Emerging Developers Initiative
Elevating Emerging Developers. Building Affordable Communities.
The Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is establishing an Emerging Developers Initiative to expand opportunities for growing real estate development firms while strengthening the County’s ability to preserve quality, affordable rental housing.
Through the initiative, DHCD will identify and support qualified Emerging Developers with an interest in acquiring, owning, operating, rehabilitating, and developing quality multifamily rental housing in Prince George’s County. The initiative is designed to help local, small developers build experience, strengthen organizational and financial capacity, and gain access to opportunities that can support the long-term growth of their businesses.
Who Is the Emerging Developers Initiative For?
The initiative is specifically designed for Emerging Developers in affordable housing real estate—companies that DHCD determines, based on their experience, background, organizational capacity, and business profile, are in the process of establishing or expanding their development capabilities.
The initiative aims to create a pathway for local, small, qualified developers to gain meaningful experience in multifamily housing preservation and development while contributing to the County’s affordable housing goals. By creating opportunities for emerging firms to participate in the County’s housing initiatives, DHCD seeks to broaden the pool of capable development partners and encourage the growth of targeted businesses within the real estate industry.
Request for Qualifications
DHCD is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish a roster of qualified Emerging Developers—the Emerging Developers Roster of Responders.
DHCD may designate developers selected for the roster as assignees or designees to exercise the County’s Right of First Refusal (ROFR) for eligible multifamily rental housing properties. The ROFR Program is an important tool for preserving affordable rental housing and protecting existing residents from losing affordable housing opportunities.
Learn more about DHCD's County Right of First Refusal (ROFR) Program
DHCD’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Emerging Developers Initiative will open on Monday, October 26, 2026. To introduce the Initiative and share key information about the RFQ process, DHCD will host a webinar on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The webinar will provide an overview of the Initiative, explain the application requirements, and allow potential applicants to ask questions. The deadline for submitting questions is Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
RFQ submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2026.
The RFQ application will be available on this website on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Priority Access to ROFR Opportunities
Emerging Developers selected through this RFQ will receive priority eligibility for multifamily rental housing properties with 100 or fewer units that become available through the ROFR Program.
Subject to DHCD’s discretion, Emerging Developers may also be eligible to respond on a non-priority basis to ROFR opportunities involving properties with more than 100 units.
The Emerging Developers Roster is intended to complement—not replace—the existing ROFR Roster of Responders, which was established in 2020 and updated in 2021.
If no eligible Emerging Developers or smaller developers submit bids, DHCD may allow larger developers to compete for small-scale development opportunities.
Building the Next Generation of Housing Developers
The Emerging Developers Initiative recognizes that expanding the County’s affordable housing capacity requires not only investment in properties, but also investment in the developers and businesses that will help create and preserve those properties.
Participation in the ROFR Program can provide Emerging Developers with valuable opportunities to gain practical experience, develop their organizational capacity, establish a track record in multifamily housing, and grow their businesses while contributing to the preservation of affordable rental housing throughout Prince George’s County.
Developers selected through this RFQ will remain on the Emerging Developers Roster of Responders for two years, with the potential for an extension at DHCD’s discretion.
Important Eligibility Information
Developers that are currently included on the existing ROFR Roster of Responders, because of their selection under a previous RFQ, may not be eligible to apply under this Emerging Developers RFQ. Existing developers will remain on the current ROFR Roster unless they apply under this RFQ and DHCD determines that they meet the criteria to be considered an Emerging Developer.
Through the Emerging Developers Initiative, DHCD is creating a new pathway for local, small, qualified firms to build capacity, expand their experience, and become partners in preserving and expanding quality, affordable rental housing for Prince George’s County residents.