Greenville Housing Fund CEO Bryan Brown is stepping down at the end of the year to take a leadership role with NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit dedicated to affordable housing and economic opportunity.
Brown has led the Greenville Housing Fund since 2019 and has been one of the leading advocates in transforming how Greenville tackles housing affordability. His last day will be Dec. 31.
“This marks the end of an historic era for the housing fund,” said Jimmy Kimbell, board chairman for the agency, in a statement announcing Brown’s departure. “Bryan has done a tremendous job of taking us from the ground up, and he leaves us in a place where we can continue to succeed.”
Kimbell said an interim CEO will be named to succeed Brown and the agency will conduct a national search for a new leader. Board leadership will be working directly with staff to help in the transition until new leadership is in place.
Brown is credited with embracing an entrepreneurial social enterprise model that leveraged local funding and public-private partnerships to grow the city’s affordable housing options. Through the use of the Low Income Tax Credit program in partnership with Greenville Housing Authority, the organization under Brown’s leadership helped create 500 new affordable apartment homes and deployed a social enterprise fund, among other accomplishments. Brown also played an integral role in helping the city develop effective public policy supporting housing affordability.
Earlier this year, Greenville Housing Fund became a NeighborWorks affiliate after a multi-year effort. Brown said while it was not his goal to work for NeighborWorks, it was an opportunity that he could not pass once it was offered.
“I have enjoyed my time leading the Greenville Housing Fund, but going to NeighborWorks America to lead its national Initiatives is an opportunity to do so much more to support affordable housing, attainable homeownership, and innovations in community development,” Brown said. “We accomplished a lot in the past few years, and I am sure GHF will continue to excel.”
