Ecoblock International, S.A. de C.V., SOFOM ENR

The objective of the loan is to support the expansion of Ecoblock International’s new home construction and home improvement projects aimed at low-income families in Mexico. The cost of the project is estimated to be US$1 million (or its equivalent in Mexican pesos).

Ecoblock International is a Mexican company that provides housing solutions for low-income families in the central and southern parts of Mexico under a program called “Échale a tu casa,” known in the market as “Échale.”  Échale operates with an innovative business model that offers technical training to communities and involves families in the design and construction of the homes. The company also provides families with financial education and helps them gain access to financing for new homes and to subsidies from government agencies such as the Comisión Nacional de Vivienda (national housing commission, CONAVI). As part of its construction process, the company uses sustainable materials—such as adobe produced with local earth that is both highly thermally efficient and more affordable. Since its founding in 1997, Échale has built more than 30,000 new housing units and improved more than 150,000 homes. In doing so, it has received recognition from a number of organizations for its innovative and socially-responsible model. For example, in 2013, Échale won the “Best for the World” award from B-Corporation, and in 2014 Forbes named it one of its “10 Companies Considered ‘Best for the World.’” In 2015, it won the “Ventures Mexico” competition recognizing the country’s best social entrepreneurs.

The IIC’s loan will support Échale as it expands its production units from eight to twelve. With that expansion, it expects to reach more than 8,000 additional low-income families over the next five years thanks to partial financing of the necessary fixed asset and working capital investment.