We had many great applications, and it was a hard decision, but we finally chose three organizations for the inaugural session of the Academy for Green Microenterprise Development!

They are:
Detroit Midtown Micro-enterprise Fund, Detroit, MI
Good Work Network, New Orleans, LA
SNAP, Spokane, WA

All three have a green loan program underway and we felt they could benefit from the individual consulting and peer networking that the Academy will offer them. The project team will include Friedman Associates and Appalachian Community Enterprises staff.

We are also planning five green business development webinars, and we hope that many organizations will take part in those. They will be open to all, and will help the Academy reach many more green business development programs. We hope to create a national collaborative of organizations serving this emerging and important economy.

Thank you to all the great organizations who applied this year! And congratulations to the academy class of 2010!

The Academy for Green Microenterprise Development is funded by a PRIME capacity building grant from the Small Business Administration.

Funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration Program for Investments in Microentrepreneurs Act

Georgia Green Loans (ACE) has received a grant from the U.S Small Business Administration Program for Investments in Entrepreneurs (PRIME) Program for the Academy for Green Microenterprise Development. Based on a Request for Proposal (RFP), ACE, in partnership with Friedman Associates will work with three (3) microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) to help them develop programmatic and organizational capacity in green microlending, training and/or technical assistance.  Consulting services include on-site technical assistance and/or training; support in the development of green business services and/or the institutional capacity to fund, develop and manage these services; and distance learning activities.

An eligible applicant is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization that is actively seeking to build or strengthen capacity in business development services and/or lending for low-income clients seeking to capture green business opportunities. Selected MDOs must provide microenterprise development programs and services to low-income individuals as a primary part of its mission. These services include, but are not limited to, entrepreneurial training, technical assistance and access to capital.

2010 Academy for Green Microenterprise Development Services

  1. Individual & Peer-to-Peer Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance to assess organizational capacity and create a Green Capacity Building Plan for the green business development program.

  1. Implementation of Green Capacity Building Action Plan will be achieved through one onsite meeting per Academy member and offsite through electronic technical assistance, coaching and technical assistance. Assistance in designing loan products and /or training programs, technical assistance, organizational capacity building and building local collaborations will be key pieces of the action plan.

  1. Peer-to-Peer Learning: The Project Team will organize quarterly peer learning conference calls for Academy members. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss the progress of each member’s green capacity-building project, provide additional training and resources, and for group problem-solving.

  1. Best Practices in Green Microenterprise Development Webinar Series: a series of five 2-hour webinars including on key topics. Each webinar will include handouts and tools.

These services are valued at approximately $15,000 and will require a commitment of staff time and intent to build institutional capacity. For questions about the 2010 Academy for Green Microenterprise Development, contact Elizabeth Penney, 770-718-8992 or penney@aceloans.org