We are honored to announce that OneWest has received a transformative $1 million grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation to advance our mission of revitalizing Louisville’s West End. This investment will fuel our work to bring long-term, community-driven change to the neighborhoods we serve.
Of the total award, $750,000 is structured as a dollar-for-dollar match — meaning every contribution from individuals, businesses, and philanthropic partners will be doubled. This matching challenge offers an incredible opportunity to multiply the impact of local support.
“This grant is an affirmation of the results we’re delivering in the West End — and of the community’s leadership in driving them,” said Evon Smith, President and CEO of OneWest. “It gives us momentum and a challenge: to match this investment and keep delivering what residents want.”
Supporting Vibrant Corridors and Stronger Communities
The grant supports a wide range of projects across West Louisville, including:
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- Reactivating long-vacant properties for commercial and community use
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- Expanding contractor and workforce development
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- Growing opportunities for local small businesses
From acquisition to buildout and tenant support, these investments reflect what the community has told us it needs most — and what we’ve committed to delivering.
Building on Momentum
Since its founding by Leadership Louisville’s Bingham Fellows in 2014, OneWest has acquired over 200,000 square feet of commercial real estate and raised more than $10 million for corridor revitalization and business expansion. Through our accelerator programs — including The Plan Room and our food and beverage residency initiative — we’ve supported more than 100 local companies with training, mentorship, and access to capital.
Recent projects include the transformation of two formerly vacant row houses on South 18th Street into restaurant spaces and the launch of a food industry accelerator that brought Hip Hop Sweet Shop, Brunch & Soul, and West Lou Coffee to life in 2024.
We’ve also relocated our headquarters to 4304 West Broadway in Shawnee — a building we’re now converting into a much-needed 24-hour daycare center to support third-shift workers at UPS, Ford, hospitals, and beyond. We are currently seeking a local operator to lead this project forward.
Looking Ahead: Join the Match
OneWest’s success is only possible through the collaboration of residents, builders, business owners, and supporters who believe in the power of place-based development. With this matching grant, your support now goes twice as far.
“We’re looking for people in the neighborhood who can drive around in 20 years and say to their kids, ‘We built that,’” said Jerad Davidson, OneWest Construction Manager.
We invite you to join us in creating that future.
Donate today at https://onewest.org/campaigns/donation-form/ and help us match this remarkable gift.
Read More in the News
Catch up on media coverage about our $1 million grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation and what it means for West Louisville:
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- Louisville Business First
“Brown Foundation awards OneWest $1 million grant for West End revitalization”
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- Louisville Business First
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- WHAS11 (ABC)
“OneWest nonprofit receives $1M grant while developing 24-hour daycare”
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- WHAS11 (ABC)
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- The Lane Report
“OneWest gets $1M Brown Foundation grant for West End revitalization”
Read Article
- The Lane Report