Last month, Knox St. Studios, in collaboration with WocStar and with the support of the City and County of Durham's economic development, hosted the "Build Where The Billions Are" event. We are proud to have held this half-day conference at the beautifully designed Durham County Public Library, a LEED-certified green building, which perfectly set the tone for a day focused on sustainability and the evolving Green Economy.
The event exceeded our expectations, with over 100 RSVPs and a great turnout of business owners, investors, and industry leaders eager to explore the potential of the Green Economy. The energy in the room was palpable, and we were encouraged by the caliber of small business talent that showed up. It's clear that Durham is home to a wealth of innovators ready to tap into the opportunities presented by this transformative movement.
One of the highlights of the event was the discussion surrounding the capital that will be provided through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) via the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator. This fund offers tremendous promise for supporting small businesses and catalyzing sustainable practices in our local economy. Seeing the alignment between public and private efforts to grow the green sector was inspiring, and it reinforced our commitment to continuing this work.
A special thanks goes out to our panelists, who brought incredible insights and expertise to the event:
Sherrell Dorsey, who moderated the event with skill and grace.
Leonardo Williams, Mayor of the City of Durham, who shared his vision for how the city will continue to lead in sustainable development.
Amir Kirkwood, CEO of Justice Climate Fund, who spoke on the importance of climate justice in green investments.
Donna J. Gambrell, CEO of Appalachian Community Capital, who highlighted the pivotal role CDFIs will play in driving capital to underserved communities.
Lenwood V. Long, Sr., President/CEO of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, for his insights on inclusive economic growth.
Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne, CEO of WocStar Capital and Co-founder of the Wocstar Fund, who inspired us all with her passion for empowering diverse entrepreneurs.
Wilson Lester, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Partners in Equity, for his continued leadership in creating equitable financial solutions.
Tammie Hall-Roberts, Assistant County Manager for Community Prosperity, for sharing her vision for economic prosperity in Durham.
Thom Ruhe, CEO of NC IDEA, for his expertise on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the green sector.
We are excited to announce that this is only the beginning. In 2025, we plan to host more "Build Where The Billions Are" events, where we will continue to bring together bright minds and forward-thinking organizations to collaborate on solutions that advance the Green Economy.
Over the past 12 months, there have been significant funding commitments made to foster the growth of the Green Economy, particularly in areas like sustainability, clean tech, and climate tech. Our event served as a reminder of the incredible potential for growth and innovation within this sector, and we’re thrilled to help catalyze these efforts.
We invite all green industry business owners, investors, and industry leaders to join us at future events as we continue to explore funding opportunities and strategic approaches to thrive in this exciting new economic frontier.
Thank you again to all who attended and contributed to the success of "Build Where The Billions Are." Let’s keep the momentum going!
— Knox St. Studios
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