01/10/2025
Gina Merritt, an African American woman affordable housing developer from Washington, DC, is shaking up the real estate industry while already having raised $310 million since 2021. Her firm, NREUV, leads innovative projects across the U.S., creating 1,200 housing units with amenities and a focus on community needs.
Merritt, a former single mother who grew up in affordable housing in the Bronx, struggled early in her career to secure funding for her projects. For 20 years, she built projects for white-run companies until a breakthrough came after George Floydās murder in 2020. Since then, NREUV has raised $310M, including $124M in 2024 alone, with plans to secure $114M more for 2025.
Currently, Merrittās firm has 17 buildings in the works across Ohio, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., with 1,200 affordable housing units in progress. These projects focus on community needs, with added amenities like workforce development and healthcare. In 2023, NREUV was ranked among Americaās fastest-growing private companies, with a 659% revenue growth.