Difference Makers

There are about 65 certified Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in the United States — roughly the same number as a decade ago.But that’s starting to change.In Episode 5 of Difference Makers 3.0, Brian Edwards speaks with leaders building new Native CDFIs in Oklahoma, Hawai‘i and the Northeast — part of a growing wave of more than 30 emerging efforts working to expand access to capital in communities that still don’t have it.The episode features Kristen Wagner of the Native CDFI Network, along with Riley Logsdon and Chris Coburn of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Community Development Corporation, Olani Lilly of Changemakers Community Economic Development, and Alexander “Brave Journey” Sterling of Turtle Island Community Capital.Together, their stories show how the next generation of Native CDFIs is taking shape — not through a single model, but through approaches grounded in the needs, values and realities of the communities they serve.In Oklahoma, a tribally affiliated lending organization is building toward certification while expanding access to small business and consumer lending in communities where predatory lending remains common.In Hawai‘i, a community development organization is using finance as one tool within a broader, relationship-based approach — rooted in culture, community and long-term resilience.And in the Northeast, a new Native CDFI effort is identifying significant unmet demand in a region that has historically lacked access to Native-led capital, with one estimate pointing to at least $180 million in investable opportunities.In this episode:Why the number of Native CDFIs has remained relatively flat — and what’s changingHow more than 30 emerging Native CDFIs are working toward certificationWhat it takes to build a Native CDFI from the ground upHow tribally affiliated lending models are developing in OklahomaWhy consumer lending matters in communities facing predatory lendingHow Native Hawaiian leaders are rethinking finance as a relationship-based systemThe scale of unmet demand for capital in regions like the NortheastWhat drives the next generation of Native CDFI leadersReading & Resources🔗 Native CDFI Network RISE Initiativehttps://nativecdfi.net/institute/ncn-ris🔗 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Community Development Corporationhttps://cheyenneandarapahocdc.org/🔗 Changemakers Community Economic Developmenthttps://changemakershawaii.org/🔗 Turtle Island Community Capitalhttps://turtleislandcommunitycapital.org/Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Large-scale economic development deals in Indian Country are typically financed through complex capital stacks — combining banks, tax credits and outside investors — with Native CDFIs often left out.That may be starting to change.In Episode 4 of Difference Makers 3.0, Brian Edwards and Pete Upton speak with Ted Piccolo and Stephen Nunes of Mission Driven Finance about a $65 million flour mill project on the Umatilla Indian Reservation — and how Native CDFIs helped finance a critical piece of the deal.The Blue Mountain Mill project brought together tribal equity, senior debt from Native American Bank and a $9 million subordinated loan from eight Native CDFIs across the country.In this conversation, Piccolo and Nunes explain how that financing came together, why Native lenders were brought in early, and how a collaborative structure — what Piccolo calls a “capital weave” — could shape future Native-led projects. In this episode:• How eight Native CDFIs came together to finance a $9M gap in the capital stack • Why Native lenders have historically been left out of larger deals • How the “missing middle” can stall projects — and how it was filled • What a “capital weave” is — and how it works in practice • How participation builds capacity for Native CDFIs to take on larger deals • Why this model could extend to energy, infrastructure and other sectorsReading & Resources:🔗 Mission Driven Finance https://missiondrivenfinance.com🔗 Native CDFI Network https://nativecdfi.net🔗 Tribal Business News coverage of the Blue Mountain Mill https://tribalbusinessnews.comDifference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Native communities receive less than one-half of 1% of philanthropic funding in the United States — roughly four or five dollars for every thousand dollars foundations give away.In Episode 3 of Difference Makers 3.0, Brian Edwards speaks with Kevin Walker, President and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation, about why Indian Country remains on the margins of mainstream philanthropy — and what changes when foundations choose to build deep relationships with Native communities.Under Walker’s leadership, Northwest Area Foundation made a public commitment that 40% of its grant dollars go to Native-led organizations — a level of sustained investment that stands out in the philanthropic sector.In this conversation, Walker reflects on how that decision emerged, what philanthropy often misunderstands about Indian Country, and why Native CDFIs represent one of the clearest opportunities for measurable economic impact.In this episode:• Why Native communities receive less than 0.5% of philanthropic funding• How NWAF committed to directing 40% of its grants to Native-led organizations• What philanthropy often gets wrong about Indian Country• The difference between a deficit mindset and an opportunity mindset• Why Native CDFIs are powerful drivers of local economic development• How foundations can move beyond land acknowledgments toward real accountabilityReading & Resources:🔗 Northwest Area Foundationhttps://www.nwaf.org🔗 NWAF Native-led work approachhttps://www.nwaf.org/approach/native-led-work/🔗 NWAF strategy supporting Native CDFIshttps://www.nwaf.org/approach/native-cdfis/🔗 Native CDFI Networkhttps://nativecdfi.netDifference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

