Boston Community Loan Fund and BCC’s SUN Initiative were among the local investment opportunities featured in Slow Money Boston’s “Localize Your Money and Invest Responsibly” panel on January 26th at the Non-Profit Center in downtown Boston.
Jess Brooks, BCC’s Vice President of Development and Communications, joined Maggie Cohn from the Cooperative Fund of New England and Charles Sandmel from First Affirmative Action Network to discuss ways in which investors can channel savings and investments to improve our communities.
Brooks described how BCC’s Loan Fund was created by small investors interested in putting their investment capital to work in building healthy communities. Today, investors with as little as $1000 can make loans to support affordable housing, child care facilities, schools, health centers and community facilities, and earn interest of 1-3% per year, depending on the terms of their investments. Brooks also described BCC’s Stabilizing Urban Neighborhoods Initiative, which helps families and individuals facing foreclosure repurchase their homes with mortgages they can afford.