Native CDFI Stories and Data

Built to Scale: Designing a Business with Scale in Mind
St. John Manor
Catonsville CO-OP brings together food, community, and local businesses
A Grand Opening Like No Other

Testimonials

CDFIs fill a critical void in funding the development of affordable housing. They provide below market interest rates, have flexible terms, and can respond to critical funding needs with more flexibility than a traditional bank/credit union.

-Linda Braunschweiger, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County, Ventura County, CA

CDFIs are essential in supporting small businesses that are the backbone of the United States’ economy.

-Patricia Chang, Feed, San Francisco, CA

CDFIs have a demonstrated track record of success: they often leverage every federal dollar to attract up to 12 times that amount in private investment, reaching borrowers that traditional banks overlook. Whether it’s a veteran-owned business in Montana, a farm in the Central Valley, or a childcare provider in the South Bronx, CDFIs meet communities where they are, providing not only loans but financial education, technical assistance, and long-term support. This is not a partisan issue. Nearly every congressional district in America benefits from the work of CDFIs, with 92% of House districts having at least one CDFI. CDFIs are an engine of local resilience-supporting job creation, small business formation, and upward mobility.

-Heidi Pickman, CAMEO Network – California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity, San Francisco, CA