PA03 Stories and Data

Philly Builds Credit: A Financial Wellness Initiative
The Tirado Family
The Montanez Family
The Graeff‑Byrnes Family

We are a CDFI focused on small business lending. We are giving people who deserve a shot at the American dream – but can’t get it because big banks don’t do small business loans or character loans anymore. Small businesses are important sources of jobs, income and innovation.

-Mark Masterson, Neighborhood Community Development Fund, Pittsburgh, PA

This funding is crucial to meeting the needs of those who are hard-working, dedicated members of our communities across Pennsylvania, who often lack resources from other financial institutions to meet their needs to maintain employment, housing, and enjoyment in our communities. Without this funding, more people will be in need of additional subsidies to maintain living and thriving in our communities. Eliminating this funding will be far more expensive than continuing it.

-Will Hall, Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation, King of Prussia, PA

CDFIs are boots on the grown and first responders standing by low-income communities every day, particularly during difficult economic times, to support small businesses with flexible loans and financial education and technical assistance. All this, to grow small businesses and feed the economy.

-Varsovia Fernandez, Pennsylvania CDFI Network, Philadelphia, PA