FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2023
Contact: Gretchen Siemers
Vice President, Build Baton Rouge
gsiemers@buildbatonrouge.org
225-247-4886
Build Baton Rouge Engages Helena Cunningham as Strategic Consultant to Define Authority’s Next Chapter of Impact
Baton Rouge, LA – Build Baton Rouge, the Redevelopment Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish, is excited to announce that National Housing Consultant Services, LLC (NHCS), led by Helena Cunningham, will serve as a strategic management consultant to support the Authority’s transition to its next chapter of impact. Ms. Cunningham brings with her years of experience in community development and strategic planning as the founder and CEO of NHCS, a full-service housing development and consulting firm. NCHS specializes in acquiring and developing affordable housing, as well as providing relocation and consulting services. In her role with NHCS, Ms. Cunningham has worked with many clients in the public and private sectors, including government agencies, non-profits, and corporations.
In her new role, Cunningham will assess the organization’s current portfolio of work, determine appropriate pathways to completing key initiatives, and develop a focused vision and strategic plan for Build Baton Rouge (BBR) moving forward. Over the coming months, Cunningham will cultivate meaningful partnerships with key stakeholders and funders to execute planned real estate development projects, deliver projects promised as a part of the Plank Road Master Plan, and ensure that the agency is financially sustainable as a search for a new, permanent President and CEO is completed.
“We are thrilled to have Helena Cunningham joining our team as a strategic collaborator and consultant,” said Rodney Braxton, Chair of the Build Baton Rouge Board of Commissioners. “Her expertise in community development and real estate will be invaluable as we work to reposition Build Baton Rouge for long-term success.”
Cunningham is excited to join the team at Build Baton Rouge and looks forward to working closely with community stakeholders, strategic partners, and the agency’s staff to achieve its goals. “I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Build Baton Rouge,” she said. “I believe in BBR’s core values of accountability, equity, community collaboration, innovation, inclusion and service. I am committed to helping the Authority achieve its goals and to ensuring that the community’s vision is realized.”
About Build Baton Rouge: Build Baton Rouge is the Redevelopment Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish. Its mission is to promote sustainable growth and development in the parish through the implementation of strategic planning, community engagement, and economic development initiatives.