North Branch Works is one of four nonprofit organizations to be awarded a grant from Prosperity Now to create a Green Business Accelerator in Chicago.

This grant will enable NBW to organize business & entrepreneurial service organizations, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and other valued partners to support businesses entering the green economy.

Prosperity Now is a national nonprofit headquartered in Washington, DC. Chicago was one of four cities selected to participate along with Atlanta, Dallas, and Philadelphia.

Over the next 12 months, NBW will work with our partners to create a network that supports businesses entering the green economy. This work is needed to ensure that all Chicago businesses can participate in this growing sector.

As Prosperity Now notes, in 2023 $45 billion in federal funding was allocated to clean energy, environmental justice, and sustainability, but “without a deliberate focus on inclusion, racial disparities in green business participation will persist worsening existing wealth gaps.” NBW will play a vital role in ensuring equitable access to these opportunities.

Please click here for a flyer with more information.

If you are business service organization or Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) looking to participate in this initiative, please click here to complete a short application.

If you are an expert who is ready to partner with us to help growing businesses, please go to this page.

We will have more information for business owners in the coming weeks, but please contact NBW at jonathan@northbranchworks.org for more information.