Byron B. Badger,
Vice President & Chief Business Officer
Finance New Orleans (FNO) is a housing and development finance agency serving all New Orleanians to better our community. We provide mortgage financing for low-to-moderate income families and credit support for affordable rental and community development projects.
Founded by the City Council of New Orleans in 1978 as the “New Orleans Home Mortgage Authority,” our organization began by recognizing and acting on the demand for more affordable home mortgage financing. Today, FNO operates with a seven-member Board of Trustees appointed by the City Council of New Orleans, however we are not a department or division of the city government.
Since 1979, FNO has invested more than $650 million into the New Orleans economy. Our efforts have been largely focused on homeownership for low-to-moderate income families. These investments have resulted in more than 8,000 mortgage financings and the creation of affordable rental units for families in need.
Our goal for the future is to continue investing in homeownership because we believe it is the foundation of a functional community. In addition to homeownership, we are increasing our investments in multifamily and economic development projects that create stability in our neighborhoods.
You are invited to the Resilient New Orleans Innovation Challenge Showcase sponsored by Elemental Excelerator in New Orleans, LA on Tuesday, June 25. The one-day event will highlight New Orleans' public sector investment into sustainable housing and infrastructure as designed in the Resilience New Orleans Finance Plan. Climate technology companies competing to have their products deployed in public sector projects will be featured throughout the day. With help from Elemental Excelerator, we have identified over 34 climate technology companies across the world through our Resilient New Orleans Innovation Challenge. Between three to six of these climate technology companies will be selected to participate in a pilot homebuilding project sponsored by Finance New Orleans and other partners.
The Resilient New Orleans Innovation Challenge Showcase is intended to engage Finance New Orleans' network of stakeholders, which includes city agencies, community organizations, developers, realtors, bond investors, commercial banks, foundations, green finance authorities, large corporations, climate technology companies and venture capital investors. Each of these groups are critical to Finance New Orleans reaching its goal of $1 billion of sustainable community investment in New Orleans by 2035. The day will be filled with innovative ideas and conversations around solutions to help us evolve as a community. We want a physically transformed New Orleans with equitable economic opportunities for all.
Please register here and visit this page to reserve your hotel room using the special conference rate at the Virgin Hotel. A limited number of rooms are available so please act quickly. A full agenda with logistics and other details will be shared soon. We hope to see you on June 25!
Washington, DC— The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) and Dream.Org’s Green For All today announced a transformative partnership aimed at driving clean energy investments to communities that have been neglected and disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis and extreme weather events.
Green For All is a program of Dream.Org. The organization works to ensure that, as the green economy grows, all communities will benefit from good jobs, better health, and increased opportunity.
With a shared vision for environmental justice, Green For All joins a growing coalition preparing to seek funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to establish a nationwide green bank network. This network will serve as a powerful tool to channel resources and financing to clean energy projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDCs).
“We’re thrilled to welcome Dream.Org to our growing coalition. Their expertise and commitment to environmental justice will help us maximize the impact of this once-in-a-lifetime investment of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund,” said Reed Hundt, chairman of the board and CEO of CGC. “Together, we are poised to tackle the pressing climate crisis head-on and accelerate the Administration’s ambitious vision of transitioning to a clean energy economy. What truly sets this collaboration apart is our shared dedication to uplifting low-income and disadvantaged communities, ensuring they lead the way in reaping the rewards of this transformative energy future.”
Washington, DC— The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) today announced the formation of a new strategic partnership with marketplace merchant Enervee. Enervee joins the growing coalition of clean energy lending experts preparing to seek funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to launch a nationwide green bank network.
The EPA has made clear that the primary objectives of the GGRF are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, drive funds and projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities, and mobilize financing and private capital to stimulate additional deployment of resources.
Enervee’s Eco Financing program is exactly the type of direct investment envisioned by the EPA for the $14B National Clean Investment Fund. The nationwide program leverages private capital, extends affordable financing to people with low credit scores, empowers income-constrained households to pay for efficient appliances with low monthly payments, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and alleviates the burden of high utility bills.
“Adding Enervee as a strategic partner will greatly enhance the Coalition’s ability to serve millions of low and moderate-income households,” said Eli Hopson, executive director and COO of Coalition for Green Capital. “Our network of green lenders has already identified over $14B in clean energy project pipeline over the next several years, facilitating public-private partnerships to deliver relief in communities facing the brunt of the climate crisis. We look forward to demonstrating to the EPA why this nationwide network is the strongest tool for leveraging the IRA’s once-in-a-lifetime investment of federal funds.”
“Eco Financing has enjoyed the support of green banks in California and New York, but not every state has a green bank. The nationwide green bank network will allow us to serve all income- and credit-constrained consumers across the country and rapidly scale impact,” said Matthias Kurwig, Enervee’s CEO. “Eco Financing fills a critical gap in programs designed to drive decarbonization equitably, with over 85% of loans going to underserved borrowers.”