DEVELOP
Small-Scale Developer Program
Build the Skills to Build Your City
The Develop Program is a hands-on training pathway designed for people who want to shape the future of Fort Wayne through real estate development.
Develop equips emerging developers with the knowledge, confidence, and step-by-step roadmap to build meaningful projects right in their own neighborhoods.
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Whether you are brand new to development or already working in construction, the program gives you the tools to move from idea to action — and from concept to construction.
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Our vision is simple:
Empower local developers to create attainable housing, revitalize unused lots, and build the kind of neighborhoods Fort Wayne deserves.
A Practical, Real-World Curriculum That Works
Develop breaks the development process into clear, repeatable steps.
Every session focuses on practical skills, taught by the developers and builders actively shaping infill housing in the city — including Royal Developments and partners from across the industry.
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The curriculum includes:
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Lot selection, zoning, and site due diligence
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Understanding Fort Wayne’s infill ecosystem
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Reading survey, engineering, and architectural plans
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Navigating zoning, variances, and permitting
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Construction systems, timelines, and cost modeling
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Budgeting, pro formas, and funding stacks
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Working with lenders, architects, subcontractors, and city partners
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Turning a concept into a buildable project
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The goal is not just to teach development — it’s to prepare you to actually build.
Turn Your Idea Into a Real Project
From Day 1, every participant works on a real infill project idea. You won’t leave with theories — you leave with a concrete development plan.
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You will:
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Analyze a local parcel of land
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Complete a full feasibility assessment
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Build an accurate budget and pro forma
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Map out your permitting and approval steps
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Compare building systems and cost options
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Create a realistic timeline and scope
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Identify funding sources, grants, and lender pathways
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Prepare a pitch-ready package for partners and investors
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Our instructors walk with you step-by-step so that you finish with something real: a project that can move forward in the real world.
Developing People Who Will Develop Fort Wayne
The Develop Program is built on a belief:
the people closest to the community should have the power to shape it.
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We are committed to raising up everyday residents, minority entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and small builders — the people who love this city and want to invest in it.
Participants join a growing network of local developers dedicated to:
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Strengthening neighborhoods
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Unlocking vacant and underused lots
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Creating attainable and energy-efficient housing
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Elevating design standards
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Supporting local trades and workforce pathways
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Building a more vibrant and equitable Fort Wayne
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In partnership with SEED Fort Wayne, The Workshop FW is creating a pipeline of community-rooted developers — trained, equipped, and ready to build the future of our city.