Our Vision and Mission
Vision
We believe that Bessemer communities and neighborhoods can have a quality of life that makes it deserving of the name Marvel City. We will move forward through targeted catalytic projects that are multi-faceted and bring other like-minded developers togethers.
Mission
Lead the transformation of Bessemer's neighborhoods through community first development, including:
- Build or renovate a quality affordable housing product
- Create buildings or sites that become community assets
- Create quality public spaces
- Create a safer environment (sidewalks, streetlights)
Our Board of Directors
Brian Giattina
Dr. Calvin Bell
Dr. Calvin Bell
President
CFO of GA Studios and Chief Development Officer for
BLOX LLC
Dr. Calvin Bell
Dr. Calvin Bell
Dr. Calvin Bell
Vice-President
Pastor at Fifth Avenue Bethel Baptist Church on the Northside of Bessemer, Alabama
Ashley Norris
Dr. Calvin Bell
Ashley Norris
Secretary
Bessemer area real estate agent and fourth-generation Bessemer resident born and raised on the Northside of Bessemer, Alabama
Ed Welden
Dr. Calvin Bell
Ashley Norris
Treasurer
SVP of SPM Property Management 25 years of HUD property management and project development experience
Dave Paige
Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers
Board Member
Community leader and executive at United States Steel Local community leader born and raised in Bessemer, Alabama
Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers
Board Member
President of Rogers & Willard Construction, Mobile, Alabama
The Northside Community Housing Development Initiative
The Problem
In the Northside neighborhood, just outside the gates of BLOX, deterioration, vacancy, and abandonment are rampant. The community is made up of 70 city blocks bordered by 5th Ave. North and I-59 and 22nd St. and 32 St. Northside is split by the Bessemer Superhighway with access to downtown and the Interstate. It includes multiple churches, schools, and neighborhood retail opportunities.
We are currently working with Bessemer and local partners to implement affordable housing policies and programs. BRC will begin to develop programs that encourage police, firefighters, teachers, and others that serve the community to live here.
Our Development Strategies
The following are our basic development strategies:
- Build attractive, affordable, energy-efficient housing utilizing quality material
- Utilize innovative housing products to decrease construction and material costs
- Work with community partners to develop neighborhood anchor projects and complimentary commercial projects
- Implement placemaking strategies
- Work with partners to create a catalytic development effort
The E=MC Squared Small Business Development Initiative
Empowerment = Me + Community
Alabama's number of minority- and women-owned businesses are among the lowest in the nation—only 3.5 percent of businesses in the state. Although Alabama has a large African American population, its minority business ownership is just 2.9 percent in our target markets, significantly lower than the national average. Small businesses are central to Alabama's economy.
Our E=MC Squared Initiative is all about empowering, educating, and encouraging minority entrepreneurship within our community here in Bessemer. Small businesses served as the backbone of Bessemer's economy through challenging times before the influx of corporate giants who now call Bessemer home. We will provide technical assistance to small businesses owners who have historically been underserved.
We will offer workshops and programs focused on financing, accounting, personal credit vs. business credit, human resources management, marketing, product exporting, legal business structure, and overall organizational capacity building.
Our programs aim to provide business owners with the tools and skills needed to maintain successful operations, capitalize upon growth opportunities, and assist with accessing affordable capital.
Partnerships In Action
Habitat for Humanity
In December 2021, Habitat for Humanity began building the first four new homes in Northside since the 1960s. These houses are being built on lots acquired by BRC and sold to Habitat. Two of these houses were turned over to the new families on December 17th, and the others will be completed in January of 2022.
Rails to Trails Program
The Fresh Water Land Trust (FWLT) is working directly with the City of Bessemer to develop a plan to help complete a Rails to Trails program to connect Bessemer to the Red Mountain Park and Hoover. FWLT owns large tracts of land along Valley Creek near the US Pipe and is looking to turn some of this into new recreation space.
Our Partners
Join our Community Advisory Board toady!
The BRC Community Advisory Board will allow community leaders, business owners, and Bessemer residents to work with us as we plan community programing, build affordable housing, and support small business owners. We want to hear from the community!