FarrPoint’s Post

Yes, private capital is needed. But the RIGHT private capital is even more important. There is a reason valuation multiples are 25x earnings (up from 10-11x during the 2010s): put in $0.25 for a $1 network? Sell that network for $2-3? PE has raised billions to capture this value. Communities: what relationship do you want to have with your digital infrastructure? Find a capital partner that shares those values. Philanthropy: are you ok with these extractive practices? Fine losing another generation to the digital divide? If not, then you are URGENTLY needed to support a community-centric alternative. #digitaldivide #blendedfinance #philanthropy #impactinvesting

ICYMI - New analysis from Tony Pipa and Zoe Swarzenski at The Brookings Institution sheds light on the billions in federal funding that is significant to rural America that is already moving through states and intermediaries. There's more work to do to over the next several years to make sure this funding lands in rural communities. That's why we need philanthropy and other partners to stay engaged with supporting rural organizations who are working directly with communities to forge projects and organizing to shape how states implement funding. https://lnkd.in/eNqiq9y2

[FREE CONSULTATION OPEN!] Calling all Canadian and American Home Owners and SMEs! If you are struggling in today's harsh economy: Mercuro is here for YOU! We at Mercuro Sustainable Design are excited to finally launch our service line of providing Energy Grants, Rebates and Sustainable Incentives assessments for Residents, SMEs and Capital Facilities! We are committed to helping organizations and individuals (both For-Profit and Non-Profit) achieve their budgeting, cost saving and operation cost reduction plans. That is why we are offering a *FREE* Energy and Funding Eligibility Consultation, for businesses who are ready to take the next step in evaluating their operational efficiency, and take advantage of the millions of dollars available in government and organizational funding for Energy Efficiency, Reduction and Conservation. Some of just a few of the amazing initiatives you could be eligible for!! ✅ Canada Greener Homes Grant! - offers up to $40,000 in interest-free financing to homeowners at the pre-retrofit stage. Loan eligibility will continue to be based on the established eligibility criteria. ✅ Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative - provides attractive financing to reduce investment barriers and decarbonize buildings ✅ First Nation Infrastructure Fund - helps First Nations communities upgrade and increase public infrastructure to improve the quality of life and the environment in First Nations communities. ✅ Alberta For-Profits, Funds to Beautify Neighbourhoods - Grants of up to $5,000 to Alberta non profits, businesses and individuals for neighborhood improvement projects in eligible regions. Eligible projects like murals, lighting, signage, seating and landscaping. If you are ready to take your save money on your energy, start with Mercuro Sustainable Design! You can get in contact at www.mercuro.ca or email us at admin@mercuro.ca for more information on this offer! #sustainability #energy #efficiency #grantsandrebates #loans #financing #funding #retrofits #findmoney #needmoney #businessdevelopment #operationsdevelopment #energyconservation #susops #greenfinancing #retrofits #grants #rebates #canada #america #sme #individual #nonprofit #forprofit #funding #investment #contribution

Over $60 million has been allocated to create and preserve affordable housing in Boston, funding 12 different projects across the city. Here’s what you need to know: The funded projects will deliver 637 income-restricted housing units across various Boston neighborhoods, including Allston, Chinatown, and Roxbury. Projects include affordable housing for rent and purchase, senior housing, and supportive housing, built on public and private land. Harvard-supported projects include 43 affordable homeownership units on donated land at 65 Seattle St. and 49 affordable rental units for seniors at Hill Memorial Baptist Church. Boston’s Zero Emissions Building standards will apply to new projects, utilizing electricity and solar panels as primary energy sources. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eiHmFrwY

After a year of hard work, I am proud to finally share The Piedmont Area Plan draft: https://lnkd.in/evmK6kCY The planning process involved about 200 stakeholders including residents, business owners, community leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit organizations. Several meetings and events were held in Piedmont last summer through winter in support of the plan. For those who don’t know, Piedmont is an unincorporated community on the Saluda River in both Anderson and Greenville County jurisdictions. Therefore, the planning process involved collaboration with Anderson County to develop a cohesive plan for the community. The 36-square-mile study area is mostly unzoned. Since 2020, the Piedmont study area has grown at an average annual growth rate of 3.2%, double the rate of Greenville County and triple the rate of Anderson County, the Upstate region, and the state of South Carolina. More than 3,250 housing units are currently approved or under construction within the study area. All that to say: Piedmont is growing at breakneck speed. This plan aims to provide the community with bottom-up actions and tools they can use, as well as potential partnerships with nonprofit organizations and public agencies, to safeguard Piedmont from overdevelopment, and to encourage development that is accessible, contextual, and sustainable, benefiting current residents and the local economy. Growth should not merely be a series of construction projects, but a holistic enhancement of the community's fabric. This plan aims to realize a future that is built by the community, for the community. Big thanks to the American Planning Association, The Democracy Collaborative, Green Infrastructure Center Inc., Smart Growth America, and Strong Towns for helping me form a solid theoretical framework to guide the plan's development.

