Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Since establishing a vital partnership with the City of St. Petersburg in 2018, the nonprofit SELF organization has been dedicated to supporting local homeowners through accessible, low-cost loans for critical home repairs and upgrades. This collaboration enabled SELF to open a satellite office in the city, making it easier for residents to access SELF’s Green Home Loans and related services.
SELF has helped more than 500 households in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County and has provided more than $5 million in loans to assist homeowners in recovering from hurricanes and making essential home improvements. Typical projects include new roofs and repairs, high-efficiency HVAC systems, solar photovoltaic systems with batteries, impact windows and more. These upgrades improve safety, resilience, sustainability and affordability for families across the region.
A local homeowner, Rae, said, “Being on a fixed income, my insurance would cover some of the repairs, but without this program, I would not have been able to afford the remaining costs. SELF made it possible for me to complete the repairs and better prepare my home for future hurricanes while bringing it in line with current codes.”
Since its inception, SELF has helped more than 1,500 residents in Pinellas County, including seniors on fixed incomes, women, U.S. veterans and homeowners with disabilities. The program has leveraged the city’s original seed grant at a 17-to-1 ratio and has become self-sustaining at scale, operating without additional grants from the City of St. Petersburg since 2021. SELF’s dedicated full-time staff continues to manage the Gulf Coast regional office, ensuring ongoing support and service to the community.
Duanne Andrade, chief executive officer of SELF, praised the collaboration, saying, “The leadership role of the City of St. Petersburg and our innovative public-private partnership have been instrumental in expanding access to sustainable and resilient home improvements. We are proud to work alongside the city to strengthen neighborhoods and empower homeowners through affordable and attainable financing solutions. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the City of St. Petersburg and serving the needs of its residents.”
About the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF)
Founded in Florida in 2010, SELF is a nonprofit and a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to helping homeowners finance energy efficiency, clean energy and climate resilience upgrades. SELF has deployed nearly $70 million in affordable financing, assisting thousands of families in reducing energy costs, improving quality of life and strengthening resilience against climate-related risks such as hurricanes and heat waves.
Gulf Coast Loan Officer Richard Montoya can be reached at richardm@solarenergyloanfund.org. Learn more at www.solarenergyloanfund.org.
Media Contact:
Sherri Herrera
Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF)
sherrih@solarenergyloanfund.org
772-618-3497 | 1-833-476-7353
www.solarenergyloanfund.org