How Native CDFIs grew from federal study into a sovereign finance movementIn 2001, the U.S. Treasury Department released the Native American Lending Study, identifying 17 structural barriers to capital access in Indian Country. The report helped catalyze what would become the modern Native CDFI movement.Fifteen years later, Treasury published a follow-up report, Access to Capital and Credit in Native Communities (2016), examining how the sector had evolved.In this episode of Difference Makers 3.0, researcher Miriam R. Jorgensen of the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development and the Native Nations Institute joins Brian Edwards and Pete Upton to discuss:Why the 2001 study was pivotalHow Native CDFIs grew from roughly 10 institutions to nearly 70Why capitalization remains a challengeThe role of tribal government investmentHow Native CDFIs evolved from microloans to complex capital stacksWhat happens if federal support changes🔗 Read the 2001 Native American Lending Study (U.S. Treasury PDF).🔗 Read the 2016 report, Access to Capital and Credit in Native Communities. Written by Miriam R. Jorgensen, Research Director at the Native Nations Institute and the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. Funded by the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, with additional support from the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. 🎧 Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2352819/episodes/18718249Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

The legal foundations of tribal economiesLong before federal banking systems or modern economic policy, Native nations were building trade networks, governing territory and sustaining complex economies.In Episode 1 of Difference Makers 3.0, legal scholar Robert J. Miller — a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe and professor of law — joins Brian Edwards and Pete Upton to examine the historical and constitutional foundations of tribal sovereignty.From pre-colonial trade systems to the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause, Miller makes the case that tribes are sovereign governments, not racial groups — a distinction that shapes everything from treaty rights to modern Native finance.In this episode, Miller discusses:Why Indigenous economies were sophisticated long before European contact How property, inheritance and trade operated in tribal nations What the Constitution says about commerce with Indian tribes Why Native CDFIs are expressions of sovereignty — not DEI programs How modern Native finance reflects government-to-government relationships🎧 Listen now:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2352819/episodes/18669874-before-the-banksReading material:   🔗 Reservation Capitalism by Robert J. Miller, Adam Crepelle 🔗 Morton v. Mancari (1974) 🔗 U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (Indian Commerce Clause) 🔗 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975)🔗 Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (UNESCO page) 🔗 Chaco Culture National Historical Park (National Park Service)Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Difference Makers 3.0 is a yearlong podcast series from the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News that explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are reshaping the future of tribal economies — one loan, one partnership, one bold idea at a time.This season, the podcast moves beyond small business stories to spotlight the full spectrum of what Native CDFIs do — from consumer lending to homeownership, credit repair to capital stacking — and why they matter more than ever.Through in-depth interviews with Native CDFI leaders, funders, tribal partners, and clients, Difference Makers 3.0 traces the movement’s history, the policy fights shaping its future, and the collaborations that are helping Native CDFIs grow their impact and build long-term capacity.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

In the season finale of Difference Makers 2.0, host Elyse Wild revisits Native entrepreneurs nearly a year after their first interviews to see how their businesses have grown—and how Native CDFIs continue to fuel their success. From rebuilding after Hurricane Helene to expanding RV repair services and turning a beloved food truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant, these stories highlight resilience, innovation, and the critical role of Native CDFIs in strengthening small businesses across Indian Country.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Pete Upton, CEO of Native CDFI Network, warns of an "existential threat" to the NACA program—the only federal funding stream specifically for Native CDFIs. With 86% of this year's funding at risk and potential complete elimination next year, 69 Native CDFIs serving banking deserts across Indian Country could lose their lifeline. The stakes? 46% of Native lands are banking deserts (12x the national average). Without Native CDFIs, there are no small business loans, no home loans, no economic development. But there's hope. Pete outlines solutions including a $50 million Treasury set-aside and leveraging SSBCI funds. He's calling for a seat at the table with the new administration to find common ground. "Native CDFIs are about economic freedom, not dependency—building businesses, creating jobs, keeping government out of the way where possible."Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

