Appalachian Community Capital

We are thrilled to share that Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) has been awarded a monumental $500 million from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund - Clean Communities Investment Accelerator! This funding will launch the Green Bank for Rural America, a groundbreaking initiative that will drive $1.6 billion into 2,000 new energy projects, create 13,000 good jobs, and reduce up to 850,000 tons of pollution annually. 🍃 Congratulations to the coalition of nearly 50 lenders, community organizations, and educational institutions that contributed to this effort, including Pathway's own Clint Gwin, ACC Board Chair. Clint described this as a "gamechanger for historically under-invested communities and the community development finance field that supports underserved areas." 💡 Read more: https://ow.ly/uN3B50T2e5M

The historic Freight Depot has been pledged assistance for redevelopment thanks to Opportunity Appalachia. This program is committed to fostering job growth, business support, and investment in Central Appalachia. Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/gBg650T28Jq Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved in this partnership! #community #economicdevelopment #eastpalestine #appalachia

ICYMI: Thank you Virginia Business for the feature!

We’re excited to share that CRF recently became a member of the Appalachian Community Capital network. ACC is committed to providing reliable and sufficient capital for all its members, leading to a growing economy, increased entrepreneurship, higher quality jobs, and increased local wealth in the Appalachian region.   ACC is doing incredible work under the leadership of its President and CEO Donna Gambrell, and we could not be more grateful for the opportunity to join this network. We look forward to working with ACC and the other member organizations to support rural small business in Appalachia.  

The GGRF: Who are the Award Recipients? 📥 The EPA has taken a significant step forward in the fight against climate change by granting selectees their awarded amounts for the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) and the Clean Communities Investment Act (CCIA). Make sure you are following each awardee on LinkedIn to get the latest news and updates! Let’s meet the awardees! 🌎 NCIA: The NCIA is designed to mobilize private capital for clean energy projects across the country, driving large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Congratulations to Climate United, Coalition for Green Capital, and Power Forward Communities for being selected as the recipients of this crucial funding! These organizations have a proven track record in clean energy financing and will play a huge role in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. 🏘 CCIA: The CCIA focuses on empowering community lenders, especially CDFIs, to deliver clean energy solutions in low-income and underserved communities. Shoutout to the CCIA awardees Opportunity Finance Network, Inclusiv, Justice Climate Fund, Appalachian Community Capital, and Native CDFI Network, Inc. for their commitment to equity and sustainable community development. These recipients will enhance the capacity of local lenders to bring climate solutions to communities that need them most. 🤝 Stay Updated Whether you’re interested in partnership opportunities, or simply want to stay informed about how these programs will unfold, FUND recommends keeping a close eye on these organizations so you can always be informed of the latest updates as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund comes to life! Here at FUND, we will continue to stay on top of how the GGRF will be implemented and bring you all the key updates!

As we celebrate the incredible leadership of Grace Covington Fricks, who recently announced her retirement after 24 years of guiding ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, we are reminded of her profound words: "...there’s this internal drive that people have to express their purpose. If you’ve got this drive to create, not to work for someone else, you deserve the economic and financial opportunity to do that." Grace has been a beacon of inspiration, reminding us that the drive to create must be matched with the necessary resources and opportunities needed to succeed. At Appalachian Community Capital, we proudly support ACE and other member organizations by providing the capital that empowers small business owners and entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality. Together, we are ensuring that every creator has the opportunity to build, grow, and shape their future. Congratulations, Grace, on your remarkable journey and the lasting impact you've made! We also want to extend our celebration to Martina Edwards, who will step into the role of President and CEO of ACE. #ACC #AppalachianCommunityCapital #ACE #AccesstoCapitalforEntrepreneurs #GraceFricks

So happy for Martina Edwards and Grace Fricks. Congratulations to them both as they begin new and exhilarating chapters in their lives.

ACC is one of the recipients of the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator award, which comes under EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. We are grateful to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for this recognition. The ACC team, our members, and our regional and national partners want to ensure that no communities are left behind and that low-income, hard-hit communities in Appalachia and other parts of this country benefit from efforts that will result in healthy communities for generations to come. ACC congratulates all the recipients of the NCIF, CCIA, and Solar for All awards.   Donna Gambrell ACC President and CEO   Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/ePdDAkum

Congrats to the #GreenBankforRuralAmerica team! An informational webinar hosted by ACC President and CEO Donna Gambrell will be held at 1pm EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. To register: bit.ly/greenbank-webinar

In October 2023, ACC member Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation (KHIC) was awarded a grant from Appalachian Community Capital to further support the SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) Small Farm Loan Fund.
 KHIC utilizes this grant, along with a series of four previous grants from GOAP funded by tobacco settlement money, to offer low-cost loans to farmers and growers in Kentucky's 54-county Appalachian region. These loans come with a fixed interest rate of 1% for a five-year term. Borrowers pay interest only in the first year, with the loan being amortized over the next four years. There are no fees, and collateral is required. The funds can be used for a wide range of agriculture-related purposes.

The focus of the award is to increase emphasis on providing resources to woman-owned and minority-owned farmers through dedicated technical assistance and financing to support their ventures. The ACC grant also allowed Kentucky Highlands to provide grants to local non-profit organizations. Denise Weiss-Salinas is a new farmer who began raising sheep a few years ago upon her retirement as an occupational therapist. She currently keeps between 3-5 hair sheep which she sells for meat. Thanks to the SOAR loan, Ms. Weiss-Salinas will complete installing high tensile perimeter fencing around a portion of her 22-acre farm and purchase rotational fencing to allow pastures to heal.
 Learn more about this business and other success stories here: https://lnkd.in/eeeRWCvT

#SOARSmallFarmLoan #ACC #KHIC #Kentucky #SmallBusiness #WomenOwnedBusiness