written on February 11th, 2010 | by James R. Klein
On Wed., Feb. 3, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner announced that CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) banks, thrifts and credit unions may now access funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (T.A.R.P.). This is part of the Obama Administration’s movement to support business lending by community development banks and development credit unions.
Mark Pinsky, President & CEO of Opportunity Finance Network, the nation’s CDFI network, hailed this move as a step in the right direction, but stressed that CDFI loan funds should share in this money, too:
Community development banks and credit unions deliver capital and services where other financial institutions don’t. This program is a capital lever that can lift up thousands of businesses that need credit to thrive. The CDFIs that participate will make capital flow where it’s not flowing today. Last October, the President expressed a desire to support non-depository as well as depository CDFIs. The next step is clear: extend support to CDFI loan funds and venture funds.
At Finance Fund, we echo this position and advocate for a similar program for non-regulated CDFI loan funds. Why? Because Finance Fund is a certified CDFI, which provides us with access to financial and technical award assistance from the federal CDFI Fund. Since its inception in 1994, assistance has totaled more than $500 million for community development. As a CDFI, we’re recognized as a financial organization with a primary mission of promoting community development in under-served communities in the United States, through credit, capital, and financial services.
CDFIs are a vital way that under-served communities achieve economic development and neighborhood revitalization. And considering the recessionary climate we’re in today, now is the time to bolster business and economic development by providing CDFIs (like Finance Fund) with the resources to leverage more capital to resurrect strong businesses and communities. This ruling is positive, but CDFIs need the financial covering of T.A.R.P. funds, too.
Tags: CDFI, CDFI Coalition, Commentary, Community Development Entities, Finance Fund, James Klein, President Barack Obama, TARP
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Finance Fund Calls for Share of T.A.R.P. Funds to Bolster Business and Revitalize Communities
written on February 11th, 2010 | by James R. Klein
On Wed., Feb. 3, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner announced that CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) banks, thrifts and credit unions may now access funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (T.A.R.P.). This is part of the Obama Administration’s movement to support business lending by community development banks and development credit unions.
Mark Pinsky, President & CEO of Opportunity Finance Network, the nation’s CDFI network, hailed this move as a step in the right direction, but stressed that CDFI loan funds should share in this money, too:
Community development banks and credit unions deliver capital and services where other financial institutions don’t. This program is a capital lever that can lift up thousands of businesses that need credit to thrive. The CDFIs that participate will make capital flow where it’s not flowing today. Last October, the President expressed a desire to support non-depository as well as depository CDFIs. The next step is clear: extend support to CDFI loan funds and venture funds.
At Finance Fund, we echo this position and advocate for a similar program for non-regulated CDFI loan funds. Why? Because Finance Fund is a certified CDFI, which provides us with access to financial and technical award assistance from the federal CDFI Fund. Since its inception in 1994, assistance has totaled more than $500 million for community development. As a CDFI, we’re recognized as a financial organization with a primary mission of promoting community development in under-served communities in the United States, through credit, capital, and financial services.
CDFIs are a vital way that under-served communities achieve economic development and neighborhood revitalization. And considering the recessionary climate we’re in today, now is the time to bolster business and economic development by providing CDFIs (like Finance Fund) with the resources to leverage more capital to resurrect strong businesses and communities. This ruling is positive, but CDFIs need the financial covering of T.A.R.P. funds, too.
Tags: CDFI, CDFI Coalition, Commentary, Community Development Entities, Finance Fund, James Klein, President Barack Obama, TARP
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 12:47 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.