating community development and housing development organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

About Grow America

Grow America’s work focuses on HOMES, JOBS and COMMUNITY. Founded as a national nonprofit in 1969, Grow America has worked for 46 years at fulfilling its mission to increase the flow of capital for investment in low-income communities. Grow America directs capital to support the preservation and creation of affordable housing, the creation of jobs through training and small business lending and the promotion of livable communities through investment in social infrastructure.

For more information about Grow America, visit the Grow America website.