Our Mission

Restoring Opportunity

We believe that communities of all sizes can be dynamic and vibrant. We help communities restore their American Village to Class A standards that boost community pride, making small town America a place where people have enhanced opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Work With Us?

Restoring Hope

We can help you restore the core buildings in your village (usually downtowns) to Class A standards in a 24-36 month timeframe.

For example, a community of 20,000 residents could have 55 core buildings that make up its historic downtown. With an average building size of 10,000 square feet, that translates to a total of 550,000 square feet. Our goal would be to restore the 550,000 square foot with a market-based mixed use of commercial, retail, residential (e.g. apartments, condos, assisted living), boutique hotel rooms, not-for-profit, and entertainment venues. Each community is unique and, in partnership with the community, we will tailor the ultimate mix of uses to that community.

How We Work Together

The Process

We identify potential community partners based on our own assessment, and proactively reach out to them. In addition, we have an application process so that communities can contact us directly to learn more. Generally, the steps in our engagement will look something like the following:

Submit Application
(30 days)
Establish Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) specifying expectations for Pago USA and the community
(14 days)
Site Control
(3-6 months)
Design/Engineering
(12 months)
Construction & Program Implementation
(18-24 months)

How We Work Together

The Process

We identify potential community partners based on our own assessment, and proactively reach out to them. In addition, we have an application process so that communities can contact us directly to learn more. Generally, the steps in our engagement will look something like the following:

Submit application (30 days)
Establish memorandum of understanding (MOU) specifying expectations for Pago USA and the community (14 days)
Site Control (3-6 months)
Design/Engineering (12 months)
Construction & Program Implementation (18-24 months)

Recent Work

Restoring Pride
VIEW ALL WORK

Our Team

Leadership

The team at Pago USA has vast experience in business, finance, real estate development, economic development and government. Based in the Midwest, we are prepared to help restore the luster of your community.

Eric Doden

Eric Doden currently serves as president of Pago USA, and is a founding partner of both Domo Development LLC and Domo Ventures LLC. He has 20+ years of financial and investment experience in a variety of industries, including tier one automotive, sporting good manufacturing, steel, construction products, and real estate development. He formerly served as the president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for the state of Indiana under then Governor Mike Pence. He also served as CEO of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., the private economic development and chamber corporation for Allen County, Indiana.

A native Hoosier, Eric proudly calls Fort Wayne home with his wife Maci and their five children. He is dedicated to helping communities grow through transformational development projects that inspire residents and create opportunities for others.

Doden received a J.D. from Valparaiso School of Law and a B.A. in Business Finance from Hillsdale College.

Eric Doden

Eric Doden currently serves as president of Pago USA, and...

Steve Smith

With over 20 years of experience in urban development, construction and property management, Steve is co-founder of Pago USA and also leads the Model Group as CEO.  In this position since 2001, Steve has been responsible for setting strategy and direction for the Model Group. After founding Model Property Development in 2001, Steve pioneered the ‘Transformative Neighborhood Revitalization’ strategies that have become the hallmark of the Model Group’s development philosophy and approach. Under Steve’s leadership, the Model Group has completed over $550 million in real estate development since 2001.

Steve has also been a regional and statewide leader in the affordable housing industry in Ohio and Kentucky, pushing for a new affordable housing paradigm—one that sees affordable housing as both a high quality home for families and an economic stimulus to broader community revitalization. In fact, he personally hosted HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan in 2010 as the secretary looked for national models of successful housing development using federal NSP funds.

Steve is past chair of the Ohio Housing Council, which helps shape affordable housing development policy in Ohio, and is a frequent speaker at such conferences as the Ohio Housing Conference, the Kentucky Housing Conference, the National Historic Preservation Summit, and the National Association for State and Local Equity Funds. He chaired the Permanent Supportive Housing committee of Cincinnati’s Homeless to Homes Plan. He is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati, and a 2011 inductee into the Working in Neighborhoods Hall of Fame.

Steve received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Kentucky University. He is married with three children.

Steve Smith

With over 20 years of experience in urban development, construction...

Bobby Maly

An integral member of the Pago USA team, Bobby is also responsible for directing the Model Group’s daily operating activities. Prior to his role as COO at the Model Group, Bobby led Model Property Development. Working with key neighborhood development agencies and community partners, Bobby has taken a lead role in some of the largest recent urban revitalization projects in Greater Cincinnati, most notably in Over-the-Rhine and Walnut Hills. He has led over $550 million in real estate development and construction.

Bobby is very active in Ohio/Kentucky civic organizations, serving on the boards of Northern Kentucky Scholar House, the Ohio Housing Council and the City of Cincinnati’s Community Development Advisory Board.  He is Past Chair of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.

Bobby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and holds a Master of Public Policy  from the University of Maryland. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife and two children.

Bobby Maly

An integral member of the Pago USA team, Bobby is...

Eric Shields

In addition to Eric’s role with Pago USA, he manages Cardinal Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in economic development and government affairs. Eric has over 15 years of experience working in legislative affairs, economic development, and state government. During his time serving at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Shields shaped and implemented the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative, including managing its $126 million in funding. In addition, Shields negotiated tax incentives associated with 31 redevelopment projects across the state of Indiana that led to over $500 million in new investment.

A native of Marion, Indiana, Eric received a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University. He is married with two children and lives in Indianapolis.

Eric Shields

In addition to Eric’s role with Pago USA, he manages...

Let’s Work Together

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