“We are committed to expand the active participation of diverse suppliers in our construction and weatherization projects. This partnership supports our Project C commitment to communities and ensures that all have an opportunity to participate in the transition to clean energy.”Īscend Long Island is a partnership of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, t he Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Scott Skodnek Business Development Center and BOC Capital, primarily funded through JPMorgan Chase’s national Ascend program to support minority-owned businesses. “National Grid is proud to partner with Ascend Long Island to actively support minority and women owned businesses,” said Melanie Littlejohn, Vice President of Community and Customer Engagement, National Grid. Twenty-five regional entrepreneurs are participating in the first cohort. The National Grid program is a three-year initiative to create a new pool of regional entrepreneurs who can successfully navigate the procurement process for National Grid’s weatherization projects to energy efficiency and sustainability.
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The partnership with National Grid marks the third expansion of the Ascend Long Island program since it was launched in 2019 to train and mentor diverse entrepreneurs and provide access to capital and contracts. Hofstra University and National Grid have joined forces to expand the Ascend Long Island program to increase opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs to win contracts connected to the utility company’s Home Weatherization program.