Changing Culture requires leadership. Community Housing Capital (CHC) is proposing a method for “changing culture” by incenting and fostering support for NeighborWorks Network leadership to integrate solar and other sustainable design and construction techniques into the affordable housing developed and preserved by the NeighborWorks Network.
The purpose of this application for funding is to seek qualified applicants to serve as “A SUSTAINABLE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT HUB” for discussing, teaching, designing, and displaying Solar Technologies to other NeighborWorks organizations or their partners.
CHC is seeking to make 10-12 awards (no more than 3 per state or 5 per NeighborWorks region) for up to $150,000. Awards will be in the form of a forgivable pre-development loan to pay a portion of the cost for dedicated staff in the areas of property management, asset management, real estate development, or policy development (or a combination of these disciplines) to perform feasibility analysis, evaluation and design relating and to undertake the following roles and responsibilities:
- Willingness to propose 2-3 affordable housing projects currently in borrower’s pipeline (either new construction or rehab) that meet the definition of a LIDAC. LIDAC stands for Low-Income and Disadvantaged Community. Properties providing affordable housing that fall within either of the following two categories: (a) multifamily housing with rents not exceeding 30% of 80% AMI for at least half of residential units and with an active affordability covenant from one of the designated housing assistance programs**or (b) naturally-occurring (unsubsidized) affordable housing with rents not exceeding 30% of 80% AMI for at least half of residential units,
- Willingness to use these LIDAC properties as prototypes for how solar energy components can be installed, used, and how savings can be achieved and measured.
- Become a lead “storyteller” on Solar technologies (expertise and experience with other sustainability technologies a plus) from design/installation to maintenance and its pitfalls and benefits. Willingness to do on-site tours, webinars, and speaking engagements with NeighborWorks members or their partners and in Solar policy forums. Willingness to provide public collateral materials and the press on past and new successes, subject to your corporations’ policies
- Execution of a Right of First Refusal in the favor of CHC to discuss financing the proposed prototypes.
- Willingness to accept technical assistance through third-party providers paid for by CHC on maintenance and measurement of the efficiency of Solar technologies
Loans will be forgivable over three years (1/3 of the award/year) if the responsibilities above are maintained and an annual report showing progress against the above objectives for the most recent calendar year is submitted to CHC by no later than February 28th of each year. See a more detailed explanation of terms and conditions of the Forgivable Pre-Development Loan at:
Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Term Sheet
CHC expects to take applications on a rolling basis for Forgivable Pre-Development Loan from August 5, 2025until all funds are committed, which is expected to be not later than September 30th, 2025. The application period will remain open until funds are committed or CHC provides notice otherwise.
Applying for CHC’s Forgivable Pre-Development Loan is a two-step process.
1. Part 1: Submit Initial Online Application:
After an applicant’s submission of a Part One application, CHC will perform an initial screening for organizational and project eligibility based on the criteria of CHC’s Solar for All Program. Should potential applicants meet the baseline eligibility requirements of the Part One application, the potential applicant will be invited to submit Part Two: Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Financing Application.
2. Part Two: Submit Full Online Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Financing Application:
This step is only available to projects that receive a “Notice to Proceed” from CHC on their Part One application.
The Financing Application will expand on information requested within the Part One application and will require the applicant to submit additional information.
Applicants will be required to provide additional details regarding their experience and qualifications, detailed information and supporting documentation related to their proposed projects, and acknowledgement that they have read the requirements of the Solar for All program, which will be required to be fulfilled once a project is approved and moves to closing.
Part One Application: Eligibility Screening
Applicants are required to complete and submit CHC’s Part One application as an initial baseline screen to identify eligibility for a Forgivable Pre-Development Loan.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Applicants may access the Part One application Here: PART ONE APPLICATION: ELIGIBILITY SCREENING FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING CAPITAL'S SOLAR FOR ALL FORGIVABLE LOANS
SUBMITTAL
- Applicants must submit their Part One application online through CHC’s website or through the link provided above.
- Part One applications submitted through other methods, including but not limited to mail or email, will not be accepted.
- Following submission of a Part One application, CHC will strive to provide an eligibility response in 15 days. Notification will be by email to the contact provided.
