On November 14, 2011, the Treasury Department published the attached notice of funding availability for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 in the FEDERAL REGISTER for approximately $12 million in Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical Assistance (TA) awards through the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance (NACA) program and approximately $25 million in FA awards through the Healthy Foods Financing Initiative (HFFI) program. Applications for FA or TA under the NACA program must be received by January 18, 2012.
Through the NACA program, the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund provides funding to build the community development capacity of Certified Native CDFIs, Emerging Native CDFIs, and Sponsoring Entities, and to increase access to capital in Native Communities. FA awards are provided in the form of loans, grants, deposits, or equity investments and are available only to Certified Native CDFIs. TA awards, however, may be provided to Certified Native CDFIs, Emerging Native CDFIs, and Sponsoring Entities either to increase their capacity to serve Native Communities and/or to create or become certified Native CDFIs.
The HFFI is open to all certified CDFIs, (including, but not specific to Certified Native CDFIs) and is the result of a coordinated effort amoung the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Treasury to support projects that increase access to healthy, affordable food in low-income neighborhoods that lack access to healthy food options. FA awarded under the HFFI may be used to develop and equip grocery stores, small retailers, corner stores and farmers markets to help revitalize neighborhoods which currently lack these options. Those wishing to apply for FA under the HFFI should indicate their intent to do so on their NACA application. These applicants will then be sent an HFFI “supplemental questionnaire” which will include further application instructions for the HFFI program.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information regarding the Native American CDFI Assistance and Healthy Food Financing Initiative Programs.
