The Center by Lendistry is proud to announce the launch of Main Street Goes Green—a bold initiative to help California’s small businesses, contractors, and communities adopt energy-efficient practices, reduce overhead costs, and position themselves for long-term success in a changing economy.
From high utility bills to outdated equipment, small businesses—especially those in historically underserved communities—often face barriers to becoming more efficient. Main Street Goes Green was built to change that. By combining real-world tools, technical assistance, and capital access, The Center is helping to remove those barriers and bring energy-saving solutions within reach.
The initiative features two key components:
- The Main Street Goes Green Website – a new digital resource hub
The website, now live at mainstreetgoesgreen.com, offers sector-specific tools for businesses, contractors, and cities alike. Visitors will find:- Step-by-step implementation guides
- Real-life case studies from small businesses
- Resources for identifying capital and funding
- Practical strategies that prioritize both sustainability and affordability
- The Main Street Goes Green Accelerator – designed for small businesses ready to take action
Valued at $7,500 per participant, the Accelerator offers eligible small businesses across California:- $500–$1,000 grants to kickstart energy-saving improvements
- 10 hours of one-on-one guidance to help tailor and implement upgrades
- Access to capital connections and a peer network to support long-term growth
Applications are open through June 13, 2025. Spaces are limited. Click here to learn more and apply.
Funded by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), Federal Home Loan Bank San Francisco’s 2024 AHEAD Grant, Pacific Premier Bank, and First Citizens Bank, and delivered in partnership with The Little Big Project, the program reflects a broader movement to support local economic vitality through sustainability.
But Main Street Goes Green is about more than individual upgrades. It’s a growing platform for collaboration—designed to support not only business owners, but also the cities, agencies, and organizations that serve them. As a strategic partner, The Center is working alongside local governments and community institutions to integrate energy efficiency into broader efforts for economic development and equity.
“Small businesses shouldn’t have to choose between staying competitive and becoming more sustainable,” said Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President & CEO of The Center by Lendistry. “This initiative is about creating solutions that do both—while building stronger local economies in the process.”
June 2, 2025