Goler Community Development

What Goler Community Development does

Goler Community Development Corporation (Goler CDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered at 889 North Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The organization develops urban real estate and operates community programs targeting residents of Forsyth and surrounding counties, with a focus on underserved and economically disadvantaged populations in the Goler Heights district. Its mission centers on building mixed-income, multicultural communities through housing, workforce development, healthy living initiatives, and community engagement.

Goler CDC's product and program surface spans four initiatives. The Affordable Housing initiative includes The Heights – The New Town Downtown, a $100 million, 14-acre mixed-use master plan at the northern gateway to downtown Winston-Salem (over $30 million already completed), plus completed projects such as Chestnut Street Townhomes (2005), Goler Manor (79-unit senior living, 2007), Gallery Lofts (2008), and 757 North Apartments (115 units of mixed-income housing, 2013–2017). The Workforce Development initiative includes TechCareers (IT training launched March 2018) and the Piedmont Contractors Resource Center. The Healthy Living initiative includes the Kimberly Park Hydroponic Farm (a City of Winston-Salem–funded urban farm in a food desert), the Goler Garden (a community garden partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Downtown Health Plaza), and Affordable Connectivity Program outreach in partnership with SMSi Healthy Living Solutions and the FCC. The Community Engagement initiative includes partnerships with the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce and Winston-Salem RISE.

The organization's underlying technology is limited and non-proprietary: a hydroponic farming system for urban agriculture and a standard website platform supporting program information, events, press coverage, and PayPal-based donation collection. Goler CDC generates revenue through donations and charitable contributions, real estate development (construction and renovation of residential lofts, townhomes, and mixed-use projects totaling over 300 units), and grant funding from federal, state, local, and private sources. Programs are provided at no cost to participants. The organization is led by President Michael L. Suggs (formerly of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Hanes Hosiery, Procter & Gamble, Miller Brewing, and Champion International) and CFO Garrett Bolden, with a board chaired by Fred E. Phifer. The organization reports 1–10 employees and serves a regional geography confined to Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Name

Goler Community Development

Legal name

Goler Community Development Corporation

Website

https://golercdc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Goler Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 in Winston-Salem, NC that develops urban real estate and operates community programs — including affordable housing, workforce training, urban agriculture, and digital equity outreach — for underserved residents of Forsyth and surrounding counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Land Subdivision (2372), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Mixed-Use Community Association Management (BPAJAHAF)

Keywords

• Community development
• Affordable housing
• Workforce development
• Urban real estate
• Community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The nonprofit accepts donations of any amount from supporters to fund community projects and day-to-day operations. Donations are facilitated through PayPal.
2. Real Estate Development: As a developer of urban real estate, Goler CDC generates revenue through construction and renovation of properties including residential lofts, townhomes, and mixed-use developments. Completed over 300 housing and commercial development units with over $50M economic impact.
3. Grant Funding: Goler CDC receives grant funds from federal, state, local, and private sources for various programs including Affordable Care Act outreach activities, urban farming initiatives, and workforce development programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Goler Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops urban real estate and delivers community programs in Winston-Salem, NC. Its core offerings include affordable housing development (over 300 housing and commercial units completed), workforce development programs (TechCareers IT training and Piedmont Contractors Resource Center), healthy living initiatives (urban hydroponic farming and community gardens), and community engagement activities for residents of Forsyth and surrounding counties.

