About Us

Smart, Inc. was founded in 1993 to meet the high demands of Real Estate and economic consulting services. Smart, Inc. is headquartered in New Orleans, La. and is currently doing business throughout the United States. In its capacity as a Real Estate consulting, development and operations management firm, we have directed our attention to the growing issues of technical assistance needs for HUD and PHA’s, economic redevelopment and consultation, as well as, strategic and master planning, project design/implementation, technology integration and deployment.

For most of our history as a company, we have performed multiple consecutive Technical Assistance and Training contracts for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in connection with Community Planning and Development, Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher operations nationwide. In 2006, we were awarded a 5 year IDIQ contract by HUD to provide training and technical assistance to Housing Agencies throughout the nation to enhance the performance of their low rent, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and capital improvement/Mixed-Financed/HOPE VI projects. We have served HUD continuously for 14 years on various training and technical assistance contracts to state and municipal administrators and sub-recipients of HUD funding resources. During those engagements, we worked with the Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Single Family, Multifamily, REAC, Policy Development and Research, and General Counsel Divisions of HUD and over 50 housing agencies nationwide. We have provided master planning, operations management, construction management, technology integration, property management, and resident services for state and local governments, public agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations. We have secured consistent excellent performance ratings in connection with our past and current Technical Assistance IDIQ contract with U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Smart, Inc. and its alliances have a structured and organized relationship which allows us to focus our work efforts to specific tasks in a timely and productive manner. Our long standing working alliances with NAHRO, NOAAH, Economic Research Associates (ERA), and the Goulston Storrs Law firm provides us with access to some of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our Team includes local and national specialists that have a deep appreciation, understanding and respect for the highest performance standards.

We have been involved in providing training and technical assistance services for Asset Management, Mixed-Finance, Mixed-Use, and Mixed-Income projects in collaboration with HUD officials, financial community executives, Mayors, City Councilpersons, Non-Profit community-based organizations, private sector investors, and Community Residents. Our work on previous projects has involved HOPE VI, CGP, CIAP, MROP, HOME, CDBG, CHDO, and Supportive Housing funds, as well as, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Mortgage Revenue Bonds, 108/EDI, Empowerment Zones, Historic Tax Credits, 203k Mortgages, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Rural Economic and Community Development (Farmer’s Home) and Federal Home Loan Bank funding and incentives, private loans and grants. We understand how to leverage resources and layer subsidies. During the course of our HUD/TA contracts, we have provided briefings, technical assistance and other supportive services to help solve problems and avoid impediments to efficient and effective program operations. Additionally, we provide statutory and regulatory evaluations, program reviews and technical assistance in policy and program implementation and reengineering; budget formulation; program and organizational management; information resources management; customer service; financial management; operations analysis; cost and risk analysis; and presentation development.

Smart, Inc. and its technical assistance team have extensive talent in financing analysis and sustainable financing. As a team, we have analyzed both rehabilitation and new construction projects. We have designed public and private financing structures for rental, limited equity cooperative, condominium, single-family homeownership, and commercial/retail projects.In September of 2002 Smart, Inc. was awarded a Blanket Purchase Award as a HOPE IV Expediter. This award provided grantees with expert technical assistance on the specialized disciplines involved in neighborhood revitalization efforts. The responsibilities of this project included program administration, design, general architecture, engineering services, finance and accounting services, management information systems and technology services, residential initiatives and community supportive services and resolution of Legal issues. Smart was acknowledged by HOPE IV for its efficiency, exactness and excellence in HOPE VI revitalization efforts and Mixed Finance transactional matters. This engagement is currently in progress.

Approach

Our team is composed of expert talent in the areas of affordable housing, public housing and community development. Through careful analysis we come to understand the context of each project.

Whether it’s housing, commercial revitalization, economic development, or community planning initiatives, we cultivate what has previously been unrecognized. Through conceptualization and tactical planning, we transform opportunities into reality.

Our expertise is strategic planning, financial packaging, development consulting, value engineering, housing design; construction and property management.

We have a long history of providing technical assistance in development projects that benefit low income, moderate income, and special needs households. Our approach is community sensitive and technically proficient. The result is comprehensive, visionary, and performance driven.

Capacity

Our team of strategists is augmented by state of the art and mobile desktop technology. Our systems operate 24/7. Projects are tracked with project management software that provides automatic alerts of daily appointments, tasks and deadlines. Our desktop and mobile computers are linked by wide and local area networks.