Introducing CLEAR (Community Land, Estate, and Asset Resolution), Community Investment Corporation’s new Southern Arizona Heirs Property Program. This program is designed to help Southern Arizonans protect and keep homes, land, and other assets in their families through the inheritance process.
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Community Investment Corporation (CIC), in partnership with Vantage West Credit Union, has been awarded a $200,000 AHEAD Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco).
The funding will help CIC expand Arizona’s first coordinated heirs’ property initiative, providing estate planning education, legal navigation, title resolution assistance, and cross-sector support to help families preserve homeownership and protect generational wealth.
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The Community Investment Corporation is a Tucson-based nonprofit that provides loans and financial coaching for small businesses. Earlier this year, it was one of several local organizations awarded $700,000 to support small childcare businesses that are less likely to get loans from banks.
The award is part of a greater $3 million effort from the state to expand affordable childcare access.
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TUCSON, AZ – The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) is honored to announce its 2025-2026 FORGE and ember grantee partners, awarding $650,000 in unrestricted funding to 21 grassroots and community-led organizations advancing racial, gender, and economic equity across Arizona. Challenging systemic inequity in our sector, FORGE prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) and those serving BIPOC, women, and gender-expansive communities.
Community at the Core of FORGE
The Fund for Racial and Gender Equity (FORGE) is more than a transaction—it is the next iteration of WFSA’s grantmaking that is grounded in sharing power through decision-making. These 21 grants are the culmination of a process intentionally co-created by leaders of organizations that create systemic and lasting change.
Tucson, AZ — The BIPOC Loan Fund and Community Investment Corporation (CIC) are proud to announce the one-year anniversary of BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day, officially proclaimed on May 1, 2024, by City of Tucson Mayor, Regina Romero, the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and recognized as part of the State of Arizona’s Small Business Week. This milestone marks a year of intentional recognition and support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business owners who continue to shape Arizona’s economic landscape with resilience and innovation.
To celebrate, the BIPOC Loan Fund, CIC, and Startup Tucson will host Startup Drinks: The BIPOC Entrepreneurs Day Edition, a free community networking event honoring BIPOC entrepreneurship on Thursday, May 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Slow Body Beer. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, supporters, and the BIPOC Loan Fund Committee for an evening of networking and celebration. Members of Southern Arizona’s BIPOC entrepreneurial community are encouraged to attend, connect, and share their journeys.
Adding to the celebration, on May 1, the BIPOC Loan Fund was honored to receive a $65,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (FORGE Fund). This award places the BIPOC Loan Fund among 21 grassroots and community-led organizations selected for their efforts to advance racial, gender, and economic equity across the state. In challenging systemic inequities in the business and lending sectors, the FORGE Fund prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) and those serving BIPOC, women, and gender-expansive communities. Spearheaded by an all-BIPOC Committee, businesses funded by the BIPOC Loan Fund include some of the following:
Since its inception, the BIPOC Loan Fund has provided accessible capital to Arizona-based BIPOC-owned small businesses, addressing generational barriers to entrepreneurship and investment with low-interest loans, character-based applications, and support throughout the financing process.
Join us on May 22 to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and celebrate the vibrant accomplishments of Arizona’s BIPOC entrepreneurial community.
Event Details:
Slow Body Beer: 831 E 17th St, Tucson, AZ 85719
Thursday, May 22, 2025
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Free to attend. All are welcome. Limited space, registration required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-drinks-bipoc-entrepreneurs-day-edition-tickets-1316948992889?aff=oddtdtcreator
About CIC
Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is a nonprofit economic development organization that helps underserved communities gain access to the capital and support they need to thrive. Through creative financing and community-centered partnerships, CIC helps build an Arizona where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Click here to download the press release.
A huge thank you to Joel Foster and KGUN 9 for shedding light on the critical impact of the federal grant freeze on Arizona nonprofits. Nonprofits like CIC and Make Way for Books are facing uncertainty as essential funding remains inaccessible, threatening vital community programs.
According to CIC Executive Director Danny Knee, “We are going to see a major contraction in the nonprofit community if this continues as it is. This is not any way to effectively root out waste, fraud, and abuse. You’re actually permanently damaging our social service infrastructure.”
