Community and Economic Development (“Community Development”) is a dynamic, complex, and ever-changing endeavor.  Every community faces different challenges and chooses different strategies for revitalization.  Urban markets may face pressures, such as rapid population growth and sky-rocketing land and development costs, resulting in affordability issues for low- and moderate-income residents.  Rural communities may face population losses and the lack of new community investments, resulting in declining property values and abandoned properties.

BB&T understands the complexity of the community development process and that a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t work.  We firmly believe that community development is a long-term process that is most successful when the non-profit, public, and private sectors work collectively to address the unique challenges each of our communities face. Non-profit organizations, such as Community Development Corporations (CDC), play a vital role in neighborhood revitalization.  These organizations work at the grassroots level and are often understaffed and insufficiently resourced to fully execute their missions.  Many of the less-established non-profits, who may be learning the development process, often lack the capacity to develop projects on their own.

One of the crucial ways in which BB&T demonstrates our continuous commitment to the geographic markets we serve is through our support of CDCs.  BB&T has created a comprehensive Capacity Building Program that surpasses any current offering in the market and includes housing and economic certified training, construction management certified training, legal services, and technical assistance.  Through the Capacity Building Program, BB&T is helping grassroot CDCs become leaders in revitalizing their communities.