Michigan CDFI Coalition

Coalition member ProsperUs Detroit provided funding to support Crummy's Sweets and Treats in launching their bakery and cake supply shop. Since 2019, Mark and Charlita Knox have transformed Crummy’s Sweets and Treats from a small baked goods business into a thriving sweets destination. By combining family recipes with collaboration, entrepreneurship, and education, they continue to grow and serve their community. With the support of ProsperUs Detroit, Crummy’s reached a significant milestone, opening their storefront in December 2021 at 7114 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit. Read their full impact story:https://bit.ly/42Qy8FE

Coalition member, Cinnaire, recently joined their partners Genesis Non Profit Housing, Dwelling Place, and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians to break ground on Leonard Apartments, a 55-unit development in Grand Rapids, MI. The project includes 9 units for Native American tribal members and 22 with Project Based Vouchers (PBVs), ensuring safe, affordable housing for all. Congratulations to Cinnaire and their partners on this project! #AdvancingCommunities #AffordableHousing #LIHTC

Coalition members Invest Detroit, Detroit Development Fund, and ProsperUs Detroit supported Kimberly Fisher, owner of Lily's and Elise Tea House, with funding to help her build out new space and open her tea house. Located at Livernois and 7 Mile, Lily’s and Elise is Michigan’s only Black female-owned tea house, offering a premium tea experience with a selection of teas and pastries. The space offers seating for 43, an outdoor patio, and a small retail store. Read the full Lily’s and Elise Tea House impact story: https://bit.ly/40DHtxM

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program is one of the most impactful tools community development organizations have to support projects in Michigan. NMTCs attract private capital by offering tax credits to investors who support critical, transformational projects including redevelopment, job creation and housing projects. Our coalition members are leveraging CDFI Fund programs to give back directly to their communities across the state. See more: https://bit.ly/4hzMJcF

Member re-share from Cinnaire! Cinnaire and project partners recently celebrated the grand opening of EastSide Charter School Chemours Community STEM Hub in Wilmington, DE. This space will serve as a pillar for the Riverside community, providing opportunities in STEM, workforce development, and health monitoring. With the goal of empowering both students and community members we look forward to the impact this project will bring to Riverside. Photo credit: REACH Riverside

Michigan CDFIs are lending where it counts!

Coalition members like, Invest Detroit, are making a real difference in Michigans communities! Through the Motor City Contractor Fund, they teamed up with Detroit lenders to support 50 minority-owned contractors with $5,000 grants last year, helping businesses grow and thrive in the city of Detroit. Learn more about the funding by checking out Invest Detroit and Motor City Contractor Fund.

Michigan CDFIs set the standard for investing in the local economy. CDFIs lend to historically disadvantaged borrowers, leverage $8 in private investment for every $1 of public funding, and recycle capital to support even more borrowers.

The MI CDFI Coalition remains focused on breaking barriers for minority borrowers and building businesses rooted in equity. #MLKDay #MICDFIs #EquitableLending

Meet Gilma de la Cruz, a proud Grand Rapids entrepreneur making big moves for her community! With the support of Start Garden’s Demo Day and Northern Initiatives, she’s expanding El Caribe Empanadas—a business rooted in her Dominican heritage and inspired by the flavors of her childhood. From her family’s restaurant to the local food truck, and soon, Meijer stores, Gilma’s journey is a testament to the power of community support! #MICDFIs #CDFIs #Entrepreneurship #EquitableLending