Our Work Continues: A Message from Donna Gambrell, President & CEO of Appalachian Community Capital and Daniel Wallace, President & CEO of Green Bank for Rural America
Last week, Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) was notified that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to terminate the landmark grant supporting the Green Bank for Rural America’s (Green Bank) initial awards to community lenders. ACC is one of five awardees of the EPA’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and this decision stalls nearly $300 million in funding requests from community lenders across Appalachia and rural America—funds meant to create good jobs, support small businesses, and strengthen local economies. These community lenders—CDFIs and other mission-driven lenders—have decades of experience investing in businesses, housing, and critical services that sustain local economies.
A significant portion of these funding requests came from lenders working to rebuild infrastructure, businesses, and local economies in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact in 2024.
These investments would provide the good jobs, local wealth-building, and economic stability that Appalachian and rural communities need.
Yet, despite these clear economic benefits, the EPA has moved to cancel obligated funds awarded through a rigorous, transparent, and highly competitive process—based on inaccurate, misleading, and unfounded claims.
ACC founded the Green Bank on one simple belief: Appalachia and rural communities deserve full access to the same economic opportunities as the rest of the nation. With the support of local, regional, and national partners, we designed a program projected to deliver:
- $400 million+ in capitalization and technical assistance grants to community lenders to expand economic opportunity in the energy sector and ensure the success of investments
- 2,000 projects financed, leveraging an estimated $1.6 billion in investments
- 13,000 good jobs supported through workforce development partnerships
- Active community engagement to ensure local voices shape the future of energy investment in their regions
For too long, Appalachia and rural America have endured stagnant investment and lost economic opportunity. But we see a different future:
- A future where good jobs are plentiful, and no one must leave home to find opportunity.
- A future where main streets and industries thrive, powered by locally owned businesses that sustain communities for generations.
- A future where communities are healthier, and local economies are built to last.
The communities supported by ACC and the Green Bank must have access to every available resource to build that future. The challenges we face today do not change the fact that Appalachia and rural America benefit by fully participating in the energy economy—nor do they change our commitment to making that happen.
The EPA grant is an important tool to meet needs identified by residents in Appalachia and rural America. We disagree with the EPA’s move to terminate this grant. However, the grant is one step in an even larger effort to drive long-term investment and economic growth where it is needed most.
ACC and the Green Bank remain operational, and we are actively fundraising to ensure that Appalachian and rural communities have the resources they need to lead in the energy economy. The demand for our work is great, and we will continue to meet it.
Onward.
Donna Gambrell
President and CEO, Appalachian Community Capital
Chair, Green Bank for Rural America Steering Committee
Daniel Wallace
President and CEO, Green Bank for Rural America
