Starting his career in real estate in 1970, Eric Friedman has been focused on building a sustainable community. “I learned the business with my uncle and his partners, rehabbing and building new houses” says Friedman, President of Friedman Group Ltd., Commercial Realtors.

In 1995 Friedman formed Friedman Group Ltd., Commercial Realtors. “I continued to focus on building community.”

The Missouri Historic Tax Credit is one example, with many empty buildings downtown, in neighborhoods and main streets across Missouri. “Our goal was to build a place our young people, the creative class, wanted to live and work,” says Friedman. “Jerry Schlichter asked me to help with REALTORS, and we formed The Missouri Coalition for Historic Preservation and Economic Development and passed the Historic Tax Credit in one year. The Wall Street Journal called it ‘a model for the nation’.”

The program helped renovate 100 buildings and bring 5,000 new residents. It created at least 43,000 jobs, $670 million in taxes and $2.9 billion in private investment. Friedman continues through Housing and Community Solutions, Inc. a not for profit and helped to found; St. Louis Transit Alliance that helped to pass the Metro Tax,  PACE legislation, Central Reform Congregation, and Lift For Life Academy.