Nectar Community Investments

It was great to join the team at the Essex County Community Foundation to mark a milestone anniversary: 25 years of service to Essex County! We're proud to partner with the Foundation to strengthen the North Shore's cities and towns. Thank you to everyone at ECCF for leading positive, systemic change in the region, and congrats on 25 years!

We're big believers in the power of community, which here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island translates to our neighborhoods, towns and cities. Investing at that level, in local growth, is what drives positive impact for those communities. And it's why we're always listening and innovating to tailor our offerings to neighborhood needs. #shoplocal #econdev #localgrowth

Want to step up to the plate to support youth baseball in Lawrence? One of our amazing clients, Hitters Home, is raising funds through Patronicity to invest in cutting-edge baseball simulation technology and new turf. This investment will take the training facility to the next level, benefiting the entire Lawrence community. The deadline to donate is Nov. 24, so if you're feeling an early spirit of gratitude ahead of the holidays, click on the link below to donate. Every dollar you donate will be matched by Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC)'s Biz-M-Power program. Let’s help Hitters Home hit this fundraiser out of the park! Hitters Home Step Up to the Plate Fundraising Campaign: https://lnkd.in/d-JieEzy

We're thrilled to share that the Santander Charitable Foundation has awarded Nectar Community Investments $300,000 through the Foundation's CDFI Initiative Program. This initiative supports programs that help individuals and families build wealth and support sustainable, resilient communities across Santander's footprint, including the state of Massachusetts. Part of the program is to fund CDFIs that provide training, mentorship and capital to historically underserved entrepreneurs — a focus that directly aligns with Nectar’s mission.?Thank you to Santander for your support and belief in our important work to support our communities! #communitybanking #cdfi #smallbusiness

Nectar's commitment to innovation and flexibility means that we meet entrepreneurs and small business owners where they are, sharing their dreams and helping them transform those visions into reality. Some of our latest innovations include the Business Equity Investment Fund and participating in the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank's Energy Saver Home Loan Program with MassHousing. Whatever ideas we develop, we're always listening and thinking of the community's needs first. #entrepreneurship #innovation #smallbusiness

Community is at the core of everything we do. As a CDFI, it's even in our name! We got our start providing investments, strategic advice and advocacy for small businesses and homeowners in the Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts; over the years, we've expanded our offerings to other parts of the state and joined the small business support ecosystem in Rhode Island. Wherever we work, we're?innovative and unrelenting in our mission to build generational wealth for our communities. #economicjustice #financialassistance

?Our Executive Director Glynn Lloyd recently served as a panelist at the Rhode Island Department of Treasury's Civic Engagement and Community Wealth Building event with founding President of Local Return, Jessica David, and founder of AMP Consulting group, Al Cumplido, CFA. Glynn shared what led him to community development work and how Nectar is finding creative solutions to minimize the wealth gap in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Thanks to Secretary of State Gregg Amore and General Treasurer James Diossa for organizing this great discussion —?we appreciate your support and being part of the state's economic development ecosystem! #community #cdfi #rhodeisland #smallbusiness

Picking up on where Nectar invests: in homeowners. Since the founding of our legacy organization in 2008, we've helped our neighbors build and preserve wealth by providing loans for home improvements, lead removal and more.?These investments are even more important now, as we work to ensure all homeowners have access to green infrastructure upgrades. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to improve the health, quality and sustainability of the place they call home. #climateresilience #environmentaljustice #housing #homeowners

Changing our name led to a lot of reflection over the past few months —?where we've been, who we are and where we're headed. While a new brand identity created some shifts, it also revealed to us a simple truth: our purpose is stronger than ever. We're still committed to our mission of building generational wealth, still steadfast in our work to innovate on behalf of underserved communities. And as the environment around us may change, we find reassurance and resolve in the people and places that remind us of what's most important. In that spirit, we wanted to take a step back and share more about what makes us Nectar. Where we invest covers a wide range! We figured we'd start at the beginning, just like we did back in 2008 at our legacy organization Mill Cities Community Investments: with small businesses. Because at Nectar, supporting and uplifting entrepreneurs of color is how we drive socioeconomic progress. #entrepreneurs #economicjustice #smallbusiness

Our Executive Director Glynn Lloyd and Residential Services Director Lissette Paukert recently attended #OFN40 and returned with many great takeaways! Climate resiliency and financing green infrastructure upgrades in historically underserved communities are a major focus these days, with lots of innovation and novel approaches in the field. All that innovation is fantastic, but we know it can be hard for everyone to keep up. It's reassuring to know that Opportunity Finance Network has our backs as we navigate this reality! Strengthening our infrastructure and scaling our programs are critical, and doing those things the right way requires partnership. Thanks to OFN for hosting a dynamic, informative conference and for creating this powerful network — we always appreciate connecting with other CDFIs and seeing that while the issues our communities face have evolved, we're all still steadfast in our mission. Will be back next year!