CDFI Friendly South Bend is welcoming five new members to its Board of Directors, strengthening its ability to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs across the region. With experience spanning entrepreneurship, financial counseling, impact investing, and nonprofit leadership, this new class brings both technical expertise and lived experience to help guide the organization’s next phase of growth and impact.

CDFI Friendly held a board retreat at Momentum Hub in South Bend to refine its mission statement and plan the organization’s future impact.

CDFI Friendly hosted a community discussion on predatory payday lending and the Community Loan Center model from the Brightpoint Development Fund to help employers offer safer loan options.

CDFI Friendly presented on capital access across the region, including events in Elkhart, IU South Bend, Notre Dame, and Niles to support entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs gathered at the Lerner Theatre for the launch of the Elkhart Small Business Resource Toolkit, connecting businesses with capital and resources.

As we wrap up the year, we want to say thank you to several board members completing their terms with CDFI Friendly.

Nicola Brown, Manjima Bose, Angela Logan, Marcus Northern, and Carlos Bolden each played an important role in helping build and guide our organization in its early years.

We are grateful for their leadership and service to entrepreneurs across our region.

Building for Impact: Nonprofits, Facilities, and Finance Come Together in Goshen. Earlier this month, CDFI Friendly South Bend partnered with IFF to host Building for Impact in Goshen—a hands-on workshop for nonprofit leaders focused on how to plan, finance, and sustain the facilities that power their missions.

On Wednesday, September 24th we host our first event in Niles, MI. The greater Niles community came together for an energizing event that blended learning, networking, and celebration. Hosted at 2Ten Main, affectionately known as the “Coolest Place in Town,” the workshop drew a packed room of business owners, lenders, community leaders, and supporters from across the region.

Old National Bank grant will help CDFI Friendly South Bend continue to support entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Our Capital Coaching program pairs entrepreneurs with an expert mentor to help them access capital.

What began as a bold vision came to life in a big way at the Momentum South Bend Hub. On Wednesday, we brought together entrepreneurs, community leaders, food lovers, and lending experts under one roof for a day of learning, connection, collaboration, and celebration.

This week, our Executive Director Sam Centellas and Board Member Breanna Denise Allen traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent our organization at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Just Economy Conference—a gathering of community leaders, financial experts, and advocates from across the country working to build an inclusive economy for all.

Last month, we mentioned the weather warming up — and now, so has activity in Washington, especially as it relates to our work in the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) space.

On Friday, March 14, 2025, the CDFI Fund was placed in the administration’s crosshairs, raising concerns and questions about the future of community finance.

Our friend and community leader Sam Centellas made the news recently again, and we’re excited to share why.

Our Capital Coaching program has been named a grant recipient of the first-ever Amazon St. Joseph County Community Fund!

We’re excited to share that CDFI Friendly South Bend Region was officially welcomed last Friday, February 7th, 2025, as a new member of the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce!

Our region — like much of Indiana — is a CDFI desert.

That means businesses, community programs, and affordable housing developments here haven’t received the same access to capital that other parts of the country enjoy.

Despite the chilly weather, spirits were high as community members, partners, and supporters gathered for a ribbon cutting that marked more than just the opening of a new duplex—it marked momentum.

CDFI Friendly is proud to be recognized in Entrepreneurship Indiana (PDF, 405MB), the 2024 Yearbook of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). The yearbook profiles 100 entrepreneurs and support organizations from across the state – including four from South Bend.

Last week, CDFI Friendly South Bend joined with local nonprofit partners to host such a workshop at the Studebaker National Museum.

Made possible by a sponsorship from PNC Bank, the interactive session focused on the resources and support available to help nonprofit organizations advance their missions.

CDFI Friendly South Bend’s Capital Coaching program was recently recognized by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) at its inaugural Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) Summit. 

CDFI Friendly South Bend’s executive director Sam Centellas was invited to share our Capital Coaching program with ESO representatives from across the state during a panel discussion on Access to Capital.

CDFI Friendly is proud to announce an expansion of its programs into southwest Michigan. Executive Director Sam Centellas recently broke the news before a full house at the October Chamber Buzz Event hosted by the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce.