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.
Our organization serves entrepreneurs and small businesses in Southeast Missouri. Located in the 8th Congressional District, the poorest district in the state, our customers rely on our program and the funding available through programs like the CDFI to get started and stay open. While not a CDFI yet we have plans to apply for TA and move forward for certification this year.
I support CDFIs because they serve as economic first responders in their communities. Native and consumer loan funds, in particular, are instrumental in lifting our most vulnerable populations out of poverty. These CDFIs provide essential financial services and resources, offering a lifeline to individuals and families who might otherwise be excluded from traditional banking systems. By empowering them to become bankable again, CDFIs help create pathways to financial independence and long-term prosperity.
It has been proven over the decades that the CDFI industry has been mega critical to the flow of capital in this country, specifically in disinvested communities. By appropriating at least $354M for the CDFI Fund, this directly supports the deployment and capacity building of not only CDFIs but the millions of small businesses that hire and create jobs, erect infrastructure, rebuild neighborhood corridors, and partner across industries for improved quality of life. If we are serious about reducing the wealth gap for increased positive impacts, supporting CDFIs is extremely important.
The work that CDFIs do helps us all realize the American Dream. They stimulate the economy, locally and nationally, and give credence to the idea of picking oneself up by one’s bootstraps to make a better tomorrow for their community.