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.
CDFIs drive local economic growth by financing small businesses, creating jobs, and expanding affordable housing. They support rural and tribal communities, fund critical services like childcare and health clinics, and have invested $298 billion in underserved areas since 2010.
Fund program has been instrumental to Cooperative Federal’s work over the years, helping us reach more people and have a bigger impact on our local neighborhoods.
We are a Native CDFI serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in western NC. Our work here is critical to supporting new business creation, small business growth, job creation and retention, and housing security for tribal members who have historically endured economic hardship and lack of adequate banking and capital resources. Not to be lumped in with the myriad ways government-funded projects and organizations waste tax dollars, our industry has proven itself a superior investment for the U.S. taxpayers and is one our elected officials should be proud to support.
CDFIs support the needs of small businesses and consumers in rural, suburban, and urban areas across the United States. The designation is key to legitimizing and elevating our work with banks and other leveraged investors who align with our industry to bring affordable capital to markets that need catalytic investments to sustain and grow small businesses. These businesses create jobs, provide goods and services, and pay taxes that build strong communities. We need to preserve and grow the CDFI Fund for all Americans.