What Grow Community does

Grow Community is a privately-held, sustainable residential real estate developer based on Bainbridge Island, Washington (a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle), founded in 2011 and operating with 11–50 employees. The company has built, sold, and continues to operate a multi-phase net-zero energy master-planned community organized into four neighborhoods — the Village (Phase 1), the Grove and the Park (Phase 2), and the Trillium (final phase, 14 townhomes, now selling) — across a total planned buildout of ~130 units. Homes are constructed to 5-Star Built Green certification standards and One Planet Living® principles, with rooftop photovoltaic systems (2.9–8.9 kW per unit), APS America microinverters, heat recovery ventilation, EV-ready parking, accessible-design features, and 60% of the Grove & Park neighborhoods devoted to shared gardens, woodland, orchard, and a community center. Grow Community was the first One Planet Community in the United States to begin construction on net-zero carbon homes (endorsed by BioRegional/WWF in June 2012 at the UN Rio+20 Earth Summit) and is documented to produce 85–105% of resident energy needs, eliminating or substantially offsetting utility bills.

The business model combines one-time home sales (perpetual license for buyer-occupied single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums), recurring monthly rental income from multi-family units (including the Cooper and Juniper buildings), and optional solar installation packages sold to homebuyers at or after point-of-sale. Distribution is sales-led via a 428 Grow Avenue NW on-site office, licensed real estate broker partnerships (Anne Reichard, Dana Fitzpatrick), a Redfin channel partnership, and direct rental listings. Primary customer segments are eco-conscious homebuyers, multi-generational families, walkability-seeking urban professionals, and renters seeking sustainable community living. Key partners include BlueFrog Solar, A&R Solar, itek Energy, APS America, and SunModo (solar supply chain), Davis Studio Architecture + Design (architecture, led by Jonathan Davis), PHC Construction (general contractor), NEEA (Next Step Homes pilot), Trees for Global Benefits (carbon offset), and BioRegional (One Planet Living verification). The final-phase Trillium was brought to market through a 2022 partnership with Green Canopy NODE; with the Village, Grove, and Park sold out, the Trillium is the only remaining sellable inventory.

Operative revenue, headcount, and forward-pipeline disclosure is limited, and the master-planned community is approaching buildout completion (marketed as the 'Grand Finale' in April 2024) with no new project, geography, or funding event announced in the source data.

Name

Grow Community

Legal name

Grow Community

Website

https://growbainbridge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grow Community is a privately-held sustainable residential developer on Bainbridge Island, Washington, building and operating a ~130-unit net-zero energy master-planned community with rooftop solar, 5-Star Built Green certification, and One Planet Living endorsement for individual homebuyers and renters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Residential Real Estate Development

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Microgrids & Shared Distributed Generation (EUACALAC), Microgrid Development, EPC & Integration (EUAMAJAB), Resilience & Backup Power Solutions (Critical Facilities, Islanding) (EUAMAJAK)

Keywords

• Sustainable residential development
• Net zero homes
• Green building communities
• Solar powered housing
• Eco-friendly real estate

Headquarters

HQ city

Bainbridge Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Home Sales: Direct sales of residential properties including single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums across multiple neighborhoods (Village, Grove, Park, Trillium). Homes sold at various price points with solar as an optional add-on.
2. Home Rentals: Rental units including apartments (Cooper building) and multi-family rental units in various phases. Monthly rental income from residents.
3. Solar Installation Packages: Optional solar system installations sold to homebuyers as part of home purchase, featuring Washington-based itek Energy PV panels and APS America microinverters. Standing option for homeowners to install solar systems post-purchase with flexible timing and financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grow Community is a master-planned sustainable residential development on Bainbridge Island, Washington that designs, builds, and sells net-zero energy homes across multiple neighborhoods (The Village, The Grove, The Park, and The Trillium). The company sells single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and rental units built to 5-Star Built Green certification standards with integrated rooftop solar power systems and One Planet Living principles.

Product overview

Grow Community is a multi-phase sustainable housing development on Bainbridge Island comprising four distinct neighborhoods: The Village (Phase 1), The Grove and The Park (Phase 2), and The Trillium (Phase 3/final). Each neighborhood offers various housing types including single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and rental units, all built to 5-Star Built Green certification standards with solar power systems and shared community gardens. The community is endorsed by One Planet Living® and features amenities including a community center, shared gardens, orchards, and green spaces. The Trillium, the final phase, offers 14 sustainable townhomes with 2 and 3 bedroom options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Village: First neighborhood at Grow Community featuring ultra-energy-efficient family homes with solar power and shared gardens - cornerstone of the development
• The Grove
• The Park
• The Trillium
• One Planet Living

