Partnership with the Pennsylvania Legislature and the Department of Community and Economic Development
The Pennsylvania CDFI Network has arduously worked with the Pennsylvania legislature, the Governor’s office, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development in the best interest of Pennsylvania’s small businesses. Together, the Network advocated for PA CARES Act and ARPA funding to ensure that Pennsylvania’s small businesses stayed afloat during the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic. The Network distributed over $250 million among 14,530 small businesses across the Commonwealth’s 67 counties, with technical assistance support from our member Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). In 2022, the partnership continued to secure an additional $24 million of ARPA funds to provide grants, loans and technical assistance.
CDFI Voice in Pennsylvania
CDFIs are the Network’s greatest advocacy resources in promoting the important role Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) play across Pennsylvania. Together, CDFIs can protect, leverage and grow scarce budgets, tax credit initiatives, bank and government investment, and advocate for legislation affecting CDFIs including Community Reinvestment Act, New Market Tax Credits and CDFI Bond Guarantee program, while equitably helping low to moderate income communities thrive. The PA CDFI Network is Pennsylvania’s CDFIs’ voice.
The PA CDFI Network’s advocacy goal is to become the trusted and respected organization that influences, educates, and informs on behalf of CDFI issues affecting low-and-moderate-income communities and historically disadvantaged businesses in the Commonwealth.
Through advocacy and public policy, the Pennsylvania CDFI Network will build the capacity and expand the reach of its members, individually and collectively, to serve all people and places across Pennsylvania.
The Network will work to preserve CDFI funding and resources in the best interest of small businesses and workers in the communities our members serve. With this in mind, the PA CDFI Network advocates positively, influencing the impact of government on CDFIs and small businesses through legislative advocacy, meetings, communication, and activities to deliver:
- Education to empower CDFIs’ communities,
- Protection and scaling of CDFI investment and resources,
- Monitoring and undertaking of emerging issues and resources to leverage and advance micro enterprises and small businesses, and
- A Voice for a better CDFI and small business climate in Pennsylvania.
The Network will educate Pennsylvania residents, businesses, and legislators about the purpose and function of CDFIs in promoting equitable community development.