Success Story: ELOC Empowers ADL Solutions to Build Community Solar Farm on South Side of Chicago

Before ADL Solutions could break ground on a new solar farm on the South Side of Chicago, Joseph Smith ran into a challenge that’s familiar to many small clean-energy companies. The grant he secured wouldn’t arrive until the project was complete.  

Without upfront capital, Joseph risked missing deadlines for critical federal incentives and losing momentum on a project designed to bring clean, reliable power to a disinvested community. 

Elevate’s Line of Credit (ELOC) filled the gap with a bridge loan, enabling Joseph to move forward with the project.  

“ELOC made the project feasible and enabled me to take advantage of federal incentives for solar before they expire,” Joseph said. “We had some really hard deadlines to make, and that’s hard for smaller developers. It’s easier for bigger developers who have a large purse and lots of capacity.” 

ELOC is a one-year program that provides capital and coaching to small business contractors. It helps small businesses cover upfront costs for materials, payroll, and other expenses so they can take on more work and don’t have to worry about cash flow constraints.  

The loan increased ADL Solutions’ capacity and allowed Joseph to hire an additional employee to support with the project. Without the funding, Joseph said he wouldn’t have been able to move forward with the project as quickly.  

In addition to the funding, Joseph received financial coaching from Builder’s Avenue, a non-profit that partners with Elevate to help entrepreneurs plan, manage, fund, and build viable companies. 

“I’m still connected with Builder’s Avenue, and I could probably ask them for anything as things come up,” Joseph said. “You’re not going to get that from a traditional bank.” 

Joseph said the entire process felt intentional and approachable. The program coordinators made him feel comfortable reaching out any time he needed support.  

“The people involved want to see you succeed,” Joseph said. “Everyone was so friendly and open. As a smaller contractor, you don’t feel that all the time. Sometimes you walk into a bank, and you’re wondering in the back of your mind, ‘Do they really want to help me?’” 

Joseph launched ADL Solutions in 2022 and specializes in developing agrivoltaic community solar projects that blend clean energy production with agricultural use and community investment. 

“Agrivoltaic means we mix energy with agricultural practices, and find dual uses for the land,” Joseph explained. “We’re placing solar panels alongside grazing sheep, honey bees, and row crops. We work with farmers and lease the land to them at little to no cost, and we try to make sure all of our projects are giving as many benefits back to the local community as possible.” 

Community solar projects, like the one ELOC funded, provide communities with a stable, low-cost source of clean energy that isn’t impacted by rising electricity costs or outages. 

“Savings are the low‑hanging fruit, but we’re also building resiliency, training, jobs, and wealth,” Joseph said. “My work is rewarding because I get to empower communities. I’m blessed to be doing something I’m passionate about and seeing how it affects families and businesses.” 

Learn more about ELOC by visiting our website. Businesses located in Illinois and actively participating in clean energy or health and safety projects can schedule a discovery call by emailing ELOC@ElevateNP.org