CAHEC, a community investment organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, has published its fourth annual ESG Impact Report, detailing progress in sustainability, community investment, and organizational resilience throughout 2025. The report expands its scope to include CAHEC and its affiliates—CAHEC Management, Inc. (CMI) and CAHEC Properties Corporation (CPC)—offering a more complete picture of the organization's mission to foster thriving communities through affordable housing and equitable opportunities.
The 2025 report features a refreshed materiality assessment that incorporates perspectives from internal and external stakeholders across all three entities. This updated assessment reinforces community impact as a core priority and provides a stronger foundation for CAHEC's ESG strategy. President and CEO Dana Boole stated, "Our refreshed materiality assessment confirms what drives us. Community is still at the core of everything we do, and our accountability to stakeholders matters more than ever. This report provides a stronger foundation to measure what matters and illustrate the full scope of CAHEC's impact."
A standout highlight is CAHEC New Markets' receipt of a $75 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's CDFI Fund. This brings cumulative NMTC awards to $345 million and total investments to $270 million, supporting high-distress communities. Projected outcomes include more than 3,500 jobs created, 5,400 student seats, 1,650 childcare spots, and 662 shelter and recovery beds. These figures underscore the role of targeted tax credit investments in revitalizing underserved areas.
The report also details strong portfolio results: $162.1 million in equity raised, 39 communities and 1,650 units syndicated, $374,100 in community investment grants, and 4,694 residents served. Employee-driven community engagement through the Team Outreach program contributed 1,340 volunteer hours across 13 partner organizations. CAHEC continues voluntary alignment with leading frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB FN-AC), and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
This announcement matters because it demonstrates how community development financial institutions are scaling impact in affordable housing and economic development across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. The $75 million NMTC allocation, part of a cumulative $345 million, signals sustained federal support for high-distress communities and could catalyze further private investment. For residents and local economies, the projected outcomes—jobs, educational seats, childcare spots, and shelter beds—represent tangible benefits. For the affordable housing industry, CAHEC's transparent ESG reporting and framework alignment set a benchmark for accountability. Stakeholders seeking more information can visit CAHEC's website.
