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RuralWorks Partners

Impact Investments, Workforce & Economic Mobility

Highlights

$2.5 MillionInvestment from the Impact First Fund

Created by a national Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) and an impact investment manager, RuralWorks Partners is a growth stage fund addressing the wealth and opportunity gap in rural communities by investing in companies that create good jobs and benefit the environment.

RuralWorks provides small and mid-sized rural businesses with capital to scale their enterprises.

Person holding a fish with both hands, smiling, wearing a black shirt.
RuralWorks Investee Sara Rademaker, CEO and Owner of American Unagi, holding a fresh eel.

As of August 2024, RuralWorks has invested in two entities:

  • TimberHP: TimberHP produces wood fiber insulation, an eco-friendly alternative to environmentally toxic materials like fiberglass. Operating in a repurposed paper mill in Madison, Maine, the company aims to bring over 140 quality jobs to a rural community where more than 25% of people live in poverty.
  • American Unagi: American Unagi provides a U.S.-based and more sustainable alternative to imported eel. The company disrupts the traditional eel supply chain that runs from Maine to China and reduces emissions associated with shipping eels. American Unagi aims to create quality jobs in a rural community where close to 20% of the population lives in poverty.

Although these businesses are still in their early growth days, both are well-positioned both to create quality jobs and to reduce emissions.

We're excited to partner with Social Finance to advance our shared mission of driving positive impact in rural communities. Their investment empowers us to scale sustainable businesses that generate economic resilience and environmental benefits. Together, we’re turning capital into measurable outcomes, transforming lives, and building a more sustainable future for rural America.

Louisa Schibli

Director of Impact and Engagement at RuralWorks

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WEBSITE NOTICES 

All information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed or used as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, interest or shares in the fund described above. No offer or solicitation may be made prior to the delivery offering documents, which will contain additional information including disclosures relating to risk factors and conflicts of interest. If you have any questions, please contact Social Finance at info@socialfinance.org. 

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