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 are the oil in the engine of our economy. They support small businesses with patient flexible capital, when they need it the most; when they are starting out. Without support for these institutions, small businesses will be blocked by high fees, high interest rates, demand payments, and other predatory behavior that impedes and tanks their efforts to grow the US economy.
Bridge and other CDFIs support business creation and expansion as well as the construction and redevelopment of housing in low to moderate income neighborhoods. These are activities not offered or delivered by other financial institutions to extent provided by CDFI’s.
As a CDFI, we support areas that have had historical underinvestment and see a transformative impact to those communities over time. The CDFI fund has an excellent private investment track record that accompanies the Treasury investment, leveraging the funds at an $8 or more for every $1 from the CDFI fund. This helps incentivize investment in these communities, bringing greater prosperity to all and putting all Americans to work that can access these programs.
CDFIs fill a real need for underserved and impoverished communities. The need for affordable housing is making living difficult for most Americans. CDFIs responsibly use federal and private funds. In NH, CDFIs are serving both construction and immediate home placement needs.