Lafayette Square

Oakland Gets Much Needed Moderate-Income Housing

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 25, 2023

 OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In positive news for alleviating the housing crisis, Oakland, California is seeing new premium-quality and accessibly-priced rental properties open for moderate-income workers.

Key Points: 
  • Located in the Merritt neighborhood of Oakland, just one block from Laney College, Artthaus Six is an ideal housing solution for Laney's employees and students.
  • Artthaus Magnolia is located in the heart of West Oakland, surrounded by a number of local restaurants and shops.
  • Located in the West Oakland neighborhood of Ralph Bunche, Artthaus Brush offers 90 studio apartments across the freeway from downtown Oakland.
  • The Oakland skyline will forever be changed by Riaz Capital's continuing development efforts as the company does its part to help solve the Bay Area's housing crisis by providing much-needed accessible housing to the community.

Accor Hotel Workers Travel to Paris to Report Disrespect and Intimidation at U.S. Hotels as Part of UNITE HERE Delegation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 20, 2023

Accor hotel workers from two U.S. hotels traveled to Paris this week to describe disrespect, intimidation, and other problems with working conditions they have experienced at their hotels.

Key Points: 
  • Accor hotel workers from two U.S. hotels traveled to Paris this week to describe disrespect, intimidation, and other problems with working conditions they have experienced at their hotels.
  • They are demanding a fair process to decide on unionization free from intimidation, threats, or bribes.
  • The American workers met with Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin and presented to French Accor employees who are gathered in Paris for the annual European Works Council.
  • The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square are currently owned by Brookfield Asset Management and operated by Accor.

Accor Workers Report Disrespect and Intimidation, According to New Website by UNITE HERE

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 23, 2023

The hotel workers’ union UNITE HERE has launched AccorHotelAlert.org , a website to inform the public that workers have reported disrespect, intimidation, and other problems with working conditions at two Accor-operated hotels in the United States.

Key Points: 
  • The hotel workers’ union UNITE HERE has launched AccorHotelAlert.org , a website to inform the public that workers have reported disrespect, intimidation, and other problems with working conditions at two Accor-operated hotels in the United States.
  • Workers at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, a luxury resort in California’s Sonoma Wine Country, and the Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square are organizing to join the UNITE HERE union because they want good jobs, safety, and respect.
  • They are demanding a fair process to decide on unionization free from intimidation, threats, or bribes.
  • The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square are currently owned by Brookfield Asset Management and operated by Accor.

Solstice and Reactivate Expand Community Solar Partnership, Bringing Equitable Clean Energy Access to Households Across Illinois

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 15, 2023

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Solstice Power Technologies (Solstice) and Reactivate, a joint venture powered by Invenergy and Lafayette Square, have entered into an agreement whereby Solstice will provide subscriber acquisition and ongoing subscriber management services to Reactivate community solar projects across the United States over the next several years.

Key Points: 
  • Reactivate and Solstice will collaborate to achieve their shared goals to deliver hundreds of megawatts of community solar projects to low-income, environmental justice and energy transition communities nationwide.
  • In January 2023, Reactivate and Solstice held a successful open enrollment launch for three low-income community solar projects through the Illinois Solar For All : Community Solar program; these projects have now surpassed 75% of their subscription capacity.
  • Solstice has already enrolled more than 1,500 income-eligible households in the Illinois solar farms, partnering with community organizations and municipalities to simplify the enrollment process.
  • By bringing their combined strengths together, Solstice and Reactivate will unlock greater savings for communities and support an equitable clean energy transition.

Lafayette Square Provides Financing to Support Growth of DartPoints

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 15, 2023

Headquartered in Dallas, TX, DartPoints is a leading provider of colocation, cloud, and cybersecurity services for edge markets.

Key Points: 
  • Headquartered in Dallas, TX, DartPoints is a leading provider of colocation, cloud, and cybersecurity services for edge markets.
  • "DartPoints' focus on serving the needs of customers and end-users in mid-size edge markets is well-aligned with Lafayette Square's theory of change," said Aquil Stinson, Director, Lafayette Square.
  • By delivering these solutions, Lafayette Square aims to reduce operational risk for its portfolio companies, help them attract and retain talent, and improve job quality.
  • "This financing supported the continued success and expansion of our business," said Scott Willis, CEO, DartPoints.

