Washington, DC -- Yesterday, the White House announced the intention of President George W. Bush to appoint four new members to the Community Development Advisory Board.

The purpose of the Community Development Advisory Board is to advise the Director of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund on the policies of the CDFI Fund regarding activities/programs it administers.

"We are excited to have the new members of the Community Development Advisory Board appointed," said CDFI Fund Director Donna Gambrell. "Each member brings with them a diverse background in community and economic development and I look forward to receiving their counsel and input as we look to continue to achieve our mission of serving low-income communities and individuals."

The President intends to appoint the following individuals:

Darlene M. Bramon, of Idaho, to be a Consumer/Public Interest Organization Representative to the Community Development Advisory Board, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring November 27, 2011. Ms. Bramon is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association and founder of the Wall Street Women of Boise Professional Investment Club.

Terri Ludwig, of Illinois, to be an Insured Depository Institution Representative to the Community Development Advisory Board, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring November 27, 2011. Ms. Ludwig in the President of the Merrill Lynch Community Development Company and the former President and Chief Executive Officer of ACCION New York.

Neal A. McCaleb, of Oklahoma, to be the Native American Tribal Development Representative to the Community Development Advisory Board, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring November 27, 2011. Mr. McCaleb is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. He was the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S Department of the Interior, the Secretary of Transportation for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and the Minority Leader for the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Edwin Rodriguez, of Florida, to be a Consumer/Public Interest Organization Representative to the Community Development Advisory Board, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring November 27, 2011. Mr. Rodriquez is the President of Connectiv Solutions, the Chair of the Florida A&M University International Business Advisory Council, and a member of both the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was the Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services.

Membership of the Community Development Advisory Board is defined by statute. The Board comprises public representatives and private citizens; specifically, the Secretary/Administrator, or his or her designee, from the following Departments/Agencies: Agriculture; Commerce; Housing and Urban Development; Interior; Treasury; and the Small Business Administration. In addition, nine private citizens including: two individuals who are officers of existing community development financial institutions; two individuals who are officers of insured depository institutions; two individuals who are officers of national consumer or public interest organizations; two individuals who have expertise in community development; and one individual who has personal experience and specialized expertise in the unique lending and community development issues confronted by Indian tribes on Indian reservations.

More information on the Community Development Advisory Board and the CDFI Fund can be found at www.cdfifund.gov