CDFI Fund Announces First Capacity Building Initiative Training for CDFIs Working with Small Businesses

Washington, DC - The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) is pleased to invite Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to apply to participate in the Capacity Building Initiative training series Innovations in Small Business Lending. CDFIs that are currently engaged in providing loans to small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to attend free trainings that are designed to support their continued growth and expanded capabilities. The series will be provided by Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP (Deloitte).

"The Innovations in Small Business Lending series will expand the Capacity Building Initiative's efforts to provide cutting edge training, technical assistance, and impact analysis to CDFIs that work to support small and medium enterprises in underserved communities throughout the United States," said CDFI Fund Director Donna J. Gambrell. "I'm pleased to be able to announce the very first training available under this series, which will help CDFIs enhance and expand business lending, ultimately putting more Americans back to work."

From November 2012May 2013, the Innovations in Small Business Lending series will offer five two-day training sessions in locations across the continental United States. The first training will be held at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve on November 13 and 14, 2012. Additional training dates and cities will be announced as they are finalized on the CDFI Fund's website.

The training has been developed around three small business lending themes that will allow CDFIs to:

• focus on market "waves" that demonstrate potentially high profit and mission impact;
• analyze multiple national and local trends; and
• efficiently filter opportunities to identify the best to pursue and how to do so.

At these sessions, Deloitte's experienced instructors will conduct in-depth training focused on identifying strategic market trends, assessing selected small business opportunities, evaluating potential economic and social impact, and performing preliminary financial calculations. In addition, six in-depth market opportunity areas will be examined, and numerous innovations and potential deals in those markets will be covered.

The workshops are free; however, advance registration, including a capacity assessment questionnaire, is required. For more information about the training sessions and how to apply, please click here

Apply now as space will be limited!

For more information about the Innovations in Small Business Lending series, or other trainings available under the Capacity Building Initiative, please visit www.cdfifund.gov/cbi.

About the CDFI Fund
The CDFI Fund invests in and builds the capacity of community-based, private, for-profit and non-profit financial institutions with a primary mission of community development in economically distressed communities. These institutions certified by the CDFI Fund as Community Development Financial Institutions or CDFIs are able to respond to gaps in local markets that traditional financial institutions are not adequately serving. CDFIs provide critically needed capital, credit and other financial products in addition to technical assistance to community residents and businesses, service providers, and developers working to meet community needs. The CDFI Fund's vision is an America in which all people have adequate access to affordable capital, credit and financial services.

About Deloitte
Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLC is a global organization devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice. With access to the deep intellectual capital of more than 160,000 people worldwide, its member firms deliver services in areas of consulting, assurance & enterprise risk, tax, and financial advisory services. Deloitte brings strong industry experience in financial transaction work restructuring impaired assets, and developing business models that can attract new capital, and providing technical assistance to troubled institutions. To find out more, please visit http://www.deloitte.com/view/enUS/us/Services/Financial-Advisory-Services/index.htm.