September 2015 Stories and Data

Meet Allison Bell, Owner of Little Things Preschool and Daycare
Rebuilding Together
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Lending in PA District 1
CDVCA Invests in Goodwrx

Testimonials

CDFIs solve for capital access gaps that increase economic opportunities for people and communities who have been excluded from that opportunity.

-Micha Josephy, Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, Inc., Watertown, MA

I support CDFIs because they provide needed capital for small businesses and first-time homebuyers. This capital allows people to build wealth and/or provide a product/service to their community, which leads to economic prosperity for the local area. Because the financing is provided as a loan, clients are equally invested in the success of their home/business.

-Megan Fischer, GROW South Dakota, Sisseton, SD

I believe in the power of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) because I’ve seen firsthand what access to capital-real, intentional, and responsible access-can do for small businesses, nonprofits, and communities that have historically been excluded from traditional financial systems. CDFIs aren’t just lenders. They are partners in shaping our economy. They take the time to understand the unique challenges that small business owners face when trying to grow and sustain their businesses. They don’t just look at a credit score; they look at the story behind the entrepreneur, the impact on the community, and the potential that often goes unnoticed. At Growth Partners Arizona, we align with this mission because we know that financial systems should work for communities, not against them. Supporting CDFIs means investing in businesses that create jobs, strengthen local economies, and build long-term wealth in places where it’s needed most. CDFIs are doing the work that big banks won’t, and that’s exactly why I support them. Because when capital is placed in the right hands, it doesn’t just fund businesses-it fuels movements, shifts power and transforms communities.

-Andre Whittington, Growth Partners Arizona, Phoenix, AZ