Appalachian Community Capital

ACC Receives Grant from Truist Foundation to Support Diverse Small Businesses in Appalachia.   Appalachian Community Capital is thrilled to have received a $1.3million grant from Truist Foundation and is grateful for the support of its visionary President, Lynette Bell.   While small business owners need access to affordable capital, they also need grants to buy equipment, increase inventory, and hire new or keep existing employees on the payroll. ACC plans to distribute the Truist Foundation grant to its CDFI members to enable them to provide funding and technical assistance to small businesses in their service areas.   ACC will also use the Truist Foundation grant to build upon a data analytics hub project currently underway. The development and expansion of a shared data hub will allow CDFIs to identify, map, and better understand underinvested small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Appalachian region, particularly those small businesses in economically distressed areas. Read the recent announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gxBMib35 #ACC #CDFI #TruistFoundation #Appalachia

#ACCintheNews Opportunity Appalachia, a program led by ACC in collaboration with various partners, supports community real estate projects that drive economic revitalization in underinvested areas. The East Palestine Train Depot project, Ohio has been selected as one of 29 initiatives to receive support, with a $55,000 grant awarded to advance the project. This funding will play a key role in the restoration of the historic train freight depot located at the northwest corner of Taggart and N. Market Streets, helping to fuel the community's economic and cultural revival. Read more about the project here: The Review - https://lnkd.in/ggRQf8WM Village of East Palestine Ohio - https://lnkd.in/gPRzjPDx #ACC #OpportunityAppalachia #Appalachia #EastPalestine #Ohio

I love this work that we do. Some days are even more transformational than others. I had the honor of visiting the Tartt Family Farm in McDowell County, WV over the weekend. The Black Farmers Index hosted a tour to showcase the work of Jason Tartt and other Black farmers. These amazing folks are working hard to address food insecurity and to lead the way in the new economy. But they’re also focused on promoting the richness of the culture, the land, and the people who live in a region that too often gets overlooked. Thank you to all who contributed to this wonderful event! Photo credit: The Black Farmers Index #BlackFarmers #BlackFarmersIndex #Agriculture #WV #Appalachia

This National Black Business Month, ACC proudly highlights the success of Black-owned businesses in Appalachia we've had the privilege to support. These entrepreneurs are driving innovation, creating jobs, and making meaningful contributions to the Appalachian community. One standout is West Marion Inc & Alphonso Hardy Technology Collaborative, supported by ACC through Opportunity Appalachia, a program of ACC and multiple partners, that work with community real estate development projects that support economic restructuring and diversification in underinvested communities. This project is transforming a former pre-integration school into an inclusive community center that will house local non-profits, businesses, a community kitchen, health clinic, and technology center, all serving Marion’s BIPOC community. ACC proudly highlights West Marion Inc & Alphonso Hardy Technology Collaborative for its outstanding contribution during National Black Business Month! #ACC #AppalachianCommunityCapital #CDFI #NationalBlackBusinessMonth #BlackOwnedBusiness

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