CDFI

National Community Investment Fund

National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) Program

The National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) is a comprehensive initiative designed to foster clean technology projects across the United States by providing accessible and affordable financing options. With a funding scope of $14B, the NCIF aims to establish national clean financing institutions.
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Additional Information

Purpose and Impact

The NCIF program is geared towards:

  • Facilitating energy bill savings
  • Promoting cleaner air
  • Creating jobs
  • Supporting sustainable community development in low-income and disadvantaged communities

Selected Recipients and Their Roles

Program Funding

• Total Funding: $14B

Community lenders and other similar institutions may receive financial products such as warehouse loans, preferred equity investments, and loan guarantees as well as participate in loan purchasing programs that directly enable them to provide financial products to deploy qualified projects in their communities.

The NCIF program has chosen three main recipients that will in turn provide financial products to community lenders:

Climate United Fund

Mission: Mobilize capital towards low-income and disadvantaged communities
Award Amount: $6.97B
Qualifications: $30B in capital deployed, 75 lending offices, 220+ partnerships
Eligibility Requirements: Focuses on community lenders, multifamily developers, community infrastructure, small businesses, farms, and schools in underserved areas
Financial Products: 0% interest rate loans for electric vehicles and residential solar, multifamily subordinate loans, balance sheet loans, direct investments to community lenders, and customized direct investments

Coalition for Green Capital

Mission: Catalyze public and private investment into qualified environmental projects
Award Amount: $5B
• Qualifications: Established over 20 green banks, catalyzed $20B in projects, 50% of investments in low-income communities
Eligibility Requirements: Public-private investing leveraging a network of green banks and community lenders
Financial Products: Loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, credit enhancements, and insurance-like products for clean energy projects

Power Forward Communities

Mission: Decarbonize and transform American housing
Award Amount: $2B
Qualifications: $100B deployed in community initiatives, expertise in affordable housing and climate action
Eligibility Requirements: Programs aimed at single-family and multi-family housing owners and developers in underserved communities
Financial Products: Loans for energy efficiency rehab, net-zero emissions buildings, solar energy installations, EV charging stations, and incentive bridge loans

Application Process

Details about the application process for funding will be provided by the respective recipient organizations in late 2024 or early 2025.
We are here to help you with any questions you might have. Feel free to submit a Free Project Analyis Request for more detailed information regarding your specific scenario.

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Our Financing Programs

The CBO Financial team specializes in helping project sponsors secure flexible, below-market financing with a focus on high-impact projects in low-income communities. Our financial experts are skilled at combining public and private funding sources so that projects that might have otherwise stalled can move forward quickly and cost-effectively.

We’ve financed over $1 billion in high-impact investments nationwide, including $150 million using New Markets Tax Credits awarded to a CBO subsidiary. Backed by powerful funding tools and expertise, you’ll be pushed through to the finish line.

New Markets Tax Credits

A federal subsidy program designed to revitalize distressed communities by providing forgivable gap financing for up to 25% of costs for high-impact projects.
New Markets Tax Credits

Capital Magnet Fund

Grants up to $15M to CDFIs and nonprofit housing organizations to finance affordable housing and related economic development activities.
Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing

Bond Guarantee Program

A program that provides CDFIs with access to long-term, low-cost capital by guaranteeing bonds issued by qualified CDFIs, providing fixed rate financing for up to 29 years at ~100 bps over Treasuries.
Federal Historic Tax Credits

Technical Assistance Awards

Grants up to $125K to startup and existing CDFIs to build capacity to serve low-income communities by funding activities such as staff training, technology purchases, and consulting services.
Community Development Financial Institutions

Financial Assistance Awards

Matching grants up to $2M awarded to CDFIs to enhance their ability to provide loans, investments, and financial services to underserved populations.
US Department of Agriculture

Small Dollar Loan Program

Up to $500K to provide a loan loss reserve to support making affordable consumer loans to low-income individuals for up to $2,500, helping them avoid predatory lending practices.
Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program

CDFI Certification

A designation for specialized financial institutions that provide financial products and services in low-income communities and to targeted populations that lack access to financing.
Puerto Rico Financing Programs

EPA Programs

Community Change Grant Program

A $10M to $40M grant program that supports community-led projects aimed at improving environmental and public health outcomes in underserved communities.
New Markets Tax Credits

Clean Communities Investment Accelerator

Provides community lenders with grants up to $11M to help accelerate investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure projects in low-income communities.
Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing

National Community Investment Fund

Loans and guarantees will be made directly to projects with this funding starting in early 2025.
Federal Historic Tax Credits

USDA Programs

Business & Industry

A program that provides loan guarantees up to $25M to rural businesses to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment.
New Markets Tax Credits

Community Facilities

A program that offers direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop essential community facilities in rural areas up to $5M.
Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing

Rural Energy for America Program

A program that provides grants up to $1M and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.
Federal Historic Tax Credits

Other Funding Programs

Federal Historic Tax Credits

The federal Historic Tax Credit is available for the rehabilitation of historic, income-producing buildings determined by the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, to be “certified historic structures” for approximately 20% of project costs.
New Markets Tax Credits

You see challenges. We see possibilities.
Your community sees change.

Established in 1999, CBO Financial is a financial consulting firm that specializes in helping businesses secure funding for development projects in the nation’s most distressed communities. Our experts understand how to present economic, environmental, and societal benefits to public and private organizations so your project receives the funding it needs to move forward quickly and reasonably. A CBO Financial subsidiary, Community Development Funding, LLC, has received six awards under the federal New Markets Tax Credit program totaling $150M. In addition the team has taken a leadership role in securing 18 awards for clients totaling over $400M.
Our Services
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The funding is out there

CBO can be your access point for a variety of federal financing and subsidy programs, including those offered by the CDFI Fund, EPA, USDA and other agencies.
Programs
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 a Significant Impact

CBO is on a mission to help elevate the lives of people living in distressed communities by providing flexible, below-market gap financing to high-impact projects that cannot otherwise move forward. Does your project qualify for financing?
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Million-dollar stories

The CBO team has funded over $1 billion in projects for local and national nonprofits, for-profit developers, and municipal agencies. Our team can help you find the low-cost financing or new market tax credits needed for your projects.
Projects

Does Your Project Qualify for Low-Cost Financing or New Markets Tax Credits?

Reach out to our specialists to discuss how we can work together.
Get a Free Project Analysis