North Carolina Food Hub Supports Local Sustainable Farming with Help of CDFI Climate Financing
Client: Firsthand Foods
Client Location: Durham, NC
CDFI: Partner Community Capital
CDFI Service Area: North Carolina, West Virginia
Financing and technical assistance for small business, including climate-related financing, through OFN’s Finance Justice Fund
Firsthand Foods is a women-owned food hub and certified B Corporation that sells pasture-raised meats from North Carolina farms. In a world of commerce dominated by global supply chain arrangements, Firsthand Foods offers a robust market for products from local, small-scale livestock producers that consumers can trust were raised humanely in a spirit of fairness and stewardship.
Founders Jennifer Curtis and Tina Levy first met in 2008 through a shared interest in the well-being of family farmers and in preserving their state’s natural beauty and agricultural heritage. They saw in each other kindred spirits energized by solving problems and believing that business can and should be a tool for creating social and environmental good. Their shared values led them to launch Firsthand Foods, based in Durham, North Carolina.
Firsthand Foods Finds Alternative Funding to Expand Business
About 10 years ago during their first few years in business, Curtis and Levy learned about local community development financial institution (CDFI) Partner Community Capital (formerly known as Natural Capital Investment Fund) after meeting former CEO Rick Larson at various sustainable agriculture conferences. In need of capital to grow their young business, they were successful in securing $40,000 from the CDFI.
Over the past decade, Firsthand Foods has continued to expand and strengthen the local food economy. In 2022, Firsthand Foods was ready to further expand its cold storage capacity, including a freezer and cooler to hold inventory of their pasture-raised meat products. Having built a track record and solid financials, the business turned to traditional sources to finance the equipment.
However, after receiving initial loan approval with decent terms, the mainstream bank they were working with withdrew support, claiming that the business’s financials were too risky following an unplanned delay in construction plans. Fortunately, Firsthand Foods’ longstanding relationship with Partner Community Capital helped them get the financing they needed.
Expanded capacity has allowed Firsthand Foods to better manage inventory, meet the needs of their growing customer base, and source more animals from their network of family farmers throughout North Carolina.
“Partner Community Capital’s ongoing financial support is instrumental in our strategic expansion at Firsthand Foods as well as our commitment to sustainability. We used our loan from PCAP to purchase a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient, 900 square foot walk-in cooler/freezer,” said Jennifer Curtis, CEO of Firsthand Foods. “This crucial new piece of equipment allows us to store and deliver even more responsibly sourced meats to our communities,” she added.
CDFIs Promote Environmental Sustainability
From healthier food systems to net-zero, energy efficient construction, many CDFIs across the country have been financing sustainable businesses, homes, and community facilities for decades. In fact, more than 50% of OFN members offer clean finance products. Still, there is much more work to do.
Today, CDFIs across the country are gearing up to reach far deeper in low-income communities most negatively impacted by climate change through the EPA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
The GGRF aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other sources of air pollution, lower energy costs, create clean energy jobs, mobilize additional private capital, and strengthen local economies.
Learn about OFN’s $2.3 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program under the GGRF and how your organization can participate here.
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