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MnCIFA Partner Networks

The Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority is building
networks of partnerships at the local, state, regional and national 
level to tap into expertise in green financing and to leverage other
public and private sources of capital for clean energy. 

MnCIFA’s Board of Directors is structured to have representation and expertise from an array of organizations, including state agencies, the energy industry, environmental justice and labor communities, Tribal Nations and more. 

Learn more about MnCIFA’s Board of Directors. 

National Partnerships:

MnCIFA is a member of two nationwide networks of green banks that share the common purpose of investments in clean energy. 

  • The American Green Bank network was formed by the Coalition for Green Capital in 2019 and chartered as the American Green Bank Consortium, a 501©(3) national green bank. The CGC has led the green bank movement since its founding in 2011, working at the federal, state and local levels.
  • U.S. Green Bank 50 (GB50) is a more recently created national organization bringing together green banks across the nation to lead a historic wave of clean energy and climate investment in American communities. GB50 membership includes green banks in nearly all 50 states, including Minnesota.

MnCIFA’s collaborations with the American Green Bank network and GB50 are providing additional capital financing options, as well as expert advice and resources for establishing operational structures and community engagement in green financing. 
 

woman with loan documents smiling

State Partnerships:

 

As a state agency, MnCIFA is able to leverage expertise and resources of other state agencies within the State of Minnesota government enterprise. 
MnCIFA is active as an advisory state agency within the Governor’s Climate Change Subcabinet, which serves to advance Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework. Among MnCIFA’s contributions to the Framework: 
 

  • We are contributing to a clean economy by helping to finance the transition to cleaner energy resources. 
     
  • We are investing to build resilient, equitable communities.
  • We are supporting buildings that are more energy efficient and use cleaner energy. 
     
woman with loan documents smiling

Local Partnerships:

Connecting at the local level with partners is critical to our success. Our local partnerships encompass a diverse array of connections: 

  • MnCIFA consults with local lending authorities, local public agencies, utilities, environmental and energy policy nonprofits, labor organizations, philanthropic organizations, contractors, and other organizations that can provide valuable advice on our activities.
  • MnCIFA has been working to establish partnerships with mission-aligned lenders and community organizations.
  • MnCIFA has also worked to partner with local organizations to consider and act on community-specific needs.
    Among the organizations we have actively engaged and partnered with to leverage public and private sources of capital.
  • Community Development Financial Institutions, which are certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s CDFI Fund as specialized entitites to provide financial products and services in markets not fully served by traditional financial institutions. To find a CDFI that serves your neighborhood, search this Federal Reserve ank of Minneapolis database.
  • Regional Development Organizations were established in Minnesota statute in 1969 to provide technical assistance to local units of government in their region.  There are nine Regional Development Commissions, plus the West Central Initiative, that provide services to northern, central and southwest Minnesota. More on the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations. 
woman with loan documents smiling

Clean Energy Network 

MnCIFA has benefited from Minnesota’s strong network of clean energy organizations. Among the organizations that have advocated for, supported and partner with MnCIFA are: