OFN Webinars & Virtual Forums

CCIA 101 Webinar: Intro to OFN’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Program

Tune in to this webinar about OFN’s plans for the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a $27 billion dollar investment to mobilize financing and private capital to address the climate crisis, ensure our country’s economic competitiveness, and promote energy independence while delivering lower energy costs and economic revitalization to communities that have historically been left behind.

GGRF includes three programs: the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF), the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), and Solar for All. OFN has been selected for an award under CCIA and anticipates launching the program later this year.

This CCIA 101 webinar aims to demystify key questions on GGRF and to introduce OFN’s CCIA program.

What the Webinar Covers

– Brief overview of GGRF and its goals
– Introduction to OFN’s CCIA program
– What to expect next
– How to get involved

Watch this webinar if you want to better understand GGRF, our CCIA program, and how to engage with OFN on this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

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OFN Public Policy Update and Advocacy Tools for CDFIs – July 11, 2024

In this webinar, OFN’s public policy team shares an update on the DC political environment and a practical conversation on strengthening CDFI policy action through local advocacy and site visits. Topics include:

• An update on CDFI public policy priorities and the FY 2025 appropriations process.
• Building relationships with your Congressional delegation.
• Positioning your CDFI as an industry expert and resource to your policymakers.
• The value of hosting site visits and how to select a borrower and site.
• How to determine messaging that will resonate and craft talking points for your advocacy.
• Other opportunities to get involved in advocacy.

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OFN CDFI Federal Policy Update – April 17, 2024

OFN’s Public Policy team is joined by expert analysts to discuss the latest federal policy updates from Washington, D.C., and deepen the understanding of the current legal environment. This webinar provides clarity and insight into the judicial challenges facing CDFIs amid significant court rulings that could impact efforts to advance racial justice.

Guest speakers Katy Youker, Director of the Economic Justice Project at the Lawyers’ Committee, and Denise Noel, Executive Vice President and General Counsel to the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), have a wealth of experience and expertise in the legal challenges.

OFN’s Public Policy team also delves into the latest on CDFI policy priorities in Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration. CDFI funding is once again under threat, and we need you to take action to ensure the voices of CDFIs are heard!

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CONNECT+ Forum: CDFI Capitalization

Over the past year, CDFIs and other mission-driven financial institutions have encountered tightening capital markets as a result of increased inflation, rising interest rates, and continued economic challenges. Low-cost, flexible capital is crucial to the CDFI business model and as it becomes more difficult to access, the industry finds itself in an environment that requires continued agility to navigate.

However, industry history has demonstrated CDFIs always rise to the challenge, displaying their talent for innovation and creativity. Whether it’s building new partnerships, exploring solutions to optimize operations, or finding ways to stack, blend, and structure the capital available to them, CDFIs have a track record of finding a way — or making one — to deliver the capital and services needed to support the communities we care about most.

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Deep Dive into the Revised CDFI Certification Application

In December 2023, the CDFI Fund released its eagerly anticipated updates to the application process for the industry’s most critical credential: CDFI certification.

Over the past several years, Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) has been a strong advocate for changes that strengthen the community development mission and responsible lending requirements. After working with our members to weigh in on several reform proposals to modernize CDFI certification, the revised application is here.

Now, the CDFI industry must turn its attention to implementation and recertification. Join OFN and the CDFI Fund’s Jeff Merkowitz, Senior Advisor, and Michelle Dickens, Program Manager, Office of Certification, Policy and Evaluation for a webinar to learn more about the revisions and timeline for implementation, and to answer the industry’s most pressing questions.

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