JEFFERSON EDUCATION CENTER Case Study (April 2026)

$5,600,000 | April 2026 | Louisville

Partnered Right®

HJ Sims partnered with Louisville Broadway Project, LLC, a student housing developer focused on purpose-built housing near higher education campuses, to support the acquisition of the Jefferson Education Center (JEC) located at 200 W. Broadway in downtown Louisville. The property is adjacent to the Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC) campus and is locally known for housing several JCTC administrative departments. The client identified the site as a strategic opportunity to address a growing
need for affordable, conveniently located student housing in downtown Louisville. The immediate financing need was to acquire the existing building while preserving
flexibility for future redevelopment. The acquisition represented the first phase of a broader development strategy that includes the construction of approximately 430 new student housing beds. HJ Sims’ experience in education-related real estate and student housing finance positioned the firm as a natural partner for the transaction.

Structured Right®

HJ Sims structured a private loan of approximately $5.6 million to finance the acquisition of the Jefferson Education Center. The financing structure was intentionally designed to align with the phased nature of the overall project, separating the near term acquisition from the future construction financing. This approach allowed the client to secure the property while maintaining flexibility for subsequent capital markets execution. The structure anticipates a later issuance of approximately $50 million privatized tax-exempt student housing bonds to finance the student housing improvements. By sequencing the financings, the plan of finance reduced execution risk and allowed the client to advance the project in a measured manner. The structure also accommodated the client’s intention to partner with the JCTC Foundation during the development phase. The financing will include a program of student support that will result in improved student retention, higher graduation rates, and wider career opportunities for students after they graduate. Overall, the financing strategy balanced immediate capital needs with long-term project goals.

Executed Right®

HJ Sims served as Placement Agent and successfully executed the private loan transaction on behalf of Louisville Broadway Project, LLC. The firm coordinated the financing process to support a timely closing, enabling the client to acquire a strategically located asset in downtown Louisville. Execution required careful coordination to align the acquisition timeline with the client’s broader development and partnership objectives. Throughout the process, HJ Sims provided hands-on guidance and capital markets expertise. The transaction was structured to support the client’s planned collaboration with the JCTC Foundation and future bond financing. The successful execution positioned the project to move seamlessly into its next phase. This transaction highlights HJ Sims’ ability to deliver customized solutions for complex education-adjacent real estate projects.

Financed Right®

The financing enabled the client to secure a highly strategic site adjacent to the JCTC campus and advance a transformative student housing development. The transaction established a clear path from acquisition through long-term development financing. As a result, the project is positioned to deliver meaningful benefits
to students and the surrounding academic community.

For more information on how this project was Financed Right® by HJ Sims, please contact:

Robert Nickell

214.681.0952

[email protected]

 

Tom Pitcher

435.529.8577

[email protected]

 

Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients. Past performance is no guarantee of future results

Academics of Math and Science Case Study (October 2025)

$18,405,000 | October 2025 | Avondale & Mesa, AZ

“We knew that long-term rates made expansion to highneed Arizona communities challenging. But our program is designed for this mission and it is our calling to serve students in need. In partnership with Sims, we were able to offer investors an opportunity to challenge the customary structure with an innovative offering, and also to equip us to make a very positive impact in the communities we serve. The result was a win for students, a win for investors, and a win for AMS.”

-Katie Determan, CFO of AMS Tweet

Partnered Right®

Academies of Math & Science (“AMS”) is a school network that operates 10 charter schools; 8 are located in metro-Phoenix and 2 are located in
Tucson. Together, the campuses serve 8,646 students from grades K-8. Sims collaborated closely with school management aligning on goals
to build out AMS Mesa, while optimizing financing for its existing operations.

Structured Right®

The $18.405 million financing proceeds were designed to support the construction of the new AMS Mesa campus and the expansion of the
existing Avondale campus. This structure featured a unique approach -a 10 year mandatory tender, the first of its kind in the charter school sector,
which Sims believes lowered the yield by ~100bps. The bonds also included capitalized interest to support the school through the initial enrollment ramp-up. 

Executed Right®

Despite a challenging market backdrop during pricing, HJ Sims successfully brought the transaction to the market. The offering received indications of interest from 15 institutional investors, 6 of which were new investors to AMS, and bonds were ultimately allotted across all 15 of them – a massive success for the school.

Financed Right®

In August 2025, HJ Sims successfully placed $18.405 million in unrated, tax-exempt revenue bonds with institutional investors. The transaction
enables AMS to expand capacity and continue serving a growing student population across the metro-Phoenix and Tucson area. 

Akshai Patel

602.476.4934

For more information, please contact:

Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients. Past performance is no guarantee of future results