Reflections from the Road
Summer Travel Insights for Place-Based Impact Investing
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Pictured: (Left to Right) Teri Lovelace, LOCUS Impact Investing; Mike Loftin, Homewise; Keith Bisson, Coastal Enterprises; Eva Schulte, Travois -
Teri Lovelace spoke on a panel at Confluence Philanthropy's 2nd Annual Advisor Forum titled "
Investing in Place Across the Portfolio
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Summertime is made for road trips, and the LOCUS team has embraced the tradition - participating in recent conferences and summits with an eye (and ear) toward insights or reflections that may be helpful to place-focused impact investors. A common theme that emerged from speakers and participants is that creative capital access strategies - intermediaries designing new products to meet growing demand, banks exploring new lending markets, philanthropies embracing new tools, developers re-thinking business models that will be more resilient during market down-turns – provide the best opportunities for growth. Our insights, captured on the LOCUS blog, reflect our collective wisdom and, we hope, are valuable to foundations and other partners who are exploring place-based impact investing.
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Spotlight: Invest Appalachia, a Market-Making Fund for the Region
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Invest Appalachia is a new social impact collective that provides integrated investment and catalytic capital to strengthen businesses, build local wealth, advance critical sectors and increase quality jobs in Central Appalachia. For the past two years, Invest Appalachia has been designed by practitioners – including LOCUS and VCC – who are on the ground and actively-seeking to advance the region.
Read more about Invest Appalachia in a
May 2019 interview released by the Center for Community Investment.
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A "Thank You" to Mission Investors Exchange
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Yesterday, Mission Investors Exchange hosted its sixth Virtual Brown Bag webinar. This webinar featured LOCUS staff, Adam Northup and CJ Carter, in conversation with Joe Evans of The Kresge Foundation around assessing PRI portfolio servicing practices.
Thank you to MIE for continuing to curate meaningful, engaging conversations among mission-minded investors. If you were unable to join, webinars are archived on the
MIE website. LOCUS staff will also be hosting "office hours" to discuss the webinar's content. Click the button below to schedule a time to connect.
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At the recent Community Development Bankers Peer Forum (CDBA), Adam Northup, LOCUS Financial Strategist, shared the stage with Lisa Green Hall (Beeck Center for Social Innovation at Georgetown University), Bill Dana (Central Bank of Kansas City), and Tom Nida (City First Bank of DC). This panel of CDFI bankers addressed the question: “What is Next for Opportunity Zones?” Two key points rose from the interactive discussion:
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• The CDBA continues to advocate for investments made into CDFIs operating in Opportunity Zones to qualify for the program. This could be a valuable and empowering source of capital for impacted communities. If allowed by the Department of Treasury, CDFI capacity could expand greatly and alongside philanthropic capital could help further catalyze this investing into vital community needs.
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• While not the public policy for community development that many philanthropic leaders would advocate for, it is clear the Opportunity Zone program is the focus in this space right now federally and at a state level. As such, foundations and other philanthropic interests need to figure out how to play a part – and a sharp focus on ensuring inclusive and equitable capital flows is something these institutions can help deliver.
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Where You'll Find the Locus Team
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July 15-17 | Cleveland, OH
Adam Northup and Teri Lovelace will participate on panels. Travis Green will exhibit.
Sept. 6 | Berkeley, CA
LOCUS is a sponsor, and CJ Carter will participate.
Sept. 16-17 | Johnston, IA
Adam Northup will lead two sessions on impact investing.
Sept. 17-19 | Atlanta, GA
Jane Henderson and Sydney England will lead a session on place-based investment.
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At LOCUS, careers are about channeling talent into communities and creating measurable impact in the places we work. We are interested in committed professionals looking to make a difference. Reach out to us if you’re seeking greater impact in the work you do and want to learn more about LOCUS.
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LOCUS Capital, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor Firm. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where LOCUS Capital, Inc. and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. LOCUS Capital, Inc. and its representatives do not furnish investment advice or services through this website. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
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