Patrick Ezzell
Board Chair & CEO
Patrick Ezzell is the Founder of Urban Partnerships Community Development Corporation (UP CDC), and is the Chairman of the Board.
During the past decade, Patrick was previously engaged in economic development in the East End area of Houston, a majority Hispanic low-income community, as an independent consultant for the East End District. As part of that effort in 2017, he collaborated with community and civic leaders in the launch of UP CDC, a non-profit with a mission to bring capital investment and jobs to low- and moderate-income neighborhoods through commercial, retail, and industrial development.
In 2019, UP CDC acquired an existing 300,000 SF industrial building on 21.9 acres of land and is now scheduled to undergo major renovation. The building will provide lease space for manufacturing startups and small manufacturers in growth modes. The project is expected to create over 470 new jobs for the neighborhood and have an annual economic impact of well over $100 million. As an economic developer working on behalf of the East End District, Patrick acquired and managed over $20,000,000 in federal grants, including full federal project administration, project management, and construction management services.
Under his consulting guidance, the District’s projects have included the redevelopment of the Navigation Esplanade in front of the original Ninfa’s that has been constructed as a public venue for festivals and markets, the redevelopment of Guadalupe Plaza Park, and a public/private partnership to build a 250 space park-n-ride garage on Houston’s light rail. Previous to working in economic development, Patrick worked for 25 years in the real estate industry with experience in construction, development, and management of over $200 million in multifamily, commercial, and retail real estate projects, as well as asset management of a $400 million real estate portfolio.
Mr. Ezzell has an MBA in Economic Development from the University of Houston College Systems, and serves as Board Chair for UP Community Impact Fund.