In a historic bid to catalyze clean energy infrastructure development in Native communities across the entire nation, today the Native CDFI Network (NCN) submitted a comprehensive Indian Country application to the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), one of three award programs under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
On October 6, 2023, CEO, Pete Upton participated as a speaker in the Johnson Scholarship Foundation’s annual meeting held in Scottsdale, Arizona. The gathering brought together representatives from ten schools that actively participate in the foundation’s business scholarship programs.
On October 3-4, 2023, Pete Upton, the CEO and Chairman of the Native CDFI Network, made a keynote speech at the 2023 Northwest Native Economic Summit.
Upton’s participation in the panel discussion titled “Financing the Underfinanced: Lessons Learned Across Geographies” was a testament to the Native CDFI Network’s dedication to advancing financial inclusion for indigenous populations.
Under the theme “Native CDFIs | Funding Native Housing, Tribal Economies,” Upton passionately conveyed the pivotal role that Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are playing in supporting Native homeownership, empowering Indigenous small businesses, and fueling community development initiatives within Indian Country.
Upton was asked to participate at the Clinton Global Initiative to share the work Native CDFIs are doing to grow thriving economies across Indian Country.
As part of a two-year cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA RD) Office of Tribal Relations (OTR), the Native CDFI Network (NCN) will be producing an electronic resource toolkit (NCN e-toolkit) to promote awareness of and increase access to Rural Development programs that support economic development in Indian Country.
Native CDFI leaders from across the country shared their priorities and concerns regarding a number of critical issues with U.S. Department of the Treasury and CDFI Fund officials, a group that included Chief Lynn Malerba, Treasurer of the United States, and Noel Andrés Poyo, Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Economic Development.
NCN is seeking Native CDFI partners to pursue Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund opportunities.
NCN CEO Pete Upton has been appointed to the Justice Climate Fund Board, led by the Community Builders of Color Coalition.