Exelon-Funded $36 Million Racial Equity Capital Fund, Administered by RockCreek, Accepting Applications From Minority-Owned Businesses in Service Areas
May 04 2022 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
RockCreek-managed fund, in partnership with
minority banks and community-based lending institutions, will
provide needed capital to help minority-owned businesses grow,
create jobs, and expand in underserved and under-resourced
communities served by Exelon.
Exelon announced today that RockCreek, one of the world’s
largest diverse-owned global investment firms, has opened
applications for the $36 million Exelon-funded Racial Equity
Capital Fund to support minority-owned businesses in Exelon’s
service areas in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland,
Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Exelon, which serves more than 10 million customers through its
six electric and gas utilities, announced last fall that it had
partnered with the Exelon Foundation to create the Racial Equity
Capital Fund. The fund will help minority businesses obtain capital
to fuel growth and spur job opportunities in communities that have
historically been underserved, under-resourced, and overlooked by
investors and traditional funding sources. The fund will provide
loans and equity investments for numerous minority businesses
throughout Exelon’s service areas over the next three years, with
estimated loan amounts between $100,000 and $300,000, and equity
investments of nearly $1 million.
“With this fund, we are empowering small, minority-owned
businesses to grow their capacity, increase revenue and hire more
employees,” said Calvin Butler, chief operating officer and
senior executive vice president of Exelon. “We have identified
financial partners who understand the unique challenges these
businesses face, but who also share our vision and are eager to
reinvigorate the communities we both serve.”
RockCreek has forged partnerships with minority-owned lending
institutions and community-based banks to increase the investment
capacity of the Racial Equity Capital Fund. The fund will invest in
minority-owned businesses who have historically lacked access to
capital to sustain operations, grow revenues, create jobs, and
increase wellbeing throughout underserved and under-resourced
communities.
“Capital is the fuel that allows businesses to grow, create
jobs, and strengthen communities, and for too long, minority-owned
businesses – and entire communities – have been neglected by
financial markets,” said Afsaneh Beschloss, Founder and CEO
of RockCreek. “The Racial Equity Capital Fund will bring this
critical fuel directly to minority-owned businesses and will
continue serving their communities in the years ahead.”
Initial partners in this effort include Providence Bank &
Trust; United Bank of Philadelphia; and City First Bank, National
Association of Washington, DC. RockCreek continues to seek out and
engage with other potential partners throughout Exelon’s service
areas.
The partnerships are the next step in the launch of the $36
million initiative, which is funded by Exelon and managed by
RockCreek. RockCreek will select businesses for financing and
manage the fund to serve as a continuing resource to help grow
businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the communities Exelon
serves.
Interested businesses can access the application here or
contact RockCreek at RECFInquiries@therockcreekgroup.com for
more information about the program.
About Exelon
Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC) is a Fortune 200 company and the nation’s
largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers
through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities
— Atlantic City Electric (ACE), Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE),
Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), Delmarva Power & Light (DPL), PECO
Energy Company (PECO), and Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco).
More than 18,000 Exelon employees dedicate their time and expertise
to supporting our communities through reliable, affordable and
efficient energy delivery, workforce development, equity, economic
development and volunteerism. Follow Exelon on Twitter @Exelon.
About RockCreek
One of the largest woman and diverse-owned global investment
firms, RockCreek applies data-driven technology to invest
sustainably and inclusively. Founded in 2003 by CEO Afsaneh
Beschloss, former Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer of the
World Bank, RockCreek has more than $16 billion in assets.
RockCreek has invested more than $7.4 billion in diverse firms,
including over $990 million in Black owned firms, and $6.3 billion
in sustainable investments including climate, health, education,
job creation, and affordable housing since its inception. Follow
RockCreek on Twitter @RockCreekGroup and on LinkedIn.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220504005422/en/
Exelon Media Hotline Elizabeth Keating 312-394-7417
elizabeth.keating@exeloncorp.com
RockCreek Communications Nate Rawlings (423) 664-3772
nate.rawlings@therockcreekgroup.com
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