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.
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.
As a former executive of a CDFI I saw firsthand the job creation and the dreams of many clients supported by our organization. We hired amazing financial mission driven talent and we supported hard working entrepreneurs who were seeking opportunities in their community and for their families. The recent EO will not make America great again, it will hurt Americans who are resilient, innovative and a fabric of their communities.