CDFIs provide affordable capital to borrowers that may not be able to access credit from mainstream financial institutions. Unlike other non-bank options, CDFI loans are affordable and transparent. And CDFIs take a holistic approach, prioritizing the wellbeing of individual clients and the borrowers that live within them.
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 are essential for the economic vitality of rural communities like the ones we serve in Western North Carolina. The CDFI Fund represents an extremely effective and high-return investment.