RuralWorks selected as a finalist for the Grunin Prize

We are thrilled and honored that RuralWorks and Conduit Capital have been selected as a Grunin Prize finalist for the RuralWorks joint venture between Conduit Capital and Community Reinvestment Fund, USA.

We are so proud that our very own Terry Farley, COO of RuralWorks and Melissa Obegi, President of Conduit Capital were recognized for their important contributions in launching the joint venture and greatly appreciate the support of our legal teams at Community Reinvestment Fund USA, Ice Miller, Perkins Coie, Stinson, and Akin Gump. 

RuralWorks delivers much needed growth capital to rural businesses that are doing their part to protect our planet and generate community wealth and economic resilience. By investing in ready-to-scale rural businesses that create quality jobs and protect the environment, either by demonstrating a commitment to environmentally sustainable business practices or by providing solutions that address climate change or other environmental challenges, RuralWorks can deliver meaningful impact to both underserved rural communities and the environment. 

Our strategy is timely. Rural America is undergoing systemic change – agriculture is going digital, rural broadband is being funded, and rural development hubs are creating and strengthening rural innovation ecosystems. Public and private organizations are embracing the need to protect our planet. We have an opportunity to ensure these changes combine risk-appropriate financial returns with long-term benefits to employees, local communities, and the environment. 

Our unique platform – a partnership between one of the nation’s largest non-profit Community Development Financial Institutions and a leading impact investment platform – and our collaboration with local communities provides access to an extensive array of partners, resources, expertise, and experience that help drive profits as well as purpose.

About the Grunin Prize

Launched at New York University’s School of Law with the support of Ashoka, the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship awards the Grunin Prize to reward the innovation, scalability and potential impact of solutions developed by lawyers to advance social entrepreneurship and impact investing.