Nico Echo Park, Benefit Corp. is a public, non-traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). A REIT is a type of company that owns a portfolio of income-producing properties in which people can become shareholders. Nico is a Neighborhood REIT, which means all properties owned are located in a specific neighborhood—in this case, in and around the Echo Park neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles. The Neighborhood REIT uses investments from local shareholders and other investors to invest in income-producing properties in the neighborhood. These properties are professionally managed by Nico for cash flow and long-term appreciation so that investors benefit as the value of the buildings increases over time.