Vetia Searcy

Vetia Searcy is the Founder and Principal of ILS Corporate Services, LLC (est. 2005) and IVS Advisors, harnessing over 15 years of experience in corporate, finance, and real estate transactions. She holds a unique industry perspective having originated and managed transactions as a Senior Executive on all three sides of New Markets Tax Credits transactions.

As a CDE Consultant, Ms. Searcy supervised the preparation of four successful NMTC award applications, closed over $267 million in NMTC transactions, managed compliance procedures, and sourced allocation for national and local CDEs.Her clients included UrbanAmerica, LLC, The Recovery School District and Stonehenge Capital Company, with Stonehenge Capital rounding out a roster of CDEs with an aggregate of over $1B in federal and state allocation and $1.8B in disaster relief and other assets locally.

As Vice President of Community Development Tax Credits at JPMorgan Chase, she was team lead, responsible for originating, underwriting, structuring and closing on over $200MM in NMTC transactions, increasing closings in her targeted coverage area by 100% from 2014 to 2017.

Currently, as a Project Consultant, she uses her unique skills and perspective to guide CEOs, CFOs and Project Managers through the NMTC closing process. She specializes in sourcing allocation for rural and underserved communities, specifically targeting allocation for projects in targeted states in the Southeast and the Midwest. Other key responsibilities have included identifying market trends, highlighting “at-risk” transactions and facilitating necessary modifications for existing transactions during the closing process.

During New York State on PAUSE, she volunteered her expertise to advise underbanked, minority independent contractors and small businesses, connecting them with community-based banks that could assist with PPP loans.

Ms. Searcy is a graduate of Columbia College, Columbia University. She is an active participant in NMTC panel presentations and introductory sessions across the United States. Notable awards include the Novogradac Non-Metro QLICI of the Year Award in 2017, Non-Metro QLICI of the Year - Honerable Mention, also in 2017, and Operating Business QLICI of the Year - Honerable Mention in 2024.