Community Loan Fund Secures $3.5 million in New Funds for Economic Development in the Capital Region

February 3, 2017

COMMUNITY LOAN FUND’S ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In October of 2016, the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region (CLFCR) was notified that it had won a highly competitive $1.75 million grant from the U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund. The catch was that the award, which would primarily be used for lending capital, had to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the end of January 2017.

With the help of the City of Albany’s Capital Resource Corporation (CRC), SEFCU, KeyBank Foundation, NBT Bank and many other organizations and individuals, the grant was matched in its entirety.

“We are so appreciative of all of our partners who came through to help us draw down these in their entirety. We literally had 4 months to raise the remaining matching funds. It was an important opportunity for the Capital Region that will result in some high-impact community development projects,” said Linda MacFarlane, Executive Director of CLFCR. “Because of this additional $3.5 million, CLFCR will be able to finance, on average, an additional 25 units of affordable housing, an additional 15 small businesses, create or retain an additional 200 jobs, and provide free business counseling and training to an additional 500 individuals.”

“The Capital Resource Corporation looks forward to working with the Community Loan Fund. This was a unique opportunity that maximizes the use of Corporation resources to support small businesses,” said City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation CEO Sarah Reginelli. “Establishing programming to support local economic and community development is a priority for the board, and being able to assist a community focused institution that does such tremendous work throughout our Region made this a win-win.”

The City of Albany CRC granted the Community Loan Fund $250,000 for its revolving loan fund under an agreement that dedicates leveraged funds 2 to 1 to projects in the City of Albany—making $750,000 in loans available to local small businesses and community development projects. In addition, KeyBank Foundation and SEFCU each granted $50,000, and NBT Bank granted $25,000.

The Community Loan Fund provides access to capital by pooling investments and donations from socially concerned individuals and organizations, and re-lending it to non-profit organizations for affordable housing and community services, to micro enterprises for business development, and to individuals for home ownership and repair. It also provides training and technical assistance programs. In operation for more than three decades, CLFCR serves an 11-county area that includes the Capital Region.

Brian O’Shaughnessy, a co-founder of CLFCR, stated, “I consider all of the Capital District to be my family, and I am most concerned about those who need a hand-up, an opportunity to thrive.  So I am extremely happy that the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region will now be able to offer more training and empowering loans because of this match. Kudos to all who made this possible, especially the religious communities that helped again and have understood from the beginning what a great blessing CDCLF can be.”

To date, more than $48 million in loans to over 832 projects has leveraged more than $175 million in additional loans and investments. The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region provides loans, training and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and micro entrepreneurs throughout the Capital Region. Since its inception individuals, faith-based and civic organizations, trusts, businesses and foundations have invested through loans and/or donations to the Community Loan Fund, creating a capital lending pool so low-cost flexible loans can in turn be made to those who are unable to access conventional credit. 

The City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation, a not-for-profit local development corporation is governed by a seven member board of directors appointed by the City of Albany Common Council. An important tool, the CRC assists in catalyzing local investment and can provide conduit bond financing.