Over the past 6 months I have been tracking the Inflationary Reduction Act (IRA) and its intersection with Public Housing. Read on for more information but in a nutshell the IRA is another solid reason for PhAs to jump on the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) now! To get the most of the IRA, RAD and SAC need to be considered.

Investment is a critical part of any healthy, growing economy, but the geography of investment can be uneven, particularly for rural areas which face barriers to both the supply-side (i.e., actors supplying community development investment) and the demand-side (i.e., communities seeking investment dollars). Emily Wavering Corcoran, senior manager of regional and community analysis, and Jen Giovannitti, president of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and a member of the Richmond Fed's Rural Investment Collaborate Capital Development workgroup explore these barriers as well as how communities are developing solutions. Learn more in the latest Regional Matters, posts that examine local, regional and national data that matter to the Fifth District economy and our communities: https://bit.ly/3BpP5va #RegionalMatters #CommunityDevelopmentFinance #Rural

Have you considered how IRA opportunities can benefit your property investment? Interest in "Green" financing is at an all-time high, offering unique advantages for property owners and investors. These funds not only help reduce long-term energy consumption but also provide a crucial layer of funding that could make your deal work. 🔹 Why Consider Green Financing?: Sustainability: Lower your property's environmental impact with energy-efficient upgrades. Cost Savings: Reduce long-term energy costs through sustainable investments. Funding Opportunities: Access additional financial resources to support your property deals. Increased Value: Enhance the market value of your property with green improvements. If you're curious about how IRA opportunities and green financing can work for you, let's connect! I'm here to answer any questions and guide you through the process. #GreenFinancing #SustainableInvestments #PropertyInvestment #EnergyEfficiency #RealEstate #GRRP #GGRF #IRA #HUD

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗔𝗥𝗖) 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻! This program, a partnership between federal (ARC), state (PA DCED), and local (NTRPDC) entities, aims to empower Appalachian communities through strategic investments. ARC awards grants to projects that align with one of five goals outlined in ARC’s current Strategic Plan that can demonstrate measurable results. The resulting investments ultimately help Appalachian communities address economic disparity and advance prosperity. Here's what you need to know: 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: State and local agencies and governmental entities, local governing boards, and nonprofit organizations such as schools and organizations. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: Area Development Grants range from $30,000 to $750,000 and require 1-to-1 federal to state/local match. Match can include cash, in-kind, and other secured funding sources. Local Access Road Grants range between $500k-$1M and do not require match, but match is highly recommended to remain competitive. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Area Development Grants: Building Appalachian Businesses, Workforce Ecosystems, Infrastructure, Regional Culture and Tourism, and Community Leaders and Capacity. Local Access Road Grants seek, develop and upgrade publicly owned roads into major job centers (business/technology parks, health/hospital complexes, arenas, stadiums). These roads must be built to PennDOT standards and require federal/state prevailing wage rates to be paid, thus increasing the cost of the project. Projects should be ready for implementation by Spring/Summer 2025. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: Pre-applications are due to NTRPDC by June 14th, with full applications invited in the Fall. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆: Submit your pre-application to Katie Smith, Economic Development Program Manager at smith@northerntier.org - 570-265-1532. Additional Information: https://lnkd.in/eiWNcS3W

In the next 20 years, about $84 trillion will change hands from one generation to the next, and small-town philanthropies hope to capture some of that wealth for the benefit of historically underfunded rural communities. Economists call it the Great Wealth Transfer. Although some experts worry the transfer might reinforce economic inequality if this fortune flows only to individual heirs, rural philanthropists are thinking about how people might invest this money to create healthier communities. https://lnkd.in/esnrpWzD