With just 3,600 enrolled members and limited financial resources, the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma faced a challenging question: How could they fund a multi-million-dollar behavioral health center to address the opioid crisis in their community? The answer came through a strategic partnership with Native American Bank, whose expertise in both tribal lending and New Markets Tax Credits made the seemingly impossible project possible."They weren't just a lender—they were a partner and an educator," explains Brian Kirk, Executive Affairs Director for the Nation. The bank stayed engaged throughout years of planning, helping the tribe blend tax credits with grant funding and tribal contributions to create a financing model that minimized debt while maximizing impact.Now nearly complete, the center will provide culturally informed addiction treatment and mental health services while demonstrating that tribal nations of any size can build sovereign infrastructure with the right financial partners. As Joel Smith of Native American Bank puts it: "This is replicable. And we're here to help other tribes make it happen."Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

When Quinault Nation elder Harvest Moon changed course from pursuing a medical career to becoming a basketweaver and storyteller, she found her true calling. With support from the Cedar Root Business Center, Moon has transformed her cultural artistry into a thriving business, sharing Quinault traditions with audiences ranging from schoolchildren to major corporations like Microsoft and REI.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

For Kelly Price, her grandmother's fry bread recipe was everything she loved about home. Six years ago, she made a batch to support a needy family in her community, an act of kindness that led her to quit her corporate job and launch Red Bone Indian Tacos. Today, she travels throughout Oklahoma, selling fry bread tacos from a food truck as she prepares to soon open the business's very first brick-and-mortar location.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

At the 5th annual Native CDFI Summit in Washington, D.C., Difference Makers host Elyse Wild caught up with Native CDFI leaders who are transforming their communities through small business support. From NACDC Financial Services' strategic property acquisitions in Montana to MNI Sota Fund's ambitious $19 million campaign in Minneapolis, these executives shared how they're creating spaces, opportunities, and pathways to success for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Through business incubators, expanded loan funds, and innovative programs, Native CDFIs are proving that strong small businesses build strong communities. Read their stories and get a glimpse of what's ahead for these difference makers in Indian Country.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

From paralegal burnout to thriving entrepreneur: Rudy Serrano's story shows how the right support can transform a career. After 19 years in law, Rudy found his true calling in mobile RV repair, backed by the Tigua Community Development Corporation's comprehensive business development program.Today, Roadhouse Mobile RV Repair and Inspection serves travelers across the country, combining Rudy's technical expertise with sound business practices learned through TCDC's Native Pathways program. His story proves that with proper guidance and determination, career pivots can lead to both personal fulfillment and business success. #NativeCDFI #SmallBusiness #IndigenousEntrepreneurship #NativeOwnedDifference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Alaska Native John Hillman spent years working away from his hometown of Hoonah, a remote Tlingit community in Alaska's Alexander Archipelago. When cruise ships began bringing tourists to his community in 2019, he saw his chance to return home. With support from Native CDFI Spruce Root, he and his wife launched Wilderness Island Tours, the area's only Indigenous-owned tour operator, sharing their culture and love of the local wilderness with visitors.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Meet Jamie Ann Bell (Ahtna Athabascan), who discovered baking was the perfect blend of her love for science and creativity. Starting with a homemade baby shower cake, she and business partner Linnaea Ward-Develice built Arctic Moon Bakery from scratch.Despite a pandemic derailing their initial funding and forcing them into a high-interest loan, they persevered. Thanks to Cook Inlet Lending Center, a Native CDFI, they refinanced at 3% and now supply Alaska's largest coffee producer and local airlines with their treats. From navigating black bears to deliver mountain wedding cakes to shipping celebration cakes to remote villages, Arctic Moon Bakery is a testament to Native entrepreneurship and community support. Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Winnebago chef Reggie Frazier started his culinary career whipping up dishes on a hot plate at Ho-Chunk Village Farmer’s Market — or Nį̄šoc Wahāgi Hoci in the Ho-Chunk language. He quickly turned his passion for cooking into a thriving brick-and-mortar restaurant and, now, a new food truck with loans from Ho Chunk Community Capital, a Native CDFI. Learn how R-Eatz is feeding the community and inspiring other Native entrepreneurs on the Winnebago reservation.  Plus, we asked Reggie and Ho Chunk Community Capital's Tony Wood what advice they'd give to aspiring Native entrepreneurs about starting a business. Tony Wood's Advice:- Native CDFIs like Ho Chunk Community Capital are available resources that many people don't know about, but can provide crucial startup capital and support.- The most important thing is having the drive and determination to follow through on your entrepreneurial dreams, even when things get challenging.- Talk with successful Native business owners like Reggie to share their stories and inspire others in the community.- Highlight the importance of continuing to support and promote Native-owned businesses.Reginald Frazier's Advice:- If it's your passion, take the risk and go for it - no one can take that passion away from you.- Don't be afraid to ask for help - there are programs and people like Tony who can guide you in the right direction.- Supporting one another in the community as fellow Native entrepreneurs.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