Product overview

Goler Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development organization, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of community programs organized into four initiatives: Workforce Development (TechCareers and Piedmont Contractors Resource Center programs), Affordable Housing (The Heights – The New Town Downtown® mixed-use development and individual housing projects), Healthy Living (Affordable Care Act outreach, Kimberly Park Hydroponic Farm, and Goler Garden), and Community Engagement (partnerships with WS Black Chamber of Commerce and Winston-Salem RISE). The organization develops urban real estate and community programs in Winston-Salem, NC, with over $30 million in completed development including residential lofts, townhomes, and commercial space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TechCareers An initiative linking unemployed and underemployed residents of Forsyth and surrounding counties with technical education, career readiness training, and community resources needed to secure positions in the Information & Technology industry. Provided at no cost to traditionally underserved populations.
• Piedmont Contractors Resource Center (PCRC) A program providing continuing education, one-on-one counseling, and specialized managerial and technical assistance for small-to-medium-sized contractors with a focus on capacity building for minority contractors.
• The Heights – The New Town Downtown A $100 million mixed-use development plan for the northern gateway to downtown Winston-Salem, creating a multi-generational, multi-cultural, mixed-income neighborhood on 14 acres.
• Goler Manor Senior Housing A 79-unit independent living project completed and marketed as rental units for seniors 62 years and older.
• 757 North Apartments 115 units of mixed-income housing developed in partnership with Laurel Street Residential.
• Gallery Lofts Project completed in collaboration with Landex Builders.
• Chestnut Street Townhomes First phase of townhomes constructed and sold.
• Victory Financial Union / Truliant Victory Member Financial Center Goler CDC headquarters developed with additional space for Truliant Federal Credit Union as a tenant, serving the growing neighborhood, its businesses, and its residents.
• Kimberly Park Hydroponic Farm An urban farm project in the Kimberly Park neighborhood designed to increase access to healthy food in this food desert community, using hydroponic farming technology.
• Goler Garden A community garden maintained in partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Downtown Health Plaza that grows fruits, vegetables, and herbs to distribute at no cost to patients.
• Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Outreach A program raising awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a Federal Communications Commission initiative addressing digital inequity by providing discounts on internet service (up to $30/month) and devices (up to $100) for qualified low-income households.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 housing and commercial development units completed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SMSi Healthy Living Solutions, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Goler Community Development Corporation and its marketing partner SMSi Healthy Living Solutions unveiled their commitment to raising awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in the January 2024 issue of SMSi Urban Call.
• TechCareerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018TechCareers is an initiative linking unemployed and underemployed residents with technical education, career readiness training, and community resources to secure positions in the IT industry. Launched in March 2018, the program provides opportunities to traditionally underserved populations at no cost.
• Laurel Street ResidentialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Goler partnered with Laurel Street Residential to develop 757 North Apartments, creating 115 units of mixed-income housing.
• Landex BuildersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Gallery Lofts project was completed in collaboration with Landex Builders.
• Truliant Federal Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2008Goler CDC's headquarters were developed with additional space for a financial institution tenant - Truliant Federal Credit Union. The Truliant Victory Member Financial Center serves the growing neighborhood, its businesses, and its residents.
• Winston-Salem Black Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoler CDC partners with The Winston Salem Black Chamber on various initiatives. Most notably, TechCareers participants have access to their 'Road to Business Resilience' training covering factors leading to success in employment and entrepreneurship.
• Winston-Salem RISEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWS RISE is a Black-led organization fighting for racial equity in eight areas within East Winston impacted by racial disparities including Civic Responsibility, Criminal Justice, Economic Development, Education, Food Sovereignty, Housing, Health and Wellness, and Workforce Development.
• Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Downtown Health PlazacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoler CDC partners with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Downtown Health Plaza to maintain a community garden (Goler Garden) that grows fruits, vegetables, and herbs for free distribution to patients throughout growing seasons.
• Federal Communications CommissioncoreOthersThrough the Affordable Connectivity Program, the FCC addresses digital inequity by providing qualified low-income households with discounts of up to $30/month toward internet service and one-time discounts of up to $100 for devices.
• Piedmont Contractors Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Piedmont Contractors Resource Center provides continuing education, one-on-one counseling, and specialized managerial and technical assistance for small-to-medium-sized contractors with focus on capacity building, increased capabilities, and resource management for minority contractors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Fairstead: Mission-driven real estate owner and developer focused on affordable and supportive housing with resident services. Comparable in layering housing with social programs and workforce support.

Direct peers

• BRIDGE Housing: Mission-driven nonprofit developer of affordable and mixed-income rental housing across the U.S. West Coast. Directly comparable as a nonprofit developer combining mixed-income housing production with community programming.
• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and service provider operating across 40+ metropolitan areas. Comparable in combining real estate development with resident services, health, and workforce programming.
• Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): Nonprofit acquirer, developer, and operator of affordable housing combining real estate stewardship with resident services. Comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit working at the intersection of housing and community development.
• Self-Help: Durham, NC-based CDFI and community development nonprofit combining real estate development, lending, and policy advocacy. Operates in similar Southeastern urban markets with a comparable mix of housing development and place-based community programs.
• The NRP Group: Multifamily developer delivering mixed-income and affordable housing with wraparound resident services. Comparable through integrated development-plus-services model serving workforce and lower-income households.

Broad incumbents

• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National CDFI supporting CDCs with financing, technical assistance, and program grants for affordable housing and community development. Comparable as a funder/intermediary operating across the same vertical that Goler CDC delivers at the local level.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Largest nonprofit affordable housing organization, combining volunteer-driven home construction with community development. Comparable through mission alignment on affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization in underserved markets.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit developer and investor in affordable housing and community resilience. Comparable through its integrated model of development, lending, and policy advocacy targeting underserved urban communities.

Others

• National Development Council (NDC): National nonprofit providing training, lending, and advisory for affordable housing and community development. Comparable as a capacity-building intermediary supporting CDCs and workforce housing initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/golercdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/GOLERCDC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Goler Community Development