DETERMINATIONS
- All determinations are based upon the applicant’s certified responses.
- It is possible that a Part One application may be deferred or denied based upon screening for Solar for All Program goals which are outside of the applicant’s control, such as target geography saturation or concentrations within financing product type or project type.
- CHC will provide determinations in writing to Part One applicants, along with a brief rational for any deferral or denial.
APPEALS
- Applicants will have five (5) business days to appeal CHC eligibility determination and/or resubmit to correct for errors by submitting applicable information to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
- CHC will review the appeal and determine future action within five (5) business This action could include reconsideration of eligibility, deferral, or resubmission.
- All eligibility determinations are valid for a period of ninety (90) calendar
INQUIRIES
Prior to submission of a Part One application, questions regarding the Program or the Part One application may be submitted via email. Questions must be limited to issues related to the application process and requirements; CHC will not respond to any unrelated questions that are submitted. Following submission of a Part One application, CHC will only accept questions related to a submitted project via email.
Should applicants have any questions about eligibility requirements or need assistance with projects before being ready to complete the Part One application, please contact:
Part Two Application: Forgivable Pre-Development Loan
Upon receipt of a positive eligibility determination for a project(s) in the Part One application, applicants will be invited to submit a Financing Application for Program financing (Part Two application).
Be advised, these financing products are funded as a whole or in part with federal grant funds and, therefore, federal regulations and contracting requirements will also apply. Application General Requirements, Terms and Conditions at the following link:
Application General Requirements, Terms and Conditions
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Submissions for Part Two Application: Forgivable Pre-Development Loan will be accepted and considered on a rolling-basis during the application period. The application window will remain open until CHC provides notice otherwise, or as of September 30, 2025. The Part Two application can be found here:
PART TWO APPLICATION: COMMUNITY HOUSING CAPITAL'S SOLAR FOR ALL FORGIVABLE LOANS
- Applicants must submit a package or response that follows the instructions provided. All Part Two Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Applications must be signed by an official agent or representative of the company submitting the application1.
- Submission of all costs to be financed will be required, including itemized explanation of all fees and expenses and costs related to any outsourced or contracted work.
- Upon selection of application for financial assistance under the Program, contract terms and conditions will be negotiated between the applicant and CHC but will generally follow the terms outlined in the Forgivable Pre-Development Loan sample term sheet found here:
Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Term Sheet
- All contractual terms and conditions will be reviewed by CHC legal counsel and will include the scope, budget, schedule, and other necessary project items.
SUBMITTAL
- Applicants must submit their Part Two Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Applications through CHC’s website using CHC’s technology platform.
- Financing Applications submitted through other methods, including but not limited to mail or email, will not be accepted.
- Following submission of a Part Two Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Application, CHC will strive to provide a determination within 15 days. Notification will be by email to the contact provided.
DETERMINATIONS
- All determinations are based upon the applicant’s certified responses.
- Should an applicant fail to follow instructions, the applicant will be notified of its deficiencies within the Financing Application and will be provided five business days to correct an application. opportunity to correct
- The Part Two Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Application submission date will be adjusted to the date when the submitted application is deemed to be complete.
- It is possible that an applicant’s Part Two Forgivable Pre-Development Loan Financing Application may be deferred or denied based upon further screening for Program goals which are outside of the applicant’s control, such as target geography saturation or concentrations within financing product type or project type.
- CHC will provide determinations in writing to applicants, along with a brief rational for any deferral or denial by email to the contact provided.
APPEALS
- Applicants will have five (5) business days to appeal CHC’s financing determination by email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . - CHC will review the appeal and determine future action within five (5) business days. This action could include reconsideration of determination.
INQUIRIES
Questions must be limited to issues related to this application process and requirements; CHC will not respond to any unrelated questions that are submitted.
If you have general questions or feedback for CHC, or for project-specific inquiries, please contact CHC at
Submitted general questions and answers may be posted to CHC’s website.
Note: Certain federal contracting requirements are mandated and must be included within the negotiated contract (see Federal Contract Provisions in Appendix). Payment for financing will be contingent on CHC receiving Solar For All grant funding from Inclusive Prosperity Capital.