CDFI Fund Launches the Capacity Building Initiative's Training Sessions

Today, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) Director Donna J. Gambrell announced the first training sessions being made available under the CDFI Fund's Capacity Building Initiative. Through the Capacity Building Initiative the CDFI Fund will: actively engage Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as they advance their capacity to meet the ever-changing demands of the communities they serve; encourage collaboration and innovation across the CDFI industry especially in the face of emerging issues; and produce tangible growth that results in an industry of CDFIs that is sustainable for future generations.

Through the Capacity Building Initiative, both Certified CDFIs and Emerging CDFIs nationwide will be eligible to access targeted training and technical assistance. Providers of the training sessions were selected through a competitive procurement process. Under this initial offering, the providers will be conducting the following training and technical assistance tracks:

• CDFI Capitalization;
• Financing Healthy Foods Options;
• Foreclosure Solutions; and
• Portfolio Management.

"I am very excited that the CDFI Fund will now offer high quality training resources and individualized, on-site technical assistance for CDFIs nationwide," said CDFI Fund Director Donna J. Gambrell. "Our new Capacity Building Initiative will advance the CDFI industry by fostering best practices and innovative solutions within the industry and advance sustainable CDFIs that can continue to provide critically needed capital, credit and other financial products and services to underserved communities for years to come."

The first training classes on CDFI Capitalization, Foreclosure Solutions, and Portfolio Management, will be provided in Detroit, Michigan from May 16 to 20, 2011. The first Financing Healthy Foods Options training class will be provided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 29 and 30, 2011. Additional dates may be found under the Capacity Building Initiative section of the CDFI Fund's website by clicking here.

Registration

The CDFI Fund has authorized its providers (NeighborWorks® America and the Opportunity Finance Network) to manage the sending of invitations (email and via U.S. mail) and handling of other training class logistics directly with all Certified CDFIs and Emerging CDFIs. Organizations wishing to receive these notifications should ensure that the contact information for their Authorized Representative and Contact Person in their organization's MyCDFIFund account is up-to-date and accurate. Please follow these important steps:

1. By 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, March 11, 2011: Verify the contact information for your Authorized Representative and Contact Person in your organization's MyCDFIFund account is up-to-date and accurate. You can access MyCDFIFund by clicking here.
2. Register for updates from the CDFI Fund on the Capacity Building Initiative. The CDFI Fund will send updates and other important communications about the Capacity Building Initiative through "CDFI Updates" our free e-mail subscription management service. If you are already registered to receive CDFI Updates, please log-in using your email address at the link below and check "Capacity Building Initiative" under the programs section. If you do not already receive CDFI Updates, please register today by clicking here.
3. Commencing Monday, March 14th the Providers of the Capacity Building Initiative training classes will send invitations and detailed registration instruction to Certified CDFIs and Emerging CDFIs based upon those email addresses in the MyCDFIFund system.

Registration costs for the trainings and technical assistance is covered by the CDFI Fund. Please note though that all registrants are responsible for paying their own travel and hotel accommodations.