Administration for Native Americans awards First Nations Oweesta Corporation funding for Native CDFI Sustainability Project
News Date:
Oct 13 2011
Administration for Native Americans awards First Nations Oweesta Corporation funding for Native CDFI Sustainability Project
This two-year grant will provide direct funding to four emerging Native CDFIs and will help Oweesta support their efforts by providing them financial skills instructor training and customized technical assistance that will help them design and implement a financial education program and build organizational capacity. Oweesta will help each of the CDFIs apply to obtain CDFI certification through the U.S. Department of Treasury. Additionally, this grant will allow Oweesta to work with each group to develop a capitalization plan which will help them identify and secure resources needed to finance small business and housing and sustain their respective institutions. Through this project, participating CDFIs will also have a unique opportunity to come together as a peer group to exchange knowledge, best practices and other resources.
Oweesta has had the privilege of working with each of the participating CDFIs since they embarked down this path to create institutions and programs that would help meet the economic needs of their communities. Those participating in the sustainability project include; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and the Tigua Community Development Corporation (El Paso, TX), Chi Ishobak CDFI (Dowagiac, MI), First Ponca Financial (Lincoln, NE) and Crow Tribe Economic Development Department and Apsáalooke Revolving Loan Fund (Crow Agency, MT).
“We are pleased to have an opportunity to further assist these emerging CDFIs by providing training and technical assistance that will expand the services they are able to provide to their community members and help move them towards CDFI certification” said Jon Panamaroff, executive director and senior vice president of Oweesta. “These organizations are truly making an impact by strengthening their local economies and reducing poverty in the communities they serve.”
Oweesta (www.oweesta.org) is a national Native CDFI intermediary. With over ten years of experience, Oweesta helps build strong Native institutions and programs through professional services designed to build local capacity and provide tools for Native community development. Oweesta’s primary programs include 1) Capitalization of Native CDFIs and 2) Training, Technical Assistance and Consulting.
Jon Panamaroff, Executive Director & Senior Vice President
303-774-8838
jon@oweesta.org
