Inclusiv in First-Ever Coalition Applying for EPA Grants to Address Climate Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Justice Climate Fund Well-Positioned to Benefit Community Development Credit Unions and The Communities They Serve

(Washington, DC/October 12, 2023)— Inclusiv today announced its participation in the Justice Climate Fund (JCF) application to ensure those who have been left behind and are most impacted by climate change benefit from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) competitive grant program. Under the NCIF program, which is part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund framework, the EPA will award up to $14 billion to support initiatives like the one proposed by JCF to reduce pollution by increasing investment in smaller scale renewable energy, clean transportation, and energy smart buildings, while creating jobs and growing local businesses, particularly in disadvantaged communities. JCF will leverage private capital and investments to fuel the growth of the permanent single fund for generations to come.”JCF’s community-first approach and strong coalition of mission-driven members will advance climate justice and ensure all communities enjoy the cost savings, emissions reductions and the resulting health benefits of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund,” said Cathie Mahon, President/CEO, Inclusiv. ”The Inclusiv network is ready to leverage this capital to lift up their communities. Our green lending expertise and commitment to serving low-income and disadvantaged communities will address skyrocketing energy costs and reduce air pollution in energy-cost and pollution-burdened communities. Inclusiv is proud to partner with the Justice Climate Fund and its incredible coalition of members to build an equitable and sustainable future for all.”With its communities-first approach and coalition of mission-driven lenders and climate equity leaders, the JCF is well-positioned to reliably deploy intentional and coordinated investments that will lower carbon emissions and strengthen the country’s climate resilience at the community level. We are stronger together.“There’s no trade-off between reducing emissions and lifting up communities,” said Douglass Sims, JCF interim Chief Executive Officer. “The JCF brings together the whole ecosystem of players necessary to deploy capital into clean energy, clean transportation, clean buildings, and beyond. Our coalition touches the entire country from rural, suburban, and urban areas. We can bring solutions to communities from as small as replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in a single-family home to building new multifamily affordable housing or large-scale community solar panel systems. With EPA funding, we will bring good-paying jobs, investment and climate resilience to every community.”The JCF coalition brings decades of collective experience and billions of dollars in delivering a wide-range of improved outcomes for communities of color in low-income regions across the country – from affordable housing, improved health and cleaner transportation to lower energy costs and economic growth. JCF is founded by the Community Builders of Color Coalition and led by a Board that includes the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, Inclusiv, National Bankers Association, Oweesta Corporation, Opportunity Finance Network, Partners for the Common Good, ImpactAssets, the Housing Partnership Network, and the Connecticut Green Bank. The JCF is also applying to the EPA’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) program, which will award up to $6 billion to hub non-profits. The program will deploy seed capital to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit lenders to manage environmental projects.

For media inquiries, contact:

Kyiakhalid Ruiz

Director of Communications, Inclusiv,

(212) 809-1850 x210

Justice Climate Fund

(202) 987-3770

About Inclusiv Founded in 1974, Inclusiv empowers its member credit unions to advance financial inclusion through advocacy, education, technology, and impact investment. Inclusiv is a certified CDFI intermediary instrumental in driving private and public investment in credit unions to build wealth for individuals, households, businesses, and communities formerly excluded from the financial mainstream.   About JCF  The Justice Climate Fund is a nonprofit that provides capital, leverages resources and supports zero-emission technologies in underserved communities across the country. JCF is founded by the Community Builders of Color Coalition. It is steered by a Board that includes the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, Inclusiv, National Bankers Association, Oweesta Corporation, Opportunity Finance Network, Partners for the Common Good, ImpactAssets, the Housing Partnership Network and Connecticut Green Bank. They have come together to ensure that all communities equitably benefit from the GGRF. See www.justiceclimatefund.org.