“If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”That sentiment guides Native CDFI Network CEO Pete Upton as he works to support Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs), advocating for policy and funding to elevate economic development across Indian Country. Upton always works to make sure Native CDFIs have a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect Native communities. As we approach the halfway mark of the Difference Makers 2.0 season, Upton sat down with podcast host Elyse Wild to discuss how Native CDFIs are helping small businesses and creating opportunities for Native communities. They also share some of their favorite stories from the podcast episodes so far and how NCN champions Indian Country’s voice, ensuring Native communities always have a seat at the table.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Tulalip Nation citizen Anthony Henry turned his passion for fishing into a successful business with the help of a Native CDFI named Pacific Northwest Tribal Lending, becoming the captain of his own commercial fishing boat and preserving Tribal fishing rights.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

In 2008,  the salon where Julie Painter worked at while she was a student in cosmetology school was about to shut down because the owner was leaving to work in education. Painter's options were to work at a different salon two hours away in Asheville, N.C. — or buy the Visage Salon where she worked and become a business owner."There were two options in front of me," Painter, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, said. "And I went with option two.” Painter admits that she “was in a terrible place for starting a business” at the time. She had a low credit score and no experience running a business, but she was determined. Then she met Russ Seagle and the Sequoyah Fund, Inc.  Here's their story. Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

In Eagle Butte, S.D., on the Cheyenne River Lakota Reservation, tribal citizens can find high-quality traditional foods, such as bison and wild rice, at Wóyute Natural Foods & Apothecary.For owner Donita Fischer (Cheyenne River Lakota), the business she launched in 2023 is a testament to food sovereignty and a commitment to her community.“Access to healthy foods is really important to me,” Fischer said. “Watching my parents and grandparents succumb to different ailments because of the Western diet introduced to our areas made access to healthy foods a key issue for me.”Like many Native Americans of their generation who didn't have access to their traditional diets, Fischer's grandparents and mother had diabetes.“My mom never wanted any of us to get diabetes,” Fischer said. “This is all kind of like a legacy to her.”Supported by Four Bands Community Fund, a certified Native CDFI, Wóyute is thriving in a business incubator that provides essential services and a low-risk environment for growth. Executive Director Lakota Vogel shares insights on the importance of creating physical spaces for small businesses in underserved markets.Tune in to the Difference Makers 2.0 podcast to hear Donita Fischer and Lakota Vogel discuss their journey and vision for a sustainable, community-focused food economy.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Despite a Native American population of nearly 800,000, California and Nevada have only one certified Native CDFI. The Native CDFI Network and Wells Fargo are launching a year-long initiative to change that. Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Polluted waters once limited the Mi’kmaq Nation's access to brook trout. A new fish hatchery and expansion, supported by Four Directions, a Native CDFI, boosts subsistence and economic development.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Nixyaawii Community Financial Services helped Umatilla Citizen Sadie Mildenberger turn her dream of owning a business that serves innovative dishes with traditional ingredients into a reality. Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Nine years ago, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians citizen Wayne Roberts had an opportunity to turn his decades-long experience in commercial flooring into a business. Discover how Native CDFI Chi-Ishobak helped Roberts with lending and mentorship to scale that opportunity into Great Lakes Flooring Specialists, a thriving family company serving commercial clients across southwest Michigan.Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Discover how Gary and Sue Raccine's journey from a rejected loan to thriving entrepreneurship was fueled by NACDC Financial Services, a Native CDFI empowering Native American business owners in Montana.Read the story on Tribal Business News. Learn more about Native CDFIs. Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.

Native-owned small businesses can make a big impact in tribal communities. But to do that, they need capital, technical assistance, community support, and even some mentoring from time to time. That’s what we’re going to talk about this season on Difference Makers 2.0 — a new podcast that highlights how Native CDFIs work alongside their small business clients to accelerate change and create economic opportunities in Native communities. I’m your host, Elyse Wild. Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as we shine a spotlight on the people making a difference and accelerating economic change in Indian Countryhttps://nativecdfi.net/ Difference Makers explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are expanding economic opportunity across Indian Country. From small business lending and homeownership to consumer loans, financial education, and technical assistance, Native CDFIs provide the capital and support that help Native communities build stronger local economies.Join the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News as they spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving economic change in Native communities.