JO Companies was founded in 2009 by Johnny Opara. The Saint Paul based urban in-fill real estate development company owns, operates, and specializes in developing affordable homes to deliver high-quality affordable housing that’s sustainable, and that will be around for generations to come. JO Companies currently have over $300MM in their development pipeline year to date.

Spending over 15 years in corporate America in sales, Johnny left to become an entrepreneur and pursue his passion for developing high-quality affordable housing which was fueled by a promise he made to his late father who lived in affordable housing.

On December 23rd, 2021, JO Companies closed on new construction financing and broke ground on their inaugural project, The Hollows, a $18.4MM multi-family development that delivered sixty-two homes for individuals and families.

Wangstad Commons is JO Companies second affordable housing project and is a $23.7MM new construction development that delivered 54 homes to the City of Brooklyn Center in October 2024.

Penn Station Apartments is JO Companies third affordable housing project and is a $23.3MM new construction 42-Unit affordable housing project in Richfield, MN set to close 4th quarter of 2025.

In 2023, Johnny Opara was recognized amongst 200 Black Leaders in the Business Community in the Twin Cities in the Minneapolis Saint Paul Business Journal

In 2023, and 2024. Johnny Opara was recognized in Finance & Commerce “The Power 30” as one of the top real estate developers in Minnesota!

In 2024 Twin Cities Business recognized Johnny Opara as one of the 100 Businesspeople to know.

Wangstad Commons won the Minnesota Real Estate Journal Project Award in the Affordable Housing – Suburban category.

Wangstad Commons received the top honor by Finance & Commerce as one of the Top Minnesota Construction Projects for 2024.

Johnny serves on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Housing Partnership, Saint Paul Area Chamber and Advisory Board for the Rice and Larpenteur Alliance.

Johnny graduated from Augsburg University with a B.A. in Business Administration and majored in Management