Today, August 16, on the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the allocation of $27 billion in grants through three competitions as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. EPA’s historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has been made possible by President Biden and Vice President Harris’ Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest climate investment in history.
Click here for the full EPA Press Release.
Image Courtesy of the White House. Pictured Left to Right:
Doug Simms – Justice Climate Fund; Cathie Mahon – Inclusiv; Tim Mayopoulos – Power Forward Communities, Eli Hopson – Coalition for Green Capital, Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris; Michael Regan – Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Harold Pettigrew – Opportunity Finance Network, Donna Gambrell – Appalachian Community Capital, Beth Bafford – Climate United Fund, Pete Upton – Native CDFI Network
With immense gratitude, I’m proud to share that the Native CDFI Network (NCN) has been awarded $400 million from the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), the largest source of funding ever directed toward Native CDFIs. This marks a transformative moment for Native communities, empowering NCN to lead clean energy initiatives and advance sustainability across Indian Country.
As the sole Native-focused recipient of the CCIA, NCN will uplift low-income and underserved communities by enabling Native CDFIs to spearhead clean energy projects that promote environmental justice and strengthen our ancestral lands. United in purpose, Native CDFIs and lenders seized this historic opportunity. With this award, NCN will support 63 community lenders across Indian Country, funding renewable energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and sustainability initiatives that will create jobs and improve quality of life for Native peoples.
NCN dedicated months to developing a national plan designed to maximize the environmental, social, economic, and cultural benefits of this funding. This plan embodies our commitment to advocating for Native CDFIs and ensuring access to the resources needed to uplift Native communities. I commend the NCN team, Board of Directors, consultants, and partners for their unwavering dedication to achieving this milestone.
Moving forward, NCN has forged key partnerships to expand the program’s reach and engage tribal leaders, Native-owned businesses, and communities. Leveraging our collective expertise, we are focused on delivering impactful outcomes that benefit Native peoples and sustain our lands.
While we celebrate this extraordinary achievement, we know our work is just beginning. In the coming months, we will share program details and provide training, working closely with the EPA to finalize the specifics. The program is expected to officially launch later this year, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring Indian Country receives its fair share of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Our coalition is ready to fulfill this promise.
This award marks the start of a new chapter, and I am deeply honored to continue the pursuit of economic justice for Native communities. Together, we are building a future grounded in sustainability, equity, and prosperity for all Native peoples.
Further details on the CCIA award and next steps will be shared soon. We look forward to providing more information about this transformative initiative and the ways it will benefit Native communities across Indian Country.
Sincerely,
Pete Upton, CEO, Native CDFI Network