LEADING

BECOME

A year-long business accelerator program for African-American entrepreneurs that covers key areas of business operations, such as financial management, marketing, and capital access.

BUILDING

District Development

A district revitalization & transformation strategy that aims to implement equitable and inclusive development principles into the 4th Avenue Business District.

GROWING

Financial Services

A revolving, low-interest loan pool that financially supports African-American-owned small businesses in the Birmingham area with loans ranging from $500 -$25,000.

ABOUT US

ABOUT US

Black entrepreneurs have faced deeply rooted systemic issues for centuries in the United States.

Urban Impact Inc. (UII) is a nonprofit organization that has committed to removing barriers for Black entrepreneurs and lead, build, and grow traditionally underserved Black commercial districts and communities.

Our Mission: To Empower Black people, places, and businesses with economic opportunity. 

Our Strategic Vision: Urban Impact grows to a scale to achieve a higher level of self-sufficiency and sustainability to advance economic opportunity for Black people in Birmingham. While growing in place, Urban Impact becomes the recognized leader in the District and the Community Economic Development sector, representing “Best in Class” for Black business support in Birmingham. 

We offer programs in alignment with our mission and commitment to empowering Black business owners.

2024 GOALS

75

participating businesses in the BE BHM program

$288,000

total loaned from IMPACT Loan Fund

12

district grants awarded

MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Ivan Holloway,
Executive Director

Carla Youngblood,
Operations Director

Roy Stoves,
Real Estate & Economic
Development Director

Courtney Craig,
Program Manager

William Hodges III,
Loan Fund Manager

Benjamin Jackson,
Small Business Coordinator

Jordan Croft,
District Coordinator

[ UII Board]

Urban Impact, Inc.

We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Birmingham, AL.
© 2022 Urban Impact, Inc. All rights reserved.
1721 4th Avenue North, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35203
Email: info@urbanimpactbirmingham.org
Phone: (205) 328-1850
Site by DawnG Media

Ivan Holloway

Executive Director

Ivan Holloway, a community economic financial services veteran, serves as the Executive Director. Since 2016, he has led the re-branding and repositioning of the agency. He holds a Master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Carla Youngblood

Operations Director

Carla Youngblood serves as the Operations Director. She provides financial and risk management leadership to the organization in addition to her leadership on the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival Committee. Carla holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from Birmingham Southern College and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Roy Stoves

Real Estate & Economic Development Director

Roy Stoves joins the Urban Impact team with 30 plus years of experience in planning, designing, and administrating construction of commercial projects, a broad set of leadership acumen that contributes to an awareness of the design industry dynamics and trends. He is an expert in managing design and administrative tasks that have valued from $200K to $110 Million. Stoves relationship development was paramount in the interpersonal skills that aligned with the duties of a Real Estate and District Development Director. Stoves also exhibits an important skillset for overseeing the phases of a project while maintaining a sustainable plan, and illustrates the exposure and ability to manage internal organizational capacity for the designated Main Street Historic 4th Avenue Business District.

Courtney Craig

Program Manager

Courtney Craig serves as the Program Manager. She joins the team after 10+ years in the Social Work/Non-profit sector specializing in wraparound efforts and relationship building to excel forward underserved communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Youth and Community Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

William Hodges III

Loan Fund Manager

William (Bill) Hodges is a servant-leader motivated to mentor entrepreneurs with more than 30 years of combined experience and industry-know-how in management, finance, insurance, and real estate. Bill also has a four-year Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  Highly motivated to achieve the best possible result for customers and stakeholders. Bill is known for being a self-starter with a keen eye on detailed tasks. Also, he is recognized for his advocacy of compliance with internal procedures, regulations and laws.

Bill has garnered a progressive background consisting of office manager, insurance producer, underwriting, loan servicing, auditing, risk management, finance, SBA lending, and real estate title insurance. Most recently, he was a Loan Credit Advisor and has relevant experience in customer service, loan origination, processing, underwriting, risk and compliance, audit, community service, and marketing. He serves as the Loan Fund Manager.

Benjamin Jackson

Small Business Coordinator

Benjamin Jackson is a Poet and aspiring Sociologist from Alabama’s Black Belt region. His time living in Selma exposed him to the spirit of the Civil Rights movement; however, it was growing up in Uniontown (Perry County) that laid the foundation for his personal ambitions and sparked his interest in the advancement of Black Alabamians. Ben earned a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Montevallo in 2019. Non-professionally, Ben enjoys podcasting, bartending, billiards, and travel.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lucien Blakenship, Esq., Chairman

The Blakenship Law Firm

Brandon M. Cleveland

Executive Director/The Daniel Payne College Legacy Village Foundation

David Dada

Director of Government Relations for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Peter J. Davis, Esq.

Davis and Scruggs Law Offices/Attorney at Law

Jason Eppenger

Alabama Market President/Citizens Trust Bank

Willie Etheridge, Jr.

Etheridge Brothers and Sister Barber and Salon/Business Owner

Rochelle Gaston-Malone, Treasurer

Business Owner/ Motivational Speaker

 

Greg Gratton, Vice Chairman

President/CEO of Green Acres Café

Danielle Hines, Esq.

Arthur Shores Law Center/Owner

Percy Hornbuckle, Jr.

Owner of Magic City Barbershop

Eric Love, Secretary

Retired Birmingham City Schools Administrator

Bonderia Lyons

Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association President

Monica McShan

Community Relations Manager at Alabama Power Company

Rev. Arthur Price, Jr.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church/Pastor

James R. Watts

Director of The Black Catholic Ministry Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham

Lucien Blakenship, Esq., Chairman

The Blakenship Law Firm

Brandon M. Cleveland

Executive Director/The Daniel Payne College Legacy Village Foundation

David Dada

Director of Government Relations for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Peter J. Davis, Esq.

Davis and Scruggs Law Offices/Attorney at Law

Jason Eppenger

Alabama Market President/Citizens Trust Bank

Willie Etheridge, Jr.

Etheridge Brothers and Sister Barber and Salon/Business Owner

Rochelle Gaston-Malone, Treasurer

Business Owner/ Motivational Speaker

Greg Gratton, Vice Chairman

President/CEO of Green Acres Café

Danielle Hines, Esq.

Arthur Shores Law Center/Owner

Percy Hornbuckle, Jr.

Owner of Magic City Barbershop

Eric Love, Secretary

Retired Birmingham City Schools Administrator

Bonderia Lyons

Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association President

Monica McShan

Community Relations Manager at Alabama Power Company

Rev. Arthur Price, Jr.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church/Pastor

James R. Watts

Director of The Black Catholic Ministry Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham

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