Green Lending Grants Available Through Inclusiv

Inclusiv has received a $1.87 billion federal award to provide grants to credit unions to offer green lending programs that serve low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded these funds to Inclusiv through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA). 

As part of Inclusiv’s CCIA program, 300-400 credit unions will receive grants from Inclusiv over the next three to four years to help grow affordable green lending programs. CUs will be able to apply to Inclusiv for CCIA grants ranging from $275,000 to $11 million to cover operating and capitalization costs for their green lending programs, as long as 100% of these funds reach LIDACs.  

Important Dates: 

• The pre-qualification form will open on November 19, 2024. It will be available to fill out and submit on a rolling basis. (The pre-qualification form is not the full grant application.)  

• The full grant application will open in early 2025. Inclusiv will accept credit union applications on a rolling basis for the first three to four years of the program.

Since 2020, Inclusiv’s free University of New Hampshire-Inclusiv Solar and Green Lending program has trained almost 200 credit unions (CUs) across the country in how to build green lending programs. CUs that have graduated from this program have applied their consumer and small business lending expertise, and responded to local demand, to offer affordable green lending programs in their communities. This program is now being expanded to support the needs of CUs interested in applying for CCIA grants. 

Inclusiv will help support credit unions every step of the way. The CCIA application has been designed so that CUs will not need to rely on external consultants. Inclusiv will provide application assistance to grant applicants at no cost to credit unions, including access to Inclusiv staff and green lending experts, enrollment in solar and green lending trainings, and technology and software platforms that support program compliance and reporting objectives. 

Here’s what credit unions can do now to start preparing: 

Send inclusiv your questions and sign up to receive updates

Apply for the free University of New Hampshire-Inclusiv virtual Solar and Green Lending Professional Training courses

Download the full Inclusiv CCIA Framework for program details

Learn More About Inclusiv’s Work on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

• Visit epa.gov to view Inclusiv’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator work plan.
• It’s not too early to start preparing your CDCU. Inclusiv and University of New Hampshire offer training courses on how to develop clean energy and other green loan products. Apply Now