Entrepreneur. Developer.Community Leader.
Dr. Gina Merritt is an award-winning real estate developer and founder of NREUV & Project Community Capital — transforming underserved communities through housing, economic empowerment, and social capital.
Mary's House for Older Adults
Opens Its Doors
The nation's first affordable communal living space for LGBTQ+/SGL seniors has opened in Washington, D.C. — Dr. Merritt's first project as both lead developer and owner, and a model she plans to replicate nationwide.
View Projects9410 Hough Is Open
& Now Leasing
The 116-unit redevelopment in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood — featuring a community amenity center with workforce development, education, training, and healthcare — is now welcoming residents.
Learn More at NREUV
Building More Than Buildings
NREUV
An award-winning community development organization championing innovation, equity, and a comprehensive approach to real estate development in low-income communities. Over $2B in managed projects.
Visit WebsiteProject Community Capital®
An economic empowerment platform that leverages social capital to connect people in underserved communities with jobs and contracts — bridging the gap between communities and opportunities.
Visit WebsiteNREUV Mechanical
A contracting and mechanical company specializing in HVAC systems for new and existing construction. Co-founded by Dr. Merritt and Michael Karnes, bringing high-value jobs to underserved communities.
Visit WebsiteWFL Collective™
The hub of economic empowerment. WFL's collective impact model eliminates silos and builds collaboration among partners to help people get to work.
Visit WebsiteHousing Was Only the First Step
Dr. Merritt grew up in affordable housing in the Bronx — a community she loved, but one where access to opportunity was scarce. She lost her mother at 13. Her father struggled with substance abuse. These experiences didn't define her limits — they defined her mission.
After building her career on Wall Street and in commercial real estate, she realized that developing housing alone wasn't enough. Residents couldn't escape affordable housing to achieve homeownership, stable employment, and prosperity without support.
Through PCC and the WFL Collective, Dr. Merritt has built a collective impact model that connects people in low-income communities directly to jobs, contracts, training, and entrepreneurship.
When you really invest yourself and your time in low-income communities, you will discover what I have known for a very long time: people from low-income communities are quite capable of working for an extended period of time. These folks aren't lazy or unreliable, they just lack access to opportunity.
Engage Dr. Merritt for a Speaking Engagement
Keynotes, panels, and workshops on affordable housing, economic empowerment, diversity in CRE, and building community through development.
View Speaking TopicsGroundUp
Learn to develop affordable housing from Dr. Merritt's 28+ years of experience. Mini-courses, deal tools, and advisory access.
Explore GroundUpIn The News
Media features, interviews, and coverage of Dr. Merritt's work in affordable housing, economic empowerment, and community development.
See All CoverageContact Dr. Merritt
For speaking inquiries, development advisory, partnerships, or to just connect — reach out directly.
ContactI, too, have been deprived of opportunity because of my skin or my gender or both. But after 20+ years in this industry, I have more resources and connections than these individuals, and I believe it is my job to uplift them.