Nov 17, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Ygrene Receives Community Partner Award from MOKAN Construction Contractors Assistance Center

Ygrene Energy Fund, a national leader in resiliency and clean energy financing, today received the Community Partner Award from MOKAN Construction Contractors Assistance Center, a leader in advancing opportunities for minority and female businesses within the St. Louis Metropolitan area. The award highlights Ygrene’s efforts to connect minority businesses with access to stronger energy-contract job opportunities, particularly its community-based partnership with MOKAN and the city’s clean-energy financing program, Set the PACE St. Louis.

"Set the PACE St. Louis has demonstrated tremendous support for minority and women contractors through its inclusion scholarship initiative,” said Yaphett El-Amin, Executive Director of MOKAN. “This partnership and expanded inclusion initiative will provide an opportunity for minority and women-owned businesses and workers to gain access to financing for energy efficiency projects, expanding access to these services for low income communities."

The Community Partner Award will be awarded at MOKAN’S 43rd annual Awards Anniversary Dinner, an event designed to bring together public, private and non-profit industry stakeholders and expose minority business owners and workers to the region’s top industries, with a primary focus on expanding capacity building and workforce opportunities.

“We’re honored to receive this award from MOKAN because it reflects Ygrene’s work and company values,” said Byron DeLear, Managing Director & Central Regional Executive for Ygrene. “Specifically, Set the PACE St. Louis has been an effective platform to help minority contractors succeed in the home performance and clean-energy environment. We look forward to seeing Ygrene, and the role of PACE, grow within the region through the partnerships we’ve established.”

Ygrene recently acquired Missouri-based Energy Equity Funding (EEF), the property assessed clean energy administrator, which oversees Set the PACE St. Louis and the Missouri Energy Savings Program for St. Louis County. The former launched in 2013 with the goal of offering innovative financing solutions for City of St. Louis property owners to perform energy efficiency and renewable energy property upgrades. The program has completed some of the largest commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) projects in the nation, including comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades on historic buildings and redevelopment of underutilized properties and vacant buildings to help revitalize the region’s urban core. St. Louis County’s Missouri Energy Savings Program, or “MO-ESP,” launched earlier this year.

Exceeding $4 billion in project funding nationally, PACE financing has grown in its appeal due to a track record of attracting private capital (as opposed to taxpayer funds) to power one of the most successful public policy and local economic development initiatives in the United States.

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is a national leader in residential and commercial clean energy financing. Founded in 2010, Ygrene’s award-winning, privately funded Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program is revolutionizing the home improvement industry, making it easier for property owners to invest in their futures and a healthier environment. Ygrene is delivering greater choice for home and business owners by providing accessible and affordable financing for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, storm protection and seismic upgrades. Recognized as one of the fastest growing asset classes in the country, PACE has proven to be a successful tool for supporting public policy initiatives, all without the use of public tax dollars or credits. To date, Ygrene has provided over $1 billion of private capital to more than 400 local communities, creating thousands of jobs and investing millions into local economies across the U.S. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

About MOKAN

Since 1974, MOKAN has been a leader in advancing opportunities of growth for minority and female businesses within the St. Louis Metropolitan area. MOKAN in 2010, launched the MOKAN Institute through a collaborative partnership with St. Louis Community College. In 2012 MOKAN expanded its facilities to 4666 Natural Bridge which is now known as the MOKAN Business and Educational Center. Through this expansion MOKAN has continued to not only service the needs of the minority construction community but has expanded its services to other minority businesses and workers.