About Us | AI, Inc.

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Investing in Communities, Creating Opportunities.

Affirmative Investments, Inc. is a mission-driven, women-owned business committed to expanding housing and economic opportunities in the communities that need it most. We specialize in affordable housing development and financial structuring for New Markets Tax Credit deals, and since our founding in 1983, we’ve built a rich history of expertise across every stage of the development process—from financing and permitting to construction and stabilization.

What we do

Affirmative develops projects that have meaningful impacts on communities. These projects fall into two major categories: 1) Affordable Housing: Homes for the families, seniors, and individuals that need it most and 2) Community Developments: Education, healthcare, arts and culture, and other projects that create jobs and provide services to empower low-income communities.

How we do it

Affirmative works with mission-driven organizations as consultants or co-developers. We love taking a unique and individualized approach to challenging projects, helping from pre-development to permanent loan conversions and beyond. We help conceptualize projects and bring them to the finish line by structuring creative capital stacks, leveraging our long-standing relationships, and creating and managing innovative design and development teams.

Why we do it

We believe that everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing and vibrant communities. Our mission is to bridge the gap between underserved neighborhoods and people and the resources they need to thrive.

Learn more about our work by clicking the tabs below.

By the numbers:

5.1 M

Total square feet of completed community development projects

$2.3 B

Total development costs of our community development projects

104

Completed community development projects

Our process:

New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs) incentivize community development and economic growth through the use of tax credits that attract private investment to distressed communities. Affirmative is an active participant in the New Market Tax Credit world in two major ways: a) as a financial and real estate consultant to sponsors (those looking to receive the credits) and b) and and as a consultant to Community Development Entities (CDEs; those trying to secure an allocation of credits).

Consulting for CDEs

Community Development Entities (CDEs) apply for and win allocations of NMTCs to distribute to sponsors. Affirmative helps CDEs to launch and manage their operations by:

Defining the CDE's Strategy and Objectives
Referring NMTC legal counsel and assisting with the legal formation of the CDE
Writing the NMTC Application
Identifying and structuring deals
Engaging investors and lenders to facilitate other project financing
Managing the CDE's closing process on the CDE's behalf

Affirmative is proud to serve as the CDE Adviser to Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives (PUI), the CDE Controlled by the City of Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority. Since 2010, AI has authored PUI's Applications and assisted identifying, evaluating, and closing on PUI's NMTC transactions.

Consulting for Sponsors

NMTCs can be an effective source for projects located in low-income areas and/or serving low-income people. Affirmative consults with sponsors, or groups looking to use NMTCs in their projects, to secure and structure credits. Sponsors can be a range of non-profit and for-profit businesses, including charter schools, healthcare centers, human services organizations, manufacturing facilities, and more. Affirmative helps sponsors:

Understand the feasibility of NMTCs for their projects
Connect to CDEs with allocation to distribute
Structure NMTC investments in deals

Affirmative also has experience working with other financing programs in conjunction with NMTCs, including Historic Tax Credits. Businesses or organizations interested in if NMTCs could be beneficial to their project are encouraged to contact us.

By the numbers:

6,521

# of units of affordable housing constructed

$1.1 B

Total development costs of our affordable housing projects

109

Completed affordable housing projects

Our process:

Affirmative brings experience to every step of the development process. We start with due diligence work to determine site feasibility, then work to establish a financial structure that will work for your organization, using creative finances that leverage private, public and tax credit funding. Affirmative hosts public meetings and engages with the community and neighbors to work together to create a design that meets the local goals. In design and permitting, we leverage our great relationships with contractors, architects, and more to build a strong development team, working collaboratively with them until construction completion.

Feasibility Analysis

Financial Structuring

Community Consultation

Design & Permitting

Construction

Doors
Open!

Some of our strengths:

Our small size allows senior staff and principals to be deeply involved in every project, ensuring expert oversight throughout the development process

Affirmative has completed several Passive House projects and leverages solar panels and other sustainability practices to build more resilient homes.

Affirmative works as a partner to the communities in which they develop, recognizing that local input is key to creating strong and cohesive projects.

We care deeply about diversity at all levels of development. We are a women-owned business, and we partner with engineers, architects, and general contractors that value women and minority leaders.