Building Ensley Together -Restoring 8 Buildings

Thank you BBC World News for bringing awareness to my unfair lending fight that is all too common in African American communities in your article titled "The frustration of investing in my hometown" by Ivana Davidovic  (click link for article)


"Build Up Birmingham", a local non profit (501c3) has launched a fundraising campaign to help  move this block forward with your contributions. Your contribution will help all of us lower the final overhead expenses so more of the profits from office leases can be reinvested back into the community through Entrepreneurship, Workforce, and Mentoring programs that will take place throughout the same buildings.

We have 8 Historic Commercial Buildings totaling 33,000+sf to restore. We are looking for private investments, public, corporate, and foundation investments to move this block forward. If you believe your company or foundation would match funds or they have grant programs for underserved communities like Ensley, please reach out to them for me and have them contact me directly through www.briankrice.com 

Your contribution will help develop spaces for over 50 local entrepreneurs and small businesses in the underserved community of Ensley. 

Building Uses: (Click here for full descriptions)
"Innovation Ensley" Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Space 
"Invest Ensley" A Space for Professional Investment Professionals  
"Chef Up Ensley" We will create spaces for restaurants and startup chefs. 
"Believe in Ensley Urban Studios" for Creative Entrepreneurs: Videography, Film, Photography, Graphic Design, Podcasting, Marketing, Script Writing, Music Recording and Lessons. 
"Innovation Ensley Construction Office Hub and Tradesmen Training Center"
"Ensley Art Residencies, Studio, and Gallery" 

With Historic Commercial Buildings the cost for rehab is always higher than we would like but that is why they are historic. The smallest complete building renovation is estimated at $125,000. Our Dream of Dream Construction Fundraising Goal would be $4,950,000 which is based on $150 per sf x 33,000sf = $4,950,000. Reaching our Dream of Dream fundraising goal, would allow us to invest more profits from leases to local entrepreneurship and workforce development programs that will take place weekly across the buildings in this underserved community. Your investment regardless of size allows us to start renovating 1 building at a time. 

Community Benefits to reaching the target fundraising goal:
o   Leases for startup entrepreneurs will be lower which is critical in the startup phase in any community an especially in an underserved community.
o   We will offer top of the line facility spaces for local entrepreneurs who otherwise would not have access so they can compete in our global economy
o   We can invest more profits from leases to our Entrepreneurship Workshops, Workforce Development Workshops, and Community Mentoring Programs on the block

We believe in Investing in Economic Development that will Support Community Development


The closer we get to the target fundraising goal, the more profits we can reinvest back into Entrepreneurship Development, Workforce Development, and Community Development. 

For more information about our 501c3 sponsor, please visit www.buildup.work  
For more information about  Brian K. Rice, please visit www.briankrice.com  

If you believe your company or foundation would match funds or they have grant programs for underserved communities like Ensley, please reach out to them for me and have them contact me directly through www.briankrice.com 

 Thank You "Build Up Birmingham" (a 501c3) for creating a fundraising cause for "BUILDING ENSLEY TOGETHER" to support the restoration of 8 Historic Commercial Buildings that will support entrepreneurship development, workforce development, and community development in Downtown Ensley. 

Best Regards,

Brian K. Rice