Introducing CDFI Friendly Fort Worth Event

On January 26, 2022, Mayor Mattie Parker and other City officials kicked off an initiative to increase financing for Fort Worth’s minority-owned businesses, affordable homeownership, rental housing, and commercial real estate.

The City has committed $3 million towards the effort, known as CDFI Friendly Fort Worth. CDFI Friendly Fort Worth will work as a go-between, matching CDFIs (or “community development financial institutions”) to residents, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits in Fort Worth’s communities. CDFIs offer flexible capital in culturally-appropriate ways to address gaps in underserved communities.

The program featured:

  • Mayor Mattie Parker announced a $10 million investment from Bank of America to support CDFI Friendly Fort Worth.

  • Robert Sturns, the city's Economic Development Department Director kicked off the event.

  • Mark Pinsky, the founding partner of CDFI Friendly America, explained the robust CDFI Friendly Fort Worth strategy.

  • Lenwood Long, President of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs & Marla Bilonick, President of the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders, participated in a panel moderated by the city's Veronica Villegas, where they discussed the benefits of CDFIs for communities of color.

  • Christina Brooks, the city’s Chief Equity Officer & Diversity and Inclusion Department Director, closed the program with a compelling reminder that people and communities of color have been seeking equal access to financing since at least 1870.

Media Coverage

  • New Fort Worth Initiative Aims to Connect More Small Business Owners, Nonprofits to Loans

    By Lili Zheng
    NBC DFW

    Read it

  • People of color are often blocked from getting loans. A new Fort Worth program tries to change that

    By Miranda Suarez
    KERANews

    Read it

  • Millions in investment in minority-owned businesses on track for Fort Worth

    By Kevin Reece
    ABC WFAA

    Read it

  • Fort Worth Backs Effort to Invest in Underserved People and Communities

    By Jason Allen
    CBS DFW

    Read it

  • Fort Worth invests millions of dollars in minority-owned businesses

    By Carol Bull
    Texas News Today

    Read it

  • Event marks beginning of affordable lending for city’s low-income business owners

    By Mariana Rivas
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Read it