LPO Better Borrower Challenge

The Challenge 

The LPO Better Borrower Challenge is a leadership initiative challenging Loan Programs Office (LPO) Borrowers to expand and strengthen commitments in job creation, community investment, and supply chain to ensure a secure energy economy that benefits all Americans.  The LPO Better Borrower Challenge improves project certainty, reduces project risk, and supports LPO’s larger mission to advance America’s economic future.  LPO is launching the LPO Better Borrower Challenge to encourage private companies to make voluntary commitments, to highlight progress across the Portfolio, and to identify and share best practices.   

Priority Areas 

There are opportunities to participate in the LPO Better Borrower Challenge aligned with four Priority Areas:  

  • Community and Labor Engagement - Accelerating Project Certainty 
  • Quality Jobs – Ensuring Skilled Local Labor 
  • Local Economic Development – Supply Chain Growth and Diversification 
  • Revitalizing Communities – Improving Energy Access, Environmental Impacts, and Opportunities for Residents 

Spotlights 

Spotlights provide an opportunity to focus on key priorities and areas of shared interest across the Portfolio and across the U.S. Department of Energy.  These Spotlights increase the availability of skilled local labor for projects and community engagement and support: 

  • Women in Construction 
  • Tribal Engagement 
Emerging Leader and Champion Better Borrower Badges

Challenge Levels 

The Challenge establishes two levels for each Priority Area: 

  • Emerging Leader - encourages Borrowers to demonstrate best practices and leadership in one or more of the Priority Areas 
  • Champion - recognizes Borrowers who take extraordinary steps in one or more Priority Areas

Borrower Benefits 

Through participation in the LPO Better Borrower Challenge, Borrowers partner with LPO to identify and share best practices and replicable models, while showing progress across the country.  LPO commits to support Emerging Leaders and Champions through the following: 

Connect 

  • Connect Borrowers to key resources 
  • Collect and share best practices and highlight impactful strategies 
  • Facilitate peer-to-peer learning among Borrowers and convene working groups to discuss barriers and identify solutions 

Recognize Success 

  • Share stories of impact of LPO Borrowers 
  • Provide national recognition to Borrowers for making and meeting commitments 
  • Recognize Borrowers that leverage, develop, and share innovative strategies 

Borrower Commitments 

Borrowers can participate in the LPO Better Borrower Challenge by committing at either the Emerging Leader or Champion level to one or more of these Priority Areas or Spotlights.