Anchor institutions are vital cultural and economic engines. We harness their power to drive investment and renewal to ensure everyone has a fair and equal access to new opportunities.

Anchor institutions – universities, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations – are increasingly critical to the health and success of our cities and communities as economic engines. Anchors are now seen as vital city builders – a role that has fundamentally changed institutional business models and shifted the sphere of influence and impact beyond their core mission.

U3 Advisors works with anchor institutions to unlock impact through transformative economic and community development strategies. Using data driven approaches, we have developed programs and initiatives that have driven investment to communities. From standing up community development organizations to developing Live Local, Buy Local, and Hire Local programs, our work has benefitted anchor institutions while lifting up residents.

Services Include:

  • Anchor Scan: Institutional Demand, Supply, and Impact Analysis
  • Anchor Strategies & Anchor Districts
  • Buy Local: Inclusive Procurement Strategies
  • Campus and Community Engagement
  • Campus Edge Strategies
  • Employment and Economic Impact Analysis
  • Entity Creation & Capacity Building
  • Executive Recruitment
  • Geospatial Analytics
  • Hire Local: Anchor-Driven Job Pipelines
  • Live Local: Employer Assisted Housing Initiatives
  • Placemaking Strategies
  • Project Partner Solicitation
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Strategy, Transaction Structuring and Negotiation
  • Real Estate Market Analysis
  • Real Estate Strategy
  • Staff Extension and Capacity Building
Projects
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Memphis Medical District Collaborative
Creating Vital Connections
Creating Vital Connections
Marygrove Conservancy
Centering Education at the Heart of Community
Centering Education at the Heart of Community
University of Chicago
From Theory to Practice in Neighborhood Investment
From Theory to Practice in Neighborhood Investment