“Built From the Ground Up – A Mission Rooted in Service”

      I, Gregory LeBron Bates, respectfully, Will stand in the gap for our veterans and our community , but not as a man of wealth or privilege, but as a man of unwavering purpose. I come before you not with large capital reserves, but with the truth that many of America’s most enduring legacies began with little more than grit, heart, and a vision to serve.

I am a former firefighter for the City of East Cleveland, a certified chef, and a master welder—each role has shaped my hands, heart, and discipline. I grew up in East Cleveland under the strong influence of my grandfather, Edward Reedy, a Korean War veteran who taught me that the greatest service one can offer is to protect and uplift others. This seed of duty is what gave birth to the American Valor Association.

I am fully transparent in acknowledging that I do not have a deep financial background or high credit. But that is exactly why this project matters. I represent the very communities we seek to serve—working class, overlooked, and too often left behind. Veterans who have given their all, only to return to broken systems. My credit, while not pristine, is not a reflection of irresponsibility, but of enduring hardship while investing every resource I could spare into this mission. I’ve built this organization with my wife, my co-founders, and my sweat equity. We’ve created blueprints, a board, a business plan, and a pathway to impact—before a single dollar was ever received.

I’m not just building homes—I’m building hope. The SBA’s support would allow us to begin Phase 1 of our veteran housing project, giving shelter, healthcare access, food, clothing, and emotional healing to the very heroes who defended our freedom. I don’t offer guarantees from a bank account—but I do offer a guarantee from my character, my consistency, and my complete commitment to honoring the sacrifice of our veterans.

This is more than business. This is a calling.