HealthSpark Foundation’s $750,000 Catalytic Investment Expands Access to Capital for Small-Scale Housing Developers in Montgomery County
New partnership with Jumpstart Philly advances HealthSpark’s commitment to housing justice and community-driven solutions
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — HealthSpark Foundation is investing $750,000 in a new lending partnership with Jumpstart Philly to expand access to capital for small-scale real estate developers for projects in Montgomery County.
The investment will establish a new source of flexible financing through Jumpstart MontCo, complementing Jumpstart's existing training and mentorship programs in Norristown and Pottstown. HealthSpark's $750,000 commitment will be matched by Jumpstart Philly through additional private investment, creating an initial $1.5 million lending pool for the county.
"Supporting Jumpstart MontCo is about more than making capital available," said Emma Hertz, HealthSpark's President and CEO. "It's an investment in the people who see possibilities in their own neighborhoods and are working to bring those possibilities to life. Small-scale developers can contribute to the creation and preservation of housing while helping communities retain more of the benefits of neighborhood investment."
“Small community developers are most responsible for neighborhood revitalization. But they need capital to continue and expand their work,” said Ken Weinstein, President and Founder of Jumpstart Philly. “Jumpstart's partnership with HealthSpark Foundation will offer loans where they are needed most. Jumpstart borrowers are most attuned to the Montgomery County community's needs and can produce the desired results.”
Housing is a critical component of health equity: where people can live affects where they work, raise families and build wealth, and that opportunity isn't distributed equally -- housing insecurity and homelessness in Montgomery County disproportionately affect people of color. Addressing that requires more than a single intervention: it takes capital, relationships, policy change and the participation of the people closest to their own communities in shaping solutions. Through its grantmaking, partnerships and convenings, HealthSpark works to bring together residents, community organizations, government and philanthropy to do exactly that. We all do better when everyone has a place to call home.
This partnership is one piece of that ecosystem, and a new avenue for developers who want to invest in, improve, and shape Montgomery County communities.
About HealthSpark Foundation
HealthSpark Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Through its grantmaking, convening, and leadership, HealthSpark backs these essential efforts by prioritizing initiatives that uplift transformative leaders, foster thriving communities, and expand opportunities and justice for all. Guided by its strategic goals – Community Power, Leadership, and Solutions – the foundation pursues its mission to achieve healthy, equitable, and hopeful communities throughout Montgomery County.