On October 31, 2013, the Treasury Department published the attached notice of funding availability for Fiscal Year 2014 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 $35 million in FA awards through the Healthy Foods Financing Initiative (HFFI) program. Applications must be received by December 23, 2013.
Community Development. Through the NACA program, the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund provides funding to build the community development capacity of Certified, Certifiable, and Emerging CDFIs serving Native Communities as well as 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 CDFIs serving Native Communities. TA awards, however, may be provided to Certifiable and Emerging CDFIs that serve or will serve Native Communities to increase their capacity to serve Native Communities, and may be provided to Sponsoring Entities to create an Emerging CDFI.
Healthy Foods. The HFFI is open to all Certified CDFIs, (including, but not specific to Certified CDFIs serving Native Communities) and is the result of a coordinated effort among 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.
The CDFI Fund’s press release on the funding opportunities contains links to pre-recorded webinars, schedules for live “Q&A” webinars, and contact information for the CDFI Fund’s Help Desk: http://www.cdfifund.gov/news_events/CDFI-2013-46-CDFI_Fund_Opens_FY_2014_Funding_Round.asp
Please let us know if we may provide additional information regarding the Native American CDFI Assistance and Healthy Food Financing Initiative Programs.
