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.
NeighborGood Partners became certified as a CDFI by the U.S. Treasury in 2004 and since then, the Loan Fund has lent a total of $180.4 million in 294 loans for affordable housing, community facilities, and neighborhood revitalization. The fund averages about 20 loans a year, with its staff of five managing over $30 million in assets, which represents a 3000% growth in assets since 2004.
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.
CDFIs are a great, cost-effective way to support development in rural, suburban and urban communities in a public/private finance model heavily weighted to the private side. In our case in enabled locating our manufacturing plant in an area where people needed jobs.
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.