CDFI AND CDE CERTIFICATION
CDFI certification is a designation conferred by the CDFI Fund and is a requirement for accessing capital markets and technical award assistance from the CDFI Fund through CDFI programs.
CDE certification benefits include being able to apply to the CDFI Fund to receive an NMTC allocation to offer:
-
Equity investments in the CDE; or to
-
Receive loans or investments from other CDEs
The CED Doctor will help your organization get certified promptly so that you can take full advantage of CDFI’s powerful programs. In the event you are unable to get certified immediately, we will provide you with a strategic plan to prepare you for certification.
CDFI APPLICATION REVIEW
We are keenly aware of the intricate details necessary to put together an award-winning application. Our review services allow you to have a second pair of eyes to review your application prior to you submitting it to CDFI. This service could prove to be invaluable and give you the competitive edge necessary to producing a winning application.
CDFI APPLICATION PREPARATION SERVICES
The CDFI FA and TA program is designed to assist CDFIs gain access to affordable financial products and services. The program is created to give your organization further access to capital whether you are a new prospective CDFI, minority-owned bank, loan fund, or venture capital CDFI, etc.
Your CDFI could apply for up to $1 million in grant funding and loans through FA funds. Funding can be used towards lending capital, loan loss reserves, capital reserves, operations, and development services.
If your organization would like to apply for TA, it could apply for up to $125,000.00. TA funds can be used to purchase equipment; for consulting or contracting services; to pay the salaries and benefits of certain personnel, or to train staff or board members. If this is your first time considering CDFI certification, you could use these dollars to contribute to your organization becoming a CDFI over 18 months, subsequent to winning a TA award. In other words, you don’t have to be a CDFI to apply for this TA grant.
The CED Doctor would assist your CDFI to participate in competitive funding rounds. Our assistance includes the preparation of the CDFI FA or TA program application as well as the submission to CDFI.
NMTC APPLICATION PREPARATION SERVICES
The NMTC program was designed to allocate tax authority to Community Development Entities (CDEs).
In addition to the community benefits, the program has the potential to generate another source of revenue to your organization, while benefiting your underserved community. The NTMC could have a significant impact on a for-profit’s tax liability as a result of the 39 percent tax credit. The program is designed to attract and draw substantial dollars into the community. Some, if not all of your projects may benefit from such an injection of this capital.
The CED Doctor will help your Community Development Entity (CDE) participate in the NMTC funding rounds, by assisting your organization to prepare its application, as well as submit it to CDFI. The CDE could apply for over $100 million in tax allocation funding. The capital, in turn, could be used towards for-sale housing, commercial real estate, small business, and financing other CDEs, etc.
If you need financing for a project that creates jobs and generates economic growth in a low-income community, New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) might be the answer. NMTC projects can include real estate investments, as well as operating businesses. To download the NMTC Final Rules click here
If you’re a CDE and looking to win an allocation, the CED Doctor can help you present a successful NMTC application. Dr. Farmer has served the US Treasury as an evaluator of NMTC applications for more than a decade. We know how to structure your application to receive the maximum points.
If you have applied and been denied a NMTC allocation in a past round of funding, let us perform a basic Application Review. Our clients have increased their application scores from as little as 10 to as much as 40 points after implementing the suggestions provided from our Application Review.
Why should you choose The CED Doctor?
Along with practical development experience in economically distressed communities, Dr. Farmer has served the US Treasury CDFI Fund for more than a decade as an NMTC Application Evaluator. Dr. Farmer has an insider’s perspective on application scoring protocols and can help increase your potential of receiving a tax credit allocation. Why leave your application to chance when you can improve your chance of winning an allocation simply by allowing us to help you present your best possible case.
New Market Tax Credit Project Evaluation Form
Find out which CDEs have been allocated NMTC through this searchable database. If you would like help finding a provider for your project, complete this form used to gather relevant project characteristics for evaluating NMTC eligibility and benefits. Download here