Behind the grand designs to redevelop historic urban properties are financing experts like Julian Dash who help bring the projects to life.
The Providence native led the redevelopment of The Plant, a former mill in the city’s Olneyville neighborhood. The $20 million, mixed-use project received funding from more than 10 different sources. In 2007, the Valley Street project was recognized for adaptive reuse/neighborhood revitalization by the Providence Preservation Society.
Dash’s understanding of mixed-source financing is a critical asset in his current role as director of the Renewable Energy Fund for the R.I. Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
The 31-year-old Dash leverages the $4 million fund to help provide financing for a range of renewable energy projects across the state. He’s also responsible for developing long-range plans to advance the state’s renewable energy goals and working with various stakeholders in the process.
Dash’s passion for his work is a driving force, in good times and bad.
“It is what makes the good times great, but is also what drives me [to] overcome the challenging times,” he wrote in his 40 Under Forty application.
Dash earned an undergraduate degree in international finance at Morgan State University and an MBA from Babson College.
He joined the EDC in December 2008. Before that he was executive director of Puente, a nonprofit real estate development firm involved with The Plant project.
In 2005, he founded Dash Development, a consulting firm he’s still involved with that specializes in urban renewable energy.
Dash has worked on development projects around the country, including large-scale affordable housing in Washington, D.C., and a 150-townhouse project in Baltimore. ••••••
Great Work! We are proud of you.