News

Borrower : La Cocina VA Where : Arlington, VA Loan Amount : $300,000 Project Type : Bridge loan   Opportunity In 2012, Patricia “Paty” Funegra founded La Cocina VA, to combat unemployment, hunger, obesity, and food waste in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Paty founded La Cocina after a nearly 20-year career in international development with multilateral organizations that supported efforts in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Through the area’s only bilingual culinary job-training program, …

Partnership between Commonwealth and Virginia Community Capital to create Opportunity Zone marketplace will help increase investment in low-income communities FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 22, 2019 Office of the Governor Contact: Alena Yarmosky Email: Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Contact: Amanda Love Email: Amanda.Love@dhcd.virginia.gov CHARLOTTESVILLE—Governor Ralph Northam today announced the official launch of Opportunity Virginia, a new initiative designed to leverage the federal Opportunity Zone program. Governor Northam made the announcement during …

Borrower : RER Energy Group Where : Salem, VA Loan Amount : $260,000 Project Type : Construction and permanent loan   Opportunity For the next 25 years, Goodwill store managers in Salem, Va., will need to look no further than the roof – and sky – for electricity to power the retail location. RER Energy Group, a regional leader in renewable energy, saw an opportunity to install a solar system on top of the building. Rather …

Borrower : Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority Where : Roanoke, VA Loan Amount : $719,000 and $802,250 Project Type : Commercial real estate loan   Opportunity The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) is committed to providing quality, affordable homes for residents. Currently, RRHA is working on expanding housing options for elderly and disabled residents. As part of the initiative, RRHA identified an opportunity to build eight new housing units in Roanoke’s West End in the …

In 2016, Fahe, a regional Network, financial intermediary, and CDFI, received $50 million in loan awards from the USDA Community Facilities Relending Program to pursue its mission: ending persistent poverty in Appalachia. Among its numerous initiatives, Fahe sought to build several community facilities, including daycare and opioid-addiction rehabilitation centers. However, a key barrier hindering the deployment of the USDA’s Community Facilities capital is not being able to use awards for construction projects. Borrowers must find …

By Francesca Costantino, Community Impact Advisor VCC sponsored the Allegheny Mountain Institute’s (AMI) fundraiser for the Farm at Augusta Health in Fishersville, VA. The farm-to-table dinner included dishes from the farm and live music from an old-time band. In 2017, AMI established an organic vegetable farm and educational programming on farming and nutrition on the Augusta Health grounds.  The Farm provides nutrient dense produce for the health center food system, the Food Pharmacy program, and …

Borrower : Bridget Holt-Taylor, Michael Page, Crystal Holt Where : Richmond, VA Loan Amount : $193,000 Project Type : Small Business Association 7(a) Loan   Opportunity Quality, reliable childcare is critical for working families and ensures economic viability in our communities. Bridget Holt-Taylor and Crystal Holt wanted to purchase the assets of the former Phase II Neighborhood After School and Child Development Center to establish the Sowing Seeds Academy. Bridget Holt-Taylor would direct the academy, while …

Opportunity Virginia, an initiative of Virginia Community Capital and LOCUS Impact Investing, launched its new Opportunity Zone website for the Commonwealth of Virginia and announced a partnership with The Opportunity Exchange, a national project and impact-tracking platform that helps communities maximize the impact of the federal “OZ” program. The two will work together to identify, support, and showcase OZ projects from across Virginia to the growing number of eligible investors nationwide. The site is found …

Borrower : Industrial Development Authority of Russell County Where : Lebanon, VA Loan Amount : $2.7 million Project Type : Equipment loan   Opportunity Economic growth requires a long-term vision and strategy. The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) of Russell County recognized that Southwest Virginia could attract global manufacturers because of its access to Interstate 81 and a readily available workforce. To proactively foster a supportive business climate, the IDA constructed a 76,000-square-foot shell building in Lebanon, …

Borrower : People Incorporated Where : Tappahannock, Culpeper and Fauquier Counties, VA Loan Amount : $5.2 million Project Type : Commercial Real Estate | Low-Income Housing Tax Credit loans   Opportunity Based in Abingdon, the 55-year-old People Incorporated of Virginia is one of the largest rural community action agencies in the nation. It serves residents throughout Virginia, and during the past decade has expanded its reach into other communities throughout the Commonwealth. Affordable housing in Virginia …