Florida Community Loan Fund Celebrates the Past As it Plans for Florida’s Future

Delivering Over $215 Million to Improve Low Income Communities as Florida Grows

Orlando Florida. Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF), a statewide source of flexible financing for community and economic development today announced several advancements as it celebrates its 20th anniversary and aims for the future.

A common vision and a modest investment of a thousand dollars in 1995 helped guide FCLF through two decades and delivery of over $215 million in financing for low income communities across Florida. Seventy-five percent of that financing was delivered in the last five years alone, indicating how FCLF has responded to the evolving needs in communities across the state.

“Early investors in FCLF believed in the notion of a statewide nonprofit that would serve the capital needs of low income communities in Florida. Their trust motivated us to deliver capital in places where conventional financing often does not reach,” said FCLF CEO, Ignacio Esteban. “We are thankful to our partners who have helped us achieve 20 years of financial strength and to the organizations that borrow from FCLF and help us achieve our shared mission by improving the social fabric in Florida one community at a time.”

Florida has surpassed New York as the nation’s third-largest state, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau in March 2015. And as Florida grows, FCLF has responded, to date, managing over 200 loans that have resulted in more than $670 million for community and economic development projects throughout Florida.

“We see our role as making sure that capital reaches all communities in Florida so that the entire state can prosper,” said Esteban. “They must be equipped with housing, education, healthcare and essential services to impact people and their communities in a positive way. That is where we can help.”

A fresh brand image celebrates the organization’s mission to use expertise and capital to help organizations improve lives and communities. The new FCLF identity brings together a new logo along with a commemorative video and 20 years of success stories. The success stories demonstrate the organization’s mission in action -- beginning with FCLF’s very first investor, the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus that invested $1,000 to support socially responsible community development.

Other success stories due in part to FCLF financing can be found at www.fclf.org/20yearsofsuccess and include:

• Formerly-homeless families in Tampa now have temporary housing, job training, on-site day care and elementary school education by Metropolitan Ministries, which also serves over 3,000 meals daily to the homeless.
• Expanded services to veterans including transitional housing for 200+ individuals, behavioral healthcare, and substance abuse treatment provided by the Transition House in St. Cloud.
• Behavioral healthcare provided to 3,000 primarily low-income individuals annually by Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare at three locations in Nassau County.
• Safe and affordable housing provided to over 100 low-and moderate-income families by Neighborhood Renaissance along with financial education and homebuyer counseling.
• 300 students offered a choice in education through a charter school in a low-income neighborhood in Brevard County at Emma Jewel Charter Academy.

Watch the video that celebrates Florida Community Loan Fund's 20 Years and learn more about the projects we work with and the impact we make in Florida's communities.

About Florida Community Loan Fund. Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF) is a statewide, multifaceted financing entity providing flexible capital and expertise to high-impact projects in low-income communities. FCLF became Florida’s first certified statewide Community Development Financial Institution in 1996 and in 2014 was one of three U.S. Community Development Financial Institutions awarded the national Wells Fargo NEXT Opportunity Award which recognizes mission-driven community lenders with innovative strategies to preserve and expand affordable housing. As a lending institution, FCLF’s borrowers include non-profits and for-profit mission-focused developers, housing authorities, a wide range of social service organizations, and community health centers. Investors and supporters of FCLF include financial institutions, corporations, foundations, religious investors from various denominations, and federal and state government.

Media Contacts: Janet de Guehery, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (407) 246-0846 or Lisa Junkerman, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Download the press release as a pdf here, or view it on PRNewswire.