ZaRah

Element has been deeply involved in the development stages of the ZaRah project in North Minneapolis, collaborating closely with the Black Women's Wealth Alliance (BWWA) and its founder Kenya McKnight-Ahad. The ZaRah, located at 1200 West Broadway in North Minneapolis, is a business incubator and destination place driven by the needs of Black women business owners within the Black Women's Wealth Alliance (BWWA) network. Acquired in June 2021, the center plans to host twenty businesses, including service providers, food trucks, a restaurant, all focused on health and wellness while creating a sustainable and vibrant community asset.

By conducting a comprehensive feasibility analysis, evaluating architectural scenarios, and providing detailed financial assessments, Element ultimately recommended an $8 million project with a 5,000 square foot addition. Element's role extended to predevelopment activities, developing financial models, and structuring financing proposals, and managing the process of financial restructuring, which has included coordinating invoices and draws, and leading the selection and onboarding of contractors. Element has also been instrumental in project scheduling, proforma development, and preparing various application materials, guiding the project through its critical pre-development phases to transform the site into the vision of ZaRah.

Through strategic consulting and project management, including securing critical funding, optimizing project planning, and overseeing architectural and construction processes, Element continues to support BWWA's vision of fostering economic empowerment and community development among Black Women entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis.