Capital Access Charrette

Obtaining Capital For Investments In Pollution Prevention Equipment And/Or Site Remediation

The Maryland EFC was asked to host a charrette for the Access to Capital Project of the U.S. EPA Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation's Common Sense Initiative. The Access to Capital Project aims to characterize and identify methods of overcoming barriers faced by metal platers and others in obtaining the necessary capital for investments in pollution prevention equipment and/or site remediation. By increasing access to funds needed for pollution prevention equipment or remediation, U.S. EPA hopes to reduce emissions from platers and reduce the risk to human health and the environment posed by contaminated plating operations, printed circuit board manufacturers and others.

The charrette, conducted in January 1997, gathered finance experts and others interested in identifying ways in which to help these industries access funds for improvements to help abate pollution. After a presentation by industry representatives on the nature and unique characteristics of the industries in question, the panel of finance experts engaged industry representatives in a dialogue on problems they have encountered in securing funding. After a thorough analysis of the situation, panelists made recommendations on how to help metal finishers and others better secure funding. A follow-up plan will be developed to help the Access to Capital Project realize its goals of helping these industries implement pollution prevention processes and remediation of their property.

In addition, the report generated by the charrette introduced a wide audience to the challenges of inadequate access to capital for environmental practices.