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Greenbelt, MD (March 16, 2021) — Washington Business Journal selected Brandon Bellamy, CEO of The Velocity Companies, to receive the 2021 Diversity in Business Award.
Formerly known as the Minority Business Leader Awards, The Diversity in Business Awards celebrates diversity and inclusion in the workforce and recognizes the Washington region’s top business leaders of color in the Greater Washington area and their demonstrated success over the past 12 to 18 months.
This year’s honorees are being highlighted for their professional accomplishments, community leadership and philanthropy, as well as awards and milestones. These individuals are creating jobs, building healthy spaces, and leading the way toward growth and prosperity for the community.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this year’s Diversity in Business Awards,” said Velocity Companies CEO, Brandon Bellamy. “Thank you to The Washington Business Journal for recognizing the creativity and success of The Velocity Companies team. I understand the challenges of being an entrepreneur, like payroll, cash flow, and navigating COVID. I also understand the burdens we face as minority entrepreneurs, like access to capital. I face these obstacles every day. I want to encourage you to keep pushing, keep moving forward, and do not quit! I also want to challenge all of us to strive to be significant, not just successful.”
During Bellamy’s tenure at The Velocity Companies, the firm has developed and consulted on projects located in the Mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas with an aggregate asset value exceeding $500 million. Under his leadership, The Velocity Companies has built a team of professionals that specialize in assisting clients in real estate investment and property development activities by analyzing real estate development and conceiving investment opportunities.
Over the past 18 months, Mr. Bellamy became the only African American majority owner of a professional baseball team in the country, the Gastonia Honey Hunters. Driven by their commitment to providing a significant impact in under-invested communities and bolding pursing projects that champion the vitality of local communities, the Velocity team is the premier developer for several transformative projects throughout Prince George’s County.
The winners were honored March 18 at a live virtual awards celebration that featured live interviews with each honoree.
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Greenbelt, MD (December 16, 2020) — The Velocity Companies was named Minority Business of the Year by FSC First (FSC), the premier lending partner for businesses in the region, during FSC’s 2020 Annual Meeting.
Under the theme of “Progress on Purpose”, FSC’s virtual Annual Meeting highlighted and celebrated entities making a positive change in our community. This year has been all about Progressing on Purpose—learning to pivot in uncertain times and ensuring that you and your business are operating in the best shape possible.
The Minority Business of the Year category recognizes individuals and companies for their innovation, vision, and leadership that help transform ideas into reality.
“On behalf of the Velocity Companies team, I am honored to accept FSC First’s Minority Business Enterprise of the Year Award,” said Brandon Bellamy, CEO, The Velocity Companies. “This year has challenged all of us to pivot and be resilient, and with great partners like FSC First, Velocity has been able to make ‘Progress on Purpose’. I am grateful that even through these uncertain times, we have been able to continue fulfilling our mission of providing a significant impact in under-invested communities through projects that champion the health and vitality of local economies through meaningful development.”
Under Bellamy’s leadership, The Velocity Companies has developed and consulted on projects located in the Mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas with an aggregate asset value exceeding $500 million. The Velocity Companies has built a team of professionals that specialize in assisting clients in real estate investment and property development activities by analyzing real estate development and conceiving profitable investment opportunities. Driven by their commitment to creating a significant and lasting impact in under-invested communities, the Velocity team boldly pursues projects that champion the health and vitality of local economies through meaningful development.
“As chief executive officer of The Velocity Companies, Brandon Bellamy brings over 30 years of experience in real estate development, investment and private fund management,” said Shelly Gross-Wade, President & CEO, FSC First. “This minority owned firm is the developer for several transformative projects throughout Prince George’s County. Mr. Bellamy consistently strives to create new investment & opportunities in Prince George’s County with a focus on reimagining untapped markets while beating the odds & changing mindsets due to the lack of higher tier investors in inner Beltway communities.”
