What Zachary & Associates does

Zachary & Associates, Inc. is a Detroit-based professional consulting firm founded in 1984 by Ernest Zachary, a former City of Detroit Community and Economic Development Department finance division head. The firm delivers four core service lines: economic development and financial packaging, historic preservation consulting, community and long-range planning, and sustainability consulting, serving governmental agencies, community development corporations, private developers, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Notable capabilities include packaging complex multi-source financing (federal and Michigan Historic Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, HUD Section 108 loans, FHA 221d(4) mortgage insurance, geothermal and solar energy tax credits), conducting feasibility and market studies, managing National Register nominations, and administering grant programs. Since 2012 the firm has served as grant administrator and consultant for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy (OTSC), administering HUD-funded commercial redevelopment grants in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.

The firm operates with a small team of 1-10 employees led by Founder/Vice-President Ernest Zachary and President Diane Van Buren, supplemented by Planning Associates and interns. Revenue is generated through professional consulting fees on project-based engagements with no public pricing disclosure. The 71 Garfield building in Midtown Detroit, which the firm developed as a showcase adaptive reuse project incorporating solar power, geothermal systems, LED lighting, and a 3,000-gallon cistern, serves as both operational headquarters and a tangible demonstration of the firm's sustainable building expertise. The firm is recognized with awards including a National Preservation Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and regional recognition from Michigan Historic Preservation Network and WARM Training Center. Zachary & Associates is a founder-owned private firm with no external institutional investment, operating continuously for over 40 years as a Detroit-based specialty consultancy.

Name

Zachary & Associates

Legal name

Zachary & Associates, Inc.

Website

https://zacharydetroit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zachary & Associates is a Detroit-based consulting firm founded in 1984 providing economic development, historic preservation, urban planning, and sustainability advisory services to governmental agencies, non-profits, and private developers in the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Planning & Economic Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Management & Performance Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAF)

Keywords

• Economic development consulting
• Historic preservation consulting
• Urban planning consulting
• Sustainability consulting
• Grant program administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: The firm provides comprehensive consulting services to city, state, county and federal governmental agencies, educational institutions, community development corporations, private developers, and non-profit agencies. Revenue is generated through professional consulting fees for economic development, historic preservation, planning, and sustainability services.
2. Grant Administration Services: Zachary & Associates serves as grant administrator for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, administering $800,000 for construction/renovation and $150,000 for pre-development costs to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners in Corktown, Detroit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Zachary & Associates is a Detroit-based consulting firm founded in 1984 that provides professional services in economic development, historic preservation, urban planning, and sustainability. The firm also administers the OTSC Grant Program, supporting community and development initiatives for public-sector and organizational clients.

Product overview

Zachary & Associates is a Detroit-based consulting firm offering four core service areas: Economic Development/Finance/Revitalization Consulting, Historic Preservation Consulting, Community/Neighborhood/Long-Range Planning Consulting, and Sustainable Planning Consulting. The firm also administers the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy (OTSC) Grant Program for commercial redevelopment in Corktown. These services are delivered through a team of planning professionals and do not constitute a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Development Consulting Strategic and advisory consulting services for economic development initiatives, targeted at public-sector and community clients.
• Historic Preservation Consulting Advisory and planning services for historic preservation projects, supporting municipalities, developers, and community organizations.
• Urban Planning Consulting Planning and advisory services for urban development, zoning, and land-use strategy, serving municipalities and community organizations.
• Sustainability Consulting Advisory services supporting sustainability initiatives for communities and organizational clients.
• OTSC Grant Program Administration Administration of the OTSC Grant Program, providing grant management and distribution services to community and development stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.4 million in investment catalyzed for Corktown neighborhood
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Detroit Collaborative Design CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partnership on the Bloody Run Creek Greenway Redevelopment Project, a 3,500 acre creek daylighting and redevelopment project addressing stormwater management and creating recreational amenities for Detroit's near east side.
• NTH Consultants, Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for Bloody Run Creek Greenway Redevelopment Project providing engineering and technical expertise for the creek daylighting initiative.
• The Mannik & Smith GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for Bloody Run Creek Greenway Redevelopment Project contributing technical consulting services.
• Urban Resource AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed team for Vogue Theater and Iron Works Building Feasibility Study in Manistee, Michigan. Zachary and Associates served as financial and development consultant on the team.
• Senator Carl LevinflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Senator Carl Levin's efforts, the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy was awarded a grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to promote commercial redevelopment in Corktown. The OTSC has invested over $400,000 in grant awards to Corktown businesses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Econsult Solutions: Economic consulting firm providing market and feasibility analysis, impact studies, and development advisory to public and private clients — comparable analytical service offering and client mix.
• Camoin Associates: Boutique economic development consulting firm providing market analysis, project financing, and strategic planning to municipalities and developers — directly comparable in service mix, client segments, and project-scale specialization.
• Urban Strategies Inc. Toronto-based urban planning and community development consultancy focused on revitalization, brownfield redevelopment, and historic preservation — comparable in mission and niche specialization, though geographically distinct.
• RCLCO Real Estate Advisors: Real estate and economic development consulting firm offering market research, feasibility studies, and development advisory — overlaps with Zachary & Associates on feasibility analysis and developer-side advisory work.
• TIP Strategies: Economic development and community planning consultancy delivering market studies, strategic plans, and CEDS-like work for cities and regions — closely mirrors Zachary & Associates' planning and economic development service lines.
• HR&A Advisors: Economic development and urban planning consulting firm advising public agencies and private developers on real estate strategy, financing, and revitalization — directly comparable to Zachary & Associates' core practice across market studies, financing packaging, and public-private partnership advisory.

Broad incumbents

• WSP: Global engineering and planning consultancy with urban planning, economic development, and sustainability practices — broader portfolio and greater resources than Zachary & Associates but overlaps on community planning and sustainability consulting.
• Stantec: International design and consulting firm with urban planning, community development, and sustainability service lines — competes on municipal master planning and sustainability work but with vastly broader geographic and service scope.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with urban planning, economic development, and environmental/sustainability practices — competes for the same municipal planning RFPs that Zachary & Associates pursues, but at much larger scale.

Others

• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that funds and advises community development projects — comparable in mission focus on neighborhood revitalization, often a counterparty or program partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Zachary & Associates