Southland Development Authority
Southland Development Authority is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization serving 700,000+ residents and 45 municipalities in Chicago's South Suburbs, providing free business advisory, municipal consulting, land redevelopment, manufacturing support, financing, and workforce programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersHazel Crest, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Southland Development Authority does
Southland Development Authority (SDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization headquartered in Tinley Park, Illinois, founded in November 2019 by business, civic, and political leaders to drive growth in the South Suburbs of Chicago. The organization serves 700,000+ residents across 45 municipalities in Cook and Will Counties and operates a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single software product: Business Growth Services (direct advisory for SMBs), the South Suburban Land Bank (vacant property acquisition and title clearance, jointly rehabilitating nearly 200 properties), the Metals HUB (manufacturing and OEM industry support), Municipal Consulting (grant writing and project implementation for municipalities), the Real Estate Initiative, the APEX Accelerator (273 clients pursuing government contracts), the VITA Tax Program (free tax preparation), the Monarch Fund (financing vehicle with 260 acres under contract), and Horizon South Real Estate LLC (wholly-owned horizontal development subsidiary launched March 2026). Major annual events include the ACHIEVE Summit (1,000+ attendees), the renamed smartXchange (formerly Forge5) manufacturing showcase, the Hire Southland workforce event, and the Coffee Connections speaker series. SDA does not offer software products, APIs, or proprietary technology platforms; its "platform" is its programmatic service stack and relationship network.
Revenue is generated primarily through government grants (federal, state, county, municipal) and foundation funding, with most services provided free to businesses and municipalities under a freemium or grant-funded model. The go-to-market motion is multi-channel: event-driven through the ACHIEVE Summit and Forge5/smartXchange; sales-led through direct business advising by relationship managers such as Jamie Makuch and Marisela Zambrano; and community-led through deep municipal partnerships coordinated via the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association. Customer segments include small and medium businesses (primary), municipalities and governments (primary), metals manufacturers and OEMs (primary), realtors and developers, homebuyers and residents, and investors. Headcount is small (1–10 employees), and the organization is led by CEO Bo Kemp (joined leadership 2017, CEO since 2021), President Felicia D. Hardy, and Board Chair Nathaniel K. Sutton, with a management team spanning programs, municipal economic development, real estate and construction, and relationship management.
Strategically, SDA has compounded through both organic program expansion and subsidiary creation. Revenue grew from $250,000 in 2019 to over $2.2 million by end of 2022, and the organization continues to scale via the Monarch Fund, Horizon South Real Estate LLC, Construction Services Initiative, and APEX Accelerator, supported by strategic partners including IMEC, Nicor Illinois Community Investment, Cook County, Old National Bank, CN Railway, SomerCor, WGN Radio, Illinois Restaurant Association, and the United Way.
Southland Development Authority firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southland Development Authority
- Legal name
- Southland Development Authority
- Website
- https://southlanddevelopment.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Southland Development Authority is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization serving 700,000+ residents and 45 municipalities in Chicago's South Suburbs, providing free business advisory, municipal consulting, land redevelopment, manufacturing support, financing, and workforce programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southland Development Authority industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Development Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Land Subdivision (2372)
- SIC
- Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC), Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL), Land Acquisition, Lot Development & Construction Financing (AD&C) (FSALAHAI)
Keywords
Where Southland Development Authority is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hazel Crest
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Southland Development Authority business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Primary revenue source from government grants (federal, state, county, municipal) and foundation funding. Grew from $250,000 budget in 2019 to over $2.2 million in 2022 through ARPA funding and other grants.
- Monarch Fund: New financing vehicle for business growth and land development, currently with 260 acres under contract. Designed to replicate successful redevelopment models in the region.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Free tax preparation services through VITA Program |
| Freemium | One time | Free ServSafe Manager Certification for food business owners |
| Subscription | One time | ACHIEVE Summit 2026 ticket packages with Early Bird pricing |
| Freemium | Others | Business Growth Services - free advisory and consulting |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Southland Development Authority product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southland Development Authority (SDA) is a nonprofit economic development organization that provides free advisory, consulting, and technical assistance to small and medium businesses, municipalities, manufacturers, and developers across the Chicago South Suburbs. Its core offerings include Business Growth Services for SMB advising, the South Suburban Land Bank for vacant property redevelopment, the Metals HUB for manufacturing industry support, Municipal Consulting for local governments, the Monarch Fund for financing business growth and land development, and the Real Estate Initiative connecting investors with Southland opportunities.
Product overview
Southland Development Authority (SDA) operates as a nonprofit economic development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Business Growth Services (BGS) for business advisory, the South Suburban Land Bank for property redevelopment, the Metals HUB for manufacturing industry support, the Monarch Fund for financing, Municipal Consulting for government support, Real Estate Initiative for property connections, VITA Tax Program for free tax assistance, and the First Million Podcast for entrepreneurship education. Major events include the ACHIEVE Summit (annual entrepreneurship conference), Forge5/smartXchange (manufacturing showcase), and Hire Southland (workforce development). The recently launched Horizon South Real Estate LLC serves as a wholly-owned development subsidiary. SDA does not offer software products, APIs, or technology platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Horizon South Real Estate LLC: A wholly-owned subsidiary of SDA functioning as a horizontal developer, preparing dormant sites for vertical improvements by removing legal, financial, and entitlement barriers.
- The Monarch Fund
- South Suburban Land Bank
- ACHIEVE Summit
- The First Million Is Always The Hardest
- Metals HUB
Products and services
- Business Growth Services (BGS)
Quantifiable outcome
- $12 million in COVID relief funding secured for businesses
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Southland Development Authority
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Southland Development Authority technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Southland Development Authority partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)corePartnership to accelerate growth and innovation among metals manufacturers in the Southland. IMEC serves as title sponsor of Forge5 (now smartXchange) manufacturing event. Both organizations bring over three decades of combined expertise to small and mid-sized manufacturers.