Products and services

• The Village Phase 1 cornerstone neighborhood featuring ultra-energy-efficient family homes with rooftop solar power and shared community gardens. Includes 18 single-family homes, 6 townhouses, and 20 multi-family rental units, all built to 5-Star Built Green standards. Sold out.
• The Grove Phase 2 neighborhood featuring single-level homes, townhomes, and single-family residences arranged around a native woodland and orchard. 60% of the neighborhood is devoted to shared gardens, woodlands, and green spaces. Sold out.
• The Park Phase 2 neighborhood featuring mixed housing types centered around a broad, inviting greenway. Built to 5-Star Built Green standards and part of the Grove & Park development. Sold out.
• The Trillium Final phase of Grow Community comprising 14 sustainable townhomes blending striking design, comfort, and modern convenience. Offers 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom options with EV-ready parking. Built by Green Canopy NODE. Now selling.
• Community Center Community gathering space providing a venue for classes, gatherings, and community events throughout the seasons for Grow Community residents and neighbors. Includes a childcare facility built in Phase 2.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85-105% of energy needs met by on-site solar production
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green Canopy NODEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Sustainability-focused development company building the final phase (The Trillium) of Grow Community. Strong commitment to sustainability and community-focused development with expertise in constructing energy-efficient homes with eco-friendly materials.
• PHC ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014General contractor for Grow Community construction. Earned multiple Built Green Hammer awards for sustainable building excellence. Dylan Sievertson represented PHC in NEEA's Next Step Homes program.
• RedfinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2014Online real estate brokerage partnered with Grow Community for home sales, providing additional distribution channel for property listings.
• Trees for Global BenefitsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2014Carbon offset program that sells offsets to provide funds for farmers in Uganda to plant trees and manage land sustainably. Grow Community supports this program on an ongoing basis as part of their sustainability commitment.
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2013NEEA selected Grow Community's Everett model home for its Next Step Homes pilot program. Grow Community participated in monitoring and data sharing with other builders to determine new methods and specifications for high performing homes.
• Davis Studio Architecture + DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2013Architecture firm led by Jonathan Davis serving as Village Architect. Davis received the 2013 AWB Environmental Excellence Award for Environmental Innovation for work on Grow Community.
• BioRegionalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2012Environmental consultancy that partnered with WWF to launch One Planet Living initiative. Endorsed Grow Community as the fifth One Planet Community globally and the second in North America. Ongoing verification and reporting support.
• BlueFrog SolarcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2012Washington-based solar installation company that partnered with Asani Development to develop an installation-ready solar package for Grow Community homes. BlueFrog Solar created the solar package design that enabled flexible options for homebuyers regarding installation timing and financing.
• A&R SolarcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2012Washington-based solar installation company partnered with Asani Development for solar installations at Grow Community. Installation crew responsible for ongoing solar panel installations starting June 2012.
• APS AmericacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2012Provided microinverters (YC200, YC500) for solar systems at Grow Community. APS microinverters maximize output and allow monitoring of individual panels, optimizing productivity of the whole array.
• itek EnergycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2012Washington-based company providing 240W and 270W photovoltaic panels for Grow Community solar installations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Serenbe: Planned sustainable community in Chattahoochee Hills, GA focused on biophilic design, walkability, and intergenerational living. Directly comparable to Grow Community's intentional sustainable neighborhood model with shared green space and community amenities.
• Babcock Ranch: Solar-powered planned community in Florida, recognized as one of the first towns in the U.S. powered entirely by solar. Most comparable peer at scale for community-level distributed solar generation and net-zero master planning.
• Green Canopy NODE: Sustainability-focused homebuilder building the final Trillium phase of Grow Community; comparable mission-driven developer of energy-efficient, community-oriented residential projects in the Pacific Northwest.
• Prairie Crossing: Conservation community in Grayslake, IL built around shared green space, agriculture, and sustainability. Direct peer for intentional, environmentally-focused master-planned residential development.

Emerging players

• Dvele: Tech-enabled sustainable homebuilder producing net-zero, smart, healthy homes. Comparable focus on net-zero performance and premium sustainable construction, though at single-home rather than community scale.
• Plant Prefab: Sustainable prefab home manufacturer focused on reducing construction waste and energy use. Comparable in sustainability focus but operates in factory-built housing rather than master-planned community development.
• Method Homes: Modular prefab builder focused on sustainable, energy-efficient residential construction in the Pacific Northwest. Geographic and sustainability overlap with Grow Community's Bainbridge Island operations.

Broad incumbents

• KB Home: National homebuilder with its zeroHouse program offering net-zero energy homes. Provides scaled benchmark for what production-builder sustainability offerings look like, though less community-centric than Grow Community.
• Shea Homes: National homebuilder with sustainable community developments including energy-efficient home lines. Comparable as broad incumbent with sustainability positioning across multiple master-planned communities.
• Meritage Homes: National homebuilder with ENERGY STAR certified net-zero ready homes in select communities. Comparable in offering net-zero product positioning but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Grow Community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/growcommunitybi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuk-gvfDZJuFDGvhzuMR8HQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/growcommunitybainbridge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grow-community
• Instagraminstagram.com/growbainbridge

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grow Community