Coalition Applauds Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for Selecting an Experienced CDFI Practitioner to Lead the Fund
WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 26, 2026 — The CDFI Coalition congratulates Chris Miller on his appointment as Director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund).
Miller comes to the CDFI Fund from Three Roots Capital, a certified CDFI based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a member of the CDFI Coalition. At Three Roots, Miller served as Chief Financial Officer and helped manage the organization’s finances and access-to-capital programs. He brings 20 years of experience providing and expanding access to capital for small businesses.
We are thrilled to congratulate Chris Miller on his appointment as Director of the CDFI Fund,” said Hank Helton, Chair of the CDFI Coalition and Executive Vice President and Chief Stakeholder Officer of Tennessee-based Pathway Lending. “Chris knows the CDFI industry firsthand. He understands the challenges CDFIs face and the enormous impact these institutions make with support from the Fund. Chris brings to Washington a deep understanding of the work of the Coalition and its members in promoting economic opportunities and addressing financing challenges in the communities we serve.”
The Coalition applauds Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for selecting a leader from within the CDFI industry to direct the Fund and for his continued support for the CDFI Fund and its mission. CDFIs are market-based financial institutions that leverage federal resources to deliver private capital to small businesses, affordable housing developments, community facilities, manufacturing expansions, and economic development in communities where conventional financing is often difficult to obtain.
“Secretary Bessent has made a strong choice to lead the Fund,” Helton said. “Selecting someone who understands CDFIs because he has actually done this work sends an important signal about Treasury’s commitment to the CDFI Fund and the institutions it supports. We appreciate the Secretary’s recognition of the important role CDFIs play in expanding access to capital, creating jobs and generating economic opportunity across the country.”
Bob Rapoza, spokesperson for the CDFI Coalition, said Miller’s experience at Three Roots gives him an unusually broad perspective on the programs he will now oversee.
“Chris comes to the Fund having seen firsthand how its programs translate federal investment into private capital, business growth and jobs,” Rapoza said. “Three Roots has participated in many programs in the CDFI Fund’s toolkit, including the Financial Assistance, Technical Assistance, the Rapid Response programs, along with the New Markets Tax Credit. That practical experience will be invaluable as Chris takes on this new role. Secretary Bessent deserves tremendous credit for choosing a proven CDFI practitioner to lead an agency that is so important to communities and businesses across the country.”
The Coalition also extends its deep appreciation to Alexandria Smith, Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community and Economic Development, for her exemplary service as Acting Director of the CDFI Fund. Smith led the Fund through a period of significant transition while continuing to work closely with CDFIs and other stakeholders and advancing the Fund’s critical programs.
“Alex Smith provided steady and thoughtful leadership during an important period for the CDFI Fund,” Rapoza said. “The Coalition and the CDFI industry owe her a debt of gratitude for her service, her accessibility, and her commitment to the Fund’s mission. We are grateful for everything she has done to support the Fund and the institutions it serves.”
The CDFI Coalition looks forward to working closely with Director Miller, Secretary Bessent, Deputy Assistant Secretary Smith, and the dedicated staff of the CDFI Fund to strengthen the Fund, expand access to capital and ensure that CDFIs can continue supporting economic opportunity in communities throughout the United States.
About the CDFI Coalition
The CDFI Coalition is the unified national voice of community development financial institutions. Through its member organizations, the Coalition represents CDFIs working in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including community development loan funds, banks, credit unions, venture capital funds and other mission-driven financial institutions. The Coalition works to strengthen the CDFI industry and increase the availability of capital, credit and financial services in underserved communities nationwide.
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