In order to enhance its ability to fulfill its strategic investment goals, the Initiative joined the Investors Circle, a national network of investors focused on transitioning to a sustainable economy.

“We are trying to attract more private capital to equity needs and gaps that exist throughout our sector,” said Abdul Rasheed, chief executive officer of the Initiative. “Before the economy went bad, we were able to get debt financing and investment, but what has always been missing has been venture capital and equity to leverage the debt and other resources available in the market place.”

The Investors Circle is a network of investors similar to Initiative Capital that provide patient capital to companies that have a social impact focus, such as minority or women-owned businesses or those that serve economically distressed regions. Membership will provide the Initiative with access to a national pool of investors with similar goals and missions, as well as current thought leadership around what new investment tools and corporate structures need to look like.

“The Investors Circle represents socially conscious angel and institutional investors that want to invest in and support small businesses, minority and women-owned businesses and environmentally sustainable projects that employ individuals like those that our sector serves,” said Rasheed. “They share our values about achieving a triple bottom line benefit from their investing. It’s a network of socially conscious investors who care about people, the environment and quality of life and opportunity for all.”

Membership in the Investors Circle will allow the Initiative to build beneficial relationships with other investors and enhance its ability to provide impact investing to the community economic development sector in N.C.

JAN. 16, 2012 – The N.C. Community Development Initiative has joined the Investors Circle, a national network of investors focused on transitioning to a sustainable economy.

“The Investors Circle represents socially conscious angel and institutional investors that invest in and support small businesses, minority and women-owned businesses and environmentally sustainable projects that employ individuals like those our sector serves,” said Initiative CEO Abdul Rasheed. “They share our values about achieving a triple bottom line benefit from their investing and they care about people, the environment, quality of life and opportunity for all.”

The Investors Circle is an organization of investors that, similar to Initiative Capital, provide patient capital to companies that have a social impact focus, such as minority and women-owned businesses and those that serve economically distressed regions.

Membership provides access to a national pool of investors with similar goals and missions as well as current thought leadership about effective new investment tools and corporate structures.

For more information on the Investors Circle, visit www.investorscircle.net.

The N.C. Community Development Initiative leads North Carolina’s collaborative community economic development effort, driving innovation, investment and action to create prosperous, sustainable communities. For more information, visit www.ncinitiative.org or call (919) 828-5655.