- SomerCorcoreSomerCor President and CEO Manny Flores appeared on WGN Radio with Bo Kemp discussing SBA 504 loan programs. SomerCor is a Certified Development Company helping businesses access long-term financing for commercial real estate and equipment.
- South Suburban Land BankcoreSDA serves as long-term operational partner to the Land Bank, an intergovernmental agency clearing titles on abandoned properties. Jointly rehabilitated nearly 200 properties. Land Bank provides property pipeline for SDA's real estate initiatives.
- Daley College Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC)supportingHost venue for Forge5 manufacturing event. MTEC features CNC machines and industrial robots for advanced manufacturing training. Partnership enables workforce pipeline between training and employment.
- Illinois Restaurant AssociationsupportingPartnership to provide free ServSafe Manager Certification to food business owners and managers in the South Suburbs. Program has certified 46 people at no cost to participants.
- Harvey Neighborhood NetworksupportingCommunity partner in VITA Tax Program helping set up free tax preparation services, ensuring compliance and smooth operations.
- United WaysupportingVITA Tax Program partner providing support for free tax preparation services in the Southland community.
- Helping Hands Tax NetworksupportingVITA Tax Program partner supporting compliant operations and program delivery.
- South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA)coreRegional partnership providing funding coordination, municipal support, and collaborative economic development across Southland municipalities.
- Wind Creek Chicago SouthlandcoreVenue host for ACHIEVE Summit 2026 (June 4-6) at 17300 S. Halsted St., East Hazel Crest. Gaming and hospitality venue provides modern conference facilities for 1,000+ attendees.
- WGN RadiocorePodcast distribution partnership featuring 'The First Million Is Always The Hardest' on WGN's First Million Mondays platform. Expands regional reach of entrepreneurship content. ACHIEVE Summit speakers appear on WGN shows.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southland Development Authority competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP): Regional planning organization for northeastern Illinois covering similar municipal coordination and economic development planning functions. Comparable to SDA's Municipal Consulting work but at a larger regional scale.
Direct peers
- SomerCor: Certified Development Company providing SBA 504 financing for small businesses in the Chicago region. SDA lists SomerCor as a strategic partner and the Monarch Fund offers complementary financing vehicles.
- Invest Atlanta: Economic development authority for the City of Atlanta providing business incentives, small business support, and real estate development services. Comparable multi-program nonprofit economic development model to SDA.
- Genesee County Land Bank (Michigan): Pioneering county land bank focused on property acquisition, title clearance, and redevelopment in distressed communities. Shares SDA's Land Bank operational model and emphasis on reactivating vacant properties.
- Cook County Land Bank Authority: Cook County's land bank focused on returning vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use. Directly comparable to SDA's South Suburban Land Bank partnership in mission and operational model.
- Manufacturers Association of Florida (Made In Florida) / IMEC: Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is SDA's strategic partner and title sponsor of its Forge5/smartXchange manufacturing event. Comparable focus on metals/manufacturing industry support, workforce development, and innovation services.
- Detroit Economic Growth Corporation: Nonprofit economic development corporation focused on Detroit and adjacent communities, offering business attraction, small business support, and real estate redevelopment. Closely comparable to SDA's blend of municipal consulting, business growth services, and property revitalization.
Broad incumbents
- Greater Cleveland Partnership: Regional economic development nonprofit convening business, civic, and government leaders across the Cleveland metro. Comparable to SDA as a multi-municipality economic development convener with business attraction, talent, and advocacy programs.
- Allegheny Conference on Community Development: Pittsburgh regional economic development organization founded by civic and business leaders. Operates similar model to SDA of convening public-private stakeholders across multiple municipalities for jobs, investment, and neighborhood revitalization.
- Greater Houston Partnership: Houston region's primary economic development organization serving a multi-county footprint. Comparable to SDA in its regional convener role, business growth services, and municipal partnership model.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southland Development Authority social profiles
Digital presenceSouthland Development Authority financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southland Development Authority leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Southland Development Authority subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Southland Development Authority funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southland Development Authority M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southland Development Authority
What does Southland Development Authority do?
Southland Development Authority (SDA) is a nonprofit economic development organization that provides free advisory, consulting, and technical assistance to small and medium businesses, municipalities, manufacturers, and developers across the Chicago South Suburbs. Its core offerings include Business Growth Services for SMB advising, the South Suburban Land Bank for vacant property redevelopment, the Metals HUB for manufacturing industry support, Municipal Consulting for local governments, the Monarch Fund for financing business growth and land development, and the Real Estate Initiative connecting investors with Southland opportunities.
Is Southland Development Authority a public or private company?
Southland Development Authority is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southland Development Authority founded?
Southland Development Authority was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Southland Development Authority based?
Southland Development Authority is headquartered in Hazel Crest, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southland Development Authority make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are monarch Fund.
Who are Southland Development Authority's main competitors?
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are SomerCor, Invest Atlanta, Genesee County Land Bank (Michigan), Cook County Land Bank Authority, Manufacturers Association of Florida (Made In Florida) / IMEC and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. Broad incumbents are Greater Cleveland Partnership, Allegheny Conference on Community Development and Greater Houston Partnership.
Does Southland Development Authority have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southland Development Authority.
What industry is Southland Development Authority in?
Southland Development Authority's product category is Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAN, Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local), with a secondary code of BPAJANAC, Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support). Its NAICS code is 92512 and its SIC code is 6552.