CDFIs are essential to ensuring all communities and residents have access to safe, affordable credit when traditional financial institutions are not able to do so. These market-based institutions know their communities needs best and leverage private sector investment. Building bridges between the public and private sectors is what CDFIs do well and we need to preserve the expertise of these organizations by ensuring a robust funding of $324 million for the CDFI Fund.
CDFIs support small businesses in ways that traditional financial partners are unable to. From flexible financing that supports growth, stabilize operations, and boosts local employment, to providing advice in all areas of business managements, to being there for the business owners as humans whenever needed. CDFIs are integral to the well-functioning of the financial system and of the economy as a whole.
CDFIs solve for capital access gaps that increase economic opportunities for people and communities who have been excluded from that opportunity.