March 19, 2025 Stories and Data

March 19, 2025 Stories

BEARS, BOATS, AND BUSINESS DREAMS
Native CDFIs Fuel Small Business Success Across Indian Country
Native CDFIs Fuel Small Business Success Across Indian Country
Native CDFIs Fuel Small Business Success Across Indian Country

March 19, 2025 Fact Sheet

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) plays a vital role in building a strong economy! CDFIs are one of the country’s most effective examples of public-private partnership. They attract private capital to help families buy homes, schools and health centers expand, small businesses grow, and communities thrive – especially in places traditional investors don’t reach on their own. CDFIs are important partners in deploying tax credit programs, such as New Markets Tax Credits, which incentivize investments while reducing taxpayer burden. Some of America’s greatest achievements – from the moon landing (and even modern space exploration) to the birth of Silicon Valley – happened because government had the vision to catalyze private innovation and investment. CDFIs operate in that same spirit.   Every day we see how smart, targeted investments unlock opportunity and drive prosperity that benefits everyone. CDFIs are effective because they fuel American ingenuity in the places it exists, which is everywhere!

-Annie Donovan, Raza Development Fund, Phoenix, AZ

CDFIs provide an important unique opportunity support communities by creating opportunities for underbanked companies and individuals to pull themselves up by their bootstrap by creating new businesses, housing and strengthening financial composites

-Kevin FItzgerald, OppFund, East Lansing, MI

CDFIs are an important part of our finance ecosystem. In 2024 alone, the Western Reserve Community Fund (WRCF) distributed over $5M in funding to over 100 small businesses/non-profits in Summit County. CDFI’s, like WRCF, make such a difference in our community.

-Shammas Malik, City of Akron, Akron, OH

Map of March 19, 2025 CDFI Branches and Stories