The Center for Impact Finance at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy offers a wide range of applied practitioner trainings in community development and equitable climate finance.
UNH-Inclusiv Solar and Green Lending – Training & Technical Assistance Program
This program provides mission-focused community lending institutions (CDFIs, MDIs, credit unions, loan funds, and community banks) with the knowledge, skills, practices, and ongoing support to engage in equitable solar and green lending.
- Introduction to Solar Lending (self-paced)
- Green Home Improvement and Consumer Solar Lending (instructor-led, certificate)
- Commercial Solar Lending (instructor-led, certificate)
- PLANNED:
- Resilient Solar & Storage (self-paced)
- Multifamily Decarbonization (instructor-led, certificate)
- "200-level" Commercial Solar trainings in: Small business lending, Multifamily affordable housing, Community facilities, and Community solar (instructor-led, certificate)
Community Solar Development – Community Power Accelerator
This series prepares community-based organizations, small or new solar developers, and other to develop, finance, and build "credit-ready" community-benefiting solar projects that deliver benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
- Introduction to Community Solar (self-paced)
- Foundations of Community Solar Development (self-paced, 8 modules, certificate option)
- Learning Lab: Community Solar Development (instructor-led, 8 modules, certificate)
- PLANNED: New Foundations courses in...
- Commercial-scale solar (2025 Q1)
- Microgrids (2025 Q2)
- Virtual power plants and distributed energy resource aggregations (2026 Q1)
Other Education and Training for Community Financial Institutions
- Fundamentals of the Opportunity Finance Industry – presented in partnership with the Opportunity Finance Network (instructor-led, certificate)
- CU CDFI Practitioner Certificate – presented in partnership with Inclusiv (instructor-led, certificate)
- MA in Community Development (through the Carsey School of Public Policy)
The Center is frequently adding more programs and courses – including continuing education courses offered through the Carsey School and the University of New Hampshire. For more information, contact us.
Solar and Green Lending Training
The UNH-Inclusiv Solar and Green Lending Training & Technical Assistance Program provides mission-focused community lending institutions with the knowledge, skills, practices, and ongoing support to engage in equitable solar and green lending.
Community Solar Development Training
The Community Power Accelerator Series prepares community-based organizations, small or new solar developers, and others to develop, finance, and build "credit-ready" community solar projects that deliver benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Fundamentals of the Opportunity Finance Industry Certificate
This virtual three-day course is designed for practitioners who are interested in expanding their knowledge of the basics of the opportunity finance industry, which provides financing and financial services to low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities. This is a non-credit, certificate course jointly offered by UNH's Carsey School of Public Policy and Opportunity Finance Network (OFN).
Credit Ready Meat and Poultry Lending Initiative
The Initiative training and technical assistance is designed for individuals who work at community-based lending institutions (credit unions, CDFIs, and community banks) and other entities eligible for the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program or the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program who are interested in increasing their organizations' activity in the meat and poultry processing space. TA and the training materials are available by request; the curriculum is in the process of being adapted to a self-paced course. Contact Hannah Vargason for more information.