Randstad USA to host third annual 'Flourishing Under Fire' event focused on embracing the value of workforce equity

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

ATLANTA, May 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With the world of work changing rapidly, it is increasingly important that businesses and their workers recognize the needs of a dynamic labor market. Workers' values and expectations have evolved, with many requiring companies to adopt and implement new policies that celebrate equity, diversity and inclusion. To address these concerns, Randstad USA is bringing together top corporate executives and leaders for its third annual "Flourishing Under Fire" symposium for a discussion on how to help untapped groups thrive in corporate settings.

Key Points: 
  • Workers' values and expectations have evolved, with many requiring companies to adopt and implement new policies that celebrate equity, diversity and inclusion.
  • To address these concerns, Randstad USA is bringing together top corporate executives and leaders for its third annual "Flourishing Under Fire" symposium for a discussion on how to help untapped groups thrive in corporate settings.
  • "At our third annual Flourishing Under Fire program, we will have the necessary conversations to help make sure this is the reality."
  • "Flourishing under Fire is another great example of Randstad's ongoing commitment to becoming the world's most equitable and specialized talent company."

Basis Investment Group Announces New Partnership with Lafayette Square

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Basis Investment Group (Basis), a national commercial real estate (CRE) debt and equity investment platform, today announced a new origination partnership with Lafayette Square, a national investment platform aiming to create investment opportunities in overlooked places and underserved markets.

Key Points: 
  • Basis Investment Group (Basis), a national commercial real estate (CRE) debt and equity investment platform, today announced a new origination partnership with Lafayette Square, a national investment platform aiming to create investment opportunities in overlooked places and underserved markets.
  • “We are proud to partner with Lafayette Square to expand opportunities in overlooked and underserved markets,” said Tammy K. Jones, CEO and Founder of Basis.
  • “The partnership with Basis, supporting the deployment of property-level capital, addresses our focus on place.
  • Basis has invested and loaned more than $(1.3B) with qualified diverse owners and operators.

Lafayette Square Announces Up to $50 Million in Financing to Expand Quick Service Restaurant Franchise Ownership in Underserved Communities

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 30, 2023

MIAMI, March 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square has signed an agreement with Yum! Brands, Inc. to lend up to $50 million to new and existing underrepresented Yum! franchisees identified by Yum! Brands as part of a new financing program called Franchise Fast Start.

Key Points: 
  • Brands
    MIAMI, March 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square has signed an agreement with Yum!
  • Brands, Inc. to lend up to $50 million to new and existing underrepresented Yum!
  • Brands as part of a new financing program called Franchise Fast Start.
  • It is a compelling opportunity to expand access to capital to underserved people and communities and achieve impact at scale."

Solstice begins enrollment on Reactivate's Illinois Solar for All community solar projects

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Solstice Power Technologies (Solstice), a mission-driven service provider specialized in customer management services for community solar development, has officially begun subscriber enrollment on three low-to-moderate-income (LMI) focused projects developed by Reactivate, a joint venture powered by Invenergy and Lafayette Square. These projects provide impactful benefits to income-qualified and energy transition communities and will deliver enough renewable energy to power an estimated 1,200 homes, providing customers a total projected utility bill savings of $12 million over 20 years.

Key Points: 
  • Community solar bridges that gap, providing the opportunity for more households to access local renewable energy with monthly savings on their electricity bill.
  • The subscription offering from Solstice and Reactivate will provide income-eligible residents with one of the deepest community solar discounts available as well as an enrollment bonus from Solstice.
  • To learn more about the ILSFA program and pre-qualification information, visit the Solstice guide to Illinois Solar for All.
  • The Cool Cities Committee was a key advocate for local renewable energy projects and is a local Solstice enrollment partner.

SBA Approves Lafayette Square's First SBIC License

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

MIAMI, Feb. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square, a national investment platform, announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved the firm's application for its first Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) license. The license will complement the firm's existing leverage facilities including financing from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Key Points: 
  • Lafayette Square USA, Inc., a business development company sponsored by Lafayette Square, received approval from SBA to operate a dropdown SBIC.
  • MIAMI, Feb. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square , a national investment platform, announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved the firm's application for its first Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) license.
  • This will be the third license Damien Dwin, Founder and CEO of Lafayette Square, has been granted by the SBA.
  • The platform tracks and measures the impact that Lafayette Square's SBIC has on improving the lives of low-and-moderate income workers.