The Community Loan Fund recently received 1.2 Million Dollars from the U.S Treasury Department as part of their 1.73 Billion Dollar CDFI Equitable Recovery Program (CDFI ERP). These funds are to be used by CDFI’s across the country to assist low-to-moderate income communities recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Funds for the program were authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region was 1 of 264 loan funds nationwide to receive funding from the CDFI ERP program and 1 of 32 in New York State.

“When we invest in community lenders, we help build a future where all people—no matter who they are or where they start—have the resources they need not only to succeed but to thrive, said Vice President Kamala Harris. “These grants—representing the largest CDFI grant program in history—will enable hundreds of community lenders to invest in small businesses and entrepreneurs, and also provide home loans for families, financial services for local nonprofits, and capital for community organizations.”

“These grant funds will be transformative for grantees that are building a more equitable, resilient economy, along with helping sustain our strong economic recovery” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “These critical resources will allow mission-driven lenders to expand access to capital in financially underserved communities, which will help increase contributions to long-term economic growth.”

Since its creation in 1994, the CDFI Fund has awarded more than $7.4 billion to CDFIs, community development organizations, and financial institutions through: the Bank Enterprise Award Program; the Capital Magnet Fund; the CDFI Rapid Response Program; the Community Development Financial Institutions Program, including the Healthy Food Financing Initiative; the Economic Mobility Corps; the Financial Education and Counseling Pilot Program; and the Native American CDFI Assistance Program. In addition, the CDFI Fund has allocated $71 billion in tax credit allocation authority to Community Development Entities through the New Markets Tax Credit Program, and closed guaranteed bonds for more than $2.1 billion through the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.

To learn more about the CDFI Fund and its programs, please visit the CDFI Fund’s website here.