Monday 13 September. Small business owners in the UK are turning to CDFIs as a result of high street banks continuing to refuse loan applications, according to a page 3 article on microfinance in the Financial Times. Continue reading
News
Centre for Cities report on cross boundary working and LEPs
Monday 13 September. The Centre for Cities has produced a new report which looks at the challenges facing the ten largest Local Economic Partnerships that have been proposed. Continue reading
BIS publishes details of 56 Local Enterprise Partnership proposals
Tuesday 7 September. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published a list of 56 new Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) that have been proposed by businesses and local authorities. Continue reading
Economist piece on US CDFI sector
Tuesday 31 August. Despite the recent closure of a leading light in the US CDFI movement, The Economist finds that the rest of the sector is “stronger than ever”. Continue reading
Turning mission impossible into mission accomplished
Thursday 26 August. We need to demonstrate that our businesses are lean, mean, fighting machines to secure our place on the Coalition Government’s agenda. Continue reading
Banks say demand is falling, CDFIs say it is rising. Who is right?
Monday 9 August. Banks have changed their view of what a viable business looks like, with the result that many SMEs are losing out. But if they work through CDFIs, banks can reach and develop new markets. Continue reading
Government recognises the importance of CDFIs in lending consultation
Thursday 29 July. A joint BIS and Treasury consultation document, Financing the Private Sector Recovery stresses the importance of community finance. Continue reading
David Cameron announces Big Society Bank
Thursday 22 July. David Cameron this week outlined plans for the new Big Society Bank, and announced the country’s first ‘Big Society communities’ in Sutton, Windsor and Maidenhead, Eden Valley in Cumbria and Liverpool. Continue reading
Bank has Big potential – but only if it’s well designed
Tuesday 20 July. The Big Society Bank announced by David Cameron this week has transformative potential – but it needs to be well-designed and fit for purpose. Continue reading
National Housing Federation launches affordable loans scheme
Friday 16 July. The National Housing Federation, trade association for housing associations in England, is piloting a new affordable loans scheme in partnership with cdfa member ELM. Continue reading