The Ypsilanti Performance Space

The Project

Ypsilanti Performance Space, known locally as The YPSI, is a community-rooted arts and culture organization housed in a historic Gothic church in downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan. The YPSI hosts music and cultural events while centering sustainability as a core part of its identity. 

With catalytic financing from the BQuest Foundation, The YPSI was able to bridge a critical funding gap for a $529,000 Michigan Public Service Commission grant. The grant funded the installation of four BEAM Global EV ARC solar-powered EV charging systems at their downtown location. These chargers are self-contained, requiring no grid connection or trenching, and capable of operating even during outages. Each unit runs entirely on sunlight, making them a natural fit for an organization already committed to clean energy.

The chargers are designed for exactly the kind of community this project serves. Many Ypsilanti residents live in older homes or apartments without the infrastructure for home charging, making access to affordable public EV charging an equity issue as much as an environmental one. By installing four charging stations powered by solar, The YPSI has made EV charging available to people who would otherwise have little to no access.

The YPSI came to BQuest with a grant award letter in hand and a clear installation plan but, like many small nonprofits, they faced a common obstacle: the grant was structured as a reimbursement. With an annual budget a fraction of the project's total cost, and every traditional lender saying no, the project came within weeks of being cancelled. BQuest provided the bridge financing needed to move forward. Within months, the chargers were delivered and operational. The reimbursement has since been received, the loan repaid, and the capital redeployed to support new community clean energy projects.

The YPSI reflects a type of organization that exists throughout communities across the country that are mission-driven, well-prepared, and capable of delivering real impact but locked out of traditional finance due to size, collateral, or balance sheet. Catalytic capital can unlock these projects, and because it is repaid, it can be deployed again and again.