On the Olympic Peninsula’s southwest coast, the TAALA Fund is a Native CDFI that works to support communities within the Quinault Indian Reservation. Founded in 2010, the TAALA Fund has gained support from a number of organizations, including Bank of the Pacific. In fact, Brook Lilley – manager for Bank of the Pacific’s Ocean Shores and Taholah branches – recently joined the TAALA Fund’s board of directors.
“Those loans – and other TAALA Fund resources – are making a truly positive impact in people’s lives,” Lilley adds. Several community members have recently become small business owners, thanks to the TAALA Fund. In addition, a handful of TAALA Fund users have opened up savings accounts through Bank of the Pacific.
Nora Mix, TAALA Fund’s executive director, says there’s a fair amount of inequality when it comes to certain populations receiving lending.
“TAALA Fund, in partnership with Bank of the Pacific, has been really working to make it a less intimidating process for banking and lending,” Mix says. “They’ve been a really amazing community support for us.”
Among its initiatives is the Cedar Root Business Center, which offers comprehensive support for creative and entrepreneurial Indigenous projects throughout Grays Harbor County. The center provides everything from financial counseling and networking opportunities to lending, planning guidance and tax services for small business owners.
Click here to read more.