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The Velocity Companies Partners with Giant Food to Create Healthier Communities in Southern Prince George’s County
FORT WASHINGTON, MD (November 12, 2020) – After participating in a highly competitive bidding process,Velocity Companies (Velocity) has announced the acquisition and revitalization of Livingston Square Shopping Center. To create healthier communities and eliminate food deserts, Giant Food will serve as the anchor of this shopping center project in its newly renovated 43,000 SF site nestled along Indian Head Highway.
Represented by KLNB, a leading provider of commercial real estate services throughout the mid-Atlantic region,Velocity purchased Livingston Square Shopping Center, a 10.99-acre site, from Retail Business Services (RBS), Giant Food’s real estate arm. Located at 9580 Livingston Road, in Fort Washington, MD, this reconfiguration project, once completed, will bring more than 73,000 SF of new construction to the center.
“As a Prince George’s County-based business, we are thrilled to expand our impact in our very own backyard,” said Brandon Bellamy, CEO, The Velocity Companies. “In addition to new retail and services, this project will bring a new and improved Giant to a community with limited grocery store options. Driven by our commitment to providing a significant impact in under-invested communities, Velocity Companies will continue to boldly pursue projects, such as Livingston Square, that champion the health and vitality of local economies.”
Upon completion, the redeveloped Giant Food will house a variety of new and expanded selections and services, including more organic produce, a new and larger Natural Food department, and a full-service pharmacy with Giant’s new Pick-Point system, all aimed to encourage the continued health and wellbeing of the community. For added convenience, the site will also offer Giant Pickup online ordering services. Additionally, the store will feature full-service floral, deli, prepared foods, bakery, seafood, and meat departments, with healthy options for the whole family. Giant Food is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2021.
“Giant Food opened its original store in Livingston Square on November 17, 1976, and we are excited to partner with Velocity Companies to build an incredible new store for this amazing community,” said Ira Kress, President of Giant Food. “Our brand-new store with state-of-the-art amenities, great food, amazing service, and an incredible customer experience reconfirms our commitment to the communities we are very privileged to serve. With over 70 years of serving Prince George’s County, we are eager to rebuild this store and thrilled to continue to support the Livingston Square community.”
To build upon an on-going leasing partnership with Velocity, KLNB will serve as the Exclusive Leasing Agent for Livingston Square. For retail leasing opportunities, contact Phil Ruxton, pruxton@klnb.com, 202-420-7777 or Alex Lyles, alyles@velocity-llc.com, 301-910-9266.
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About Velocity Companies:
The Velocity Companies is an impact-driven company that specializes in real estate investment and property development. The Velocity team brings extensive experience and a proven track record of success in commercial real estate development, community development, investment, finance, and project management. The Velocity Companies has developed and consulted on projects located in the Mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas with an aggregate asset value exceeding $500 million. For more information, visit www.thevelocitycompanies.com.
About Giant Food:
Giant Food is headquartered in Landover, Md. and operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 164 stores are 153 full-service pharmacies, 82 full-service PNC Banks and 25 Starbucks locations. With flexible options and convenient solutions, Giant fits all the ways today’s busy consumers want to shop – whether in store, via Giant Pickup or home delivery from Giant Delivers which combined serves 157 store locations. For more information on Giant, visit www.giantfood.com.
About KLNB:
KLNB is a leading provider of commercial real estate services throughout the mid-Atlantic region. An independently owned and operated commercial brokerage and real estate services firm, KLNB provides a variety of services including tenant and landlord representation, leasing, consulting, investment sales, property management, research, marketing, branding and financing services. More than 85 full-time brokerage professionals work across KLNB’s four offices strategically located throughout the Washington, D.C. / Baltimore region. KLNB is affiliated with NAI Global – the single largest, most powerful global network of owner-operated commercial real estate brokerage firms in the world. http://klnb.com
Website: www.thevelocitycompanies.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevelocitycompanies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheVelocityComp
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Media Contact:
Veronica Jeon
VSJ, Inc.
202-803-330