Join us on October 13th for the RPOA Membership Meeting!
Building Growth Together: Partnering with Community Economic Development Organizations
Featuring:
Charles J. Bennett
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST
Weinstein JCC
5403 Monument Ave
Richmond, VA 23226
Sisisky Family Community Room
Successful development takes more than a great property and a strong investment strategy—it takes the right partners.
In Building Growth Together, discover how community economic development organizations can become valuable partners in moving real estate projects from opportunity to execution. This session will explore how engaging economic development professionals early can help investors identify promising opportunities, navigate local processes, access financing and incentives, build strategic partnerships, and reduce development risk.
Drawing on real-world lessons and examples from Hopewell, participants will gain insight into redevelopment opportunities, mixed-use and historic rehabilitation, waterfront development, brownfields, housing investment, and projects where infrastructure or financing gaps require creative public-private collaboration.
Attendees will also learn what communities look for in strong development partners, common mistakes that can delay otherwise viable projects, and how public and private resources can work together to build an effective capital and partnership stack.
Whether you are evaluating your next investment, repositioning an existing property, or exploring development opportunities in a new community, this session provides a practical roadmap for building stronger partnerships and creating projects that deliver both financial returns and lasting community value.
About The Speaker
Charles Bennett is currently the Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Charles works to promote the City as a business location for domestic and international companies and organizations and to assist those businesses already located in Hopewell. Charles Bennett serves as a liaison, assisting locating businesses with introductions to city officials, business leaders, and to identify support services to assist new businesses, relocating or expanding existing businesses.
CERTIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION
Richmond Technical Center
- CBRE Project Management
- DCJS ES1
- VA DEQ Responsible Land Disturber
- Private Pilot SEL
- Sheet metal Layout and Design
NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Author Project Management Book 2007; On Time and Under Budget a step by step guide to the Tenant upfit process.
- CFA Institute – Historic adaptive reuse of Martha Jefferson Hospital to new global operations center. Project size 150K SF, LEED Gold in Charlottesville.
- Chemtreat – Ashland, VA 25K SF New Laboratory, office and R&D Facility.
- Assembly Norfolk- 400 Granby Street 45K SF Historic Adaptive Reuse
- 4th Circuit Federal Bankruptcy Court, New construction, Winston Salem, North Carolina
- US Department of State- Arlington, VA 125K SF building renovation.
Registration is REQUIRED by October 6th. October 7th through October 9th registrations will be considered late, and an extra fee is assessed. Registration will be closed after October 9th.
Walk-ins cannot be guaranteed seats or a meal.
Please Note:
This event will be held at:
Weinstein JCC
5403 Monument Ave
Richmond, VA 23226
Sisisky Family Community Room