May 5, 2021 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

Thank you to our partners at Inclusive and CDBA for sharing data on CDFI Bank and CDFI Credit Union branch locations. In addition, about 100 of our CDFI Stories come from OFN’s story database.

CDFI Investment Map

Mapped CDFI investment data (2005-2023), via the CDFI Coalition's partnership with CDFI Friendly America.

CDFI Advocacy App

Want more state data? Check out CDFI Friendly America's mobile-friendly CDFI Advocacy App for impacts from 2005-2023.

Testimonials

Mary Stoick from Sunrise Bank in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the reason my family’s business, which had been in operation for 71 years, is still thriving. We were on the verge of collapse, and being evicted from our old location at that point made it even more challenging. In a desperate attempt to save our business, I decided to take a risky gamble and enter the food truck business. We were incredibly fortunate with the outcome of that decision. While our food truck business was thriving, we faced significant difficulties in finding a lender with fair pricing. Mary informed us that unfortunately, all the allocated funds for their tax credit loan had been exhausted, and they would no longer be able to provide us with funding through that avenue. She emphasized the slim chances of success, urging me to let it go, but I refused to give up. I relentlessly pursued her for days, and finally, something gave way. There were just enough funds to allow us to continue our family legacy. We are now approaching 80 years old, and I have a son. If he chooses to follow in our footsteps, he could potentially extend our business history to 125 years. None of this would have been possible without Mary and Sunrise Bank. This is not an exaggerated or fabricated story; it’s a true account of my life. Mary stands out among many as one of the few who genuinely cares for her customers, making her a rare gem. I sincerely hope that this allocation goes through so that she can continue to do for others what she has done for me.

Anthony M Polski, Market Bar-B-Que, Minneapolis, MN

CDFIs invest in creative solutions for communities, producing impactful outcomes such as those related to quality jobs, affordable housing, community health, and child wellbeing.

Sarah Reed, MetaFund Corporation, Edmond, OK

I have consistently heard positive news and success stories about CDFIs in Idaho and across the country, and their responsiveness to the small business community.

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)

CDFIs are not just banks. They are lifelines. Without them, thousands of small businesses-many in overlooked neighborhoods (urban and rural) – would never get access to capital, training, and the support they need to survive, let alone thrive.

David Wise, Nebraska Enterprise Fund, Omaha, NE