Browning The Green Space Inc

Business development: our business development initiatives enable entrepreneurs and founders working in climatetech, clean energy contractors of color, and investors of color working in clean energy gain access to resources including networks, contracts, capital, accelerators and incubators, and technical assistance. Our programing in this area includes: i.access (accelerating contractors of color in energy for sustainable success): bgs designed, developed and piloted a new 8-week boot camp for aspiring clean energy business owners. The goal of access is to build wealth within black and brown communities by creating new contracting businesses, who will in turn boost adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy within those communities. Through weekly virtual classes and independent assignments, access participants learn business fundamentals including customer discovery, product-market-fit, and go-to- market strategy, as well as storytelling and presentation skills. The 2022 pilot program served 15 participants, including 9 new businesses and 6 aspiring business owners, across multiple trades: electrical, hvac, ironwork, energy efficiency, engineering, roofing, insulation. Our closing showcase, in which access participants presented the business pitches they developed during the program, hosted over 50 attendees from our partner program, state and municipal supplier diversity officers, trade unions, and others from the clean energy ecosystem. Bgs will continue to support access graduates through mentorship and supplemental webinars, workshops, networking opportunities, and other resources. Graduated 47 entrepreneurs and small business owners through the 3 cohorts: 26 newly established business owners and 21 aspiring business owners. Ii.accel : advancing climatetech and clean energy leaders program (accel) is a new 12-month climatetech accelerator program for early stage bipoc-led startups that combines a curated curriculum, mentorship that leverages the bgs network, incubation at greentown labs in somerville and houston, and non-dilutive grants of 25k per team to support the startup's growth. Bgs worked with greentown to design the program, recruit applicants, and select over 3 cohorts supported 21 bipoc climate tech companies.

Community development: our community development initiatives increase the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services in communities of color and/or low-income communities by not only increasing awareness but also by advocating to remove structural disincentives. Our programing in this area includes: i.mass save community first partnership: bgs is a participant in a community first partnership (cfp) program to increase participation in energy efficiency programs in massachusetts gateway cities and other underserved communities. Ii.doe communities leap: bgs is leading a doe communities leap (local energy action program) pilot in lawrence, ma that provides technical assistance to support community collaboration amongst national labs and other experts, government and non-governmental partners, community-based organizations, and investor-owned utilities, as well as environmental, economic development, and equity organizations. Iii.nrel american-made challenges jedi (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) power connector: bgs provides services related to recruitment, outreach, and network growth, as well as competitor & programmatic jedi advising. In the jedi power connector role, bgs supports nrel's goal to recruit founders and business owners from disadvantaged communities, support team diversity, help participating organizations incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their company culture, and understand underlying problems limiting clean energy adoption in underserved communities. As part of this work, bgs provided recruitment and outreach support for the amc community clean energy coalition prize that included outreach and recruitment support, teaming events that engaged over 87 organizations and companies, a high school student "hackathon" for 50+ students across three 9th grade environmental studies classes at boston green academy, and direct application support for 10 teams. Community connector initiative (cci): bgs community connector initiative (cci) seeks to support the development of innovative and diverse applicant teams for state clean energy grant funding opportunities to maximize access to capital in environmental justice communities across massachusetts. The initiative aims to accomplish this by creating approachable and engaging opportunities for cbos and partners that are new to the clean energy sector to learn how to navigate the clean energy and climate funding ecosystem in massachusetts. Cci services focus on concept development and educational workshops, team development support, funding opportunity matching, and connection to direct support from bgs and other resource partners.

Membership initiative: the bgs coalition is a cross-sector initiative designed to connect, support and educate organization leaders as they work to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (deij) principles internally within their own organizations and collectively throughout the clean energy and climatetech sectors. Our members include clean energy and climate companies, non-profits, venture capital firms, and grassroots organizations that have made a pledged commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (deij) in support of a just energy transition for black and brown communities. Bgs launched its membership by invitation only in 2022 and reached 36 founding members, and opened membership to the public at the start of 2023.