Want to Start Your Own Local Investment Fund?

V.3, N.26

This week’s featured interview is with Rosalie Fransen, Director of the HELP Fund at the Mid-Hudson Energy Transition in Kingston, NY. HELP is a new community investment fund that provides low-interest loans to low-income households to improve their energy efficiency and lower their utility bills. And it’s a great example of how a local investment fund can solve a very specific local problem.

My favorite part of the interview was when I asked about the impact of imminent cutoffs of federal funding for climate initiatives. (The Trump Administration, led by climate deniers and fossil fuel special interests, is trying to kill these programs.) Her response was great:

“Honestly, in this difficult political moment, our work as a community investment fund is more important than ever. If the government is unwilling to support a just transition to clean energy, we have to lead the charge ourselves.”

That’s exactly right. Paying subscribers can read the remainder of her great interview below.

Do you have a community challenge that a local fund could help solve? Then I’ve got a great, one-time opportunity for you. Janice Shade and I are about to teach a business class at the Bard Green MBA Program on how to create community investment funds, and our students are looking for communities to work with. Over the next month, they will prepare simple business plans for a few communities. Interested? If so, please email me ASAP at shuman@igc.org.

Paying subscribers will also find our latest listings of available local investment opportunities, both companies and community investment funds. And donating subscribers will find ready absolution in the Church of Community Capital. Just click one of the buttons below!

- Michael Shuman, Publisher

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