Nonprofits are the backbone of our communities, supporting our most vulnerable. This funding freeze has real consequences for the people who rely on us.
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Congratulations to Alexa Rodriguez of Adela Artisan Made, a CIC and BIPOC Loan Fund recipient, for being featured in Governor Katie Hobbs 2025 State of the State Address!
Governor Hobbs stated, “Arizona’s economy thrives because of small businesses like the one founded by Alexa Rodriguez. After discovering her passion for entrepreneurship, she started an online boutique selling crafts that honor her Mexican heritage. While starting a business was hard, Alexa learned that securing a loan through traditional channels was even harder.
That changed when she got a loan through our Microbusiness Loan Program, which is designed to provide financial support for our state’s smallest businesses. The loan has helped her scale up her operation, allowing her to make more products and sell directly to customers at a mall kiosk. Through the program, she’s also getting financial education and training so she can execute on her future plans.”
Special thanks to our friends at the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for hosting this wonderful event, and gratitude to our community partners Growth Partners and Kiva Hub! We are so proud of all of our loan recipients, and the support we have received this far from our community partners and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Vantage West Credit Union, in collaboration with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco), will deliver $100,000 AHEAD Program grants to Groundswell Capital, Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation, and Community Investment Corporation in support of their efforts to drive economic growth, enhance workforce development, and create equitable opportunities for underserved communities throughout Southern Arizona.
Vantage West applied for the grant in partnership with these non-profits. After a competitive selection process, the three non-profits were awarded the AHEAD Program grants to fund the very important work they do in the community.
The collaboration between Community Investment Corporation (CIC) and Vantage West Credit Union is redefining community-focused financial services in Southern Arizona. Together, these organizations are creating a more inclusive, supportive ecosystem for small businesses and underserved communities.
In 2018, Vantage West Credit Union took a pivotal step toward deepening its community impact by becoming a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This designation marked a major shift in the credit union’s mission, underscoring its commitment to serving economically disadvantaged communities across Southern Arizona.
Recognizing the need for strong partnerships to amplify their CDFI efforts, Vantage West sought out Community Investment Corporation, a leader in the community and their innovative micro-lending programs with a proven track record of supporting ‘unbankable’ businesses in Southern Arizona.
CIC’s focus on providing tailored financial solutions to the community but specifically for marginalized communities like minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses aligned perfectly with Vantage West’s goals. The collaboration leveraged CIC’s expertise in micro-lending and Vantage West’s broad financial capabilities, creating a powerful synergy.
As Jon Bruflat, VP of Community Impact at Vantage West, explains, “We’ve worked with CIC for years and have seen the impact of their alternative lending with small businesses that haven’t been able to qualify for traditional loans. Our investment in their work and ongoing partnership supports Arizona’s small business community and is adding economic horsepower to our local economy.”
In 2024, the partnership reached a new level of collaboration. The Office of Economic Opportunity, under Governor Hobbs, announced a grant initiative for community lenders requiring applicants to match the funds allotted with 3 times the amount of the distributed funds. For CIC Tucson, a 501c3 nonprofit, their grant of $350,000 from the State presented an exciting opportunity but also a financial challenge to raise the matching funds before the grant deadline.
Recognizing the potential impact of the grant and CIC’s critical work, Vantage West stepped in, offering a low-interest loan that allowed CIC to secure the matching funds and access the full grant amount. Jon expressed Vantage West’s commitment to CIC’s mission, stating, “We’re dedicated to supporting organizations that make a real difference in our community. CIC’s work aligns perfectly with our values, and we’re proud to be part of this initiative.”
Danny Knee, Executive Director of CIC Tucson, shared his perspective: “The ecosystem we’ve built – goes beyond just providing loans. It’s about offering education, resources, and access to capital for businesses that otherwise wouldn’t qualify for financing. We can’t thank John and the team at Vantage West enough for their generosity, partnership and commitment to serving our community. For Vantage West to recognize the value we bring to the financial services ecosystem and to work to create a pathway to traditional financing for our borrowers is incredibly meaningful.”
The partnership between CIC Tucson and Vantage West Credit Union marks a new era of community-focused lending in Southern Arizona. By combining their strengths and resources, they are not only providing immediate financial support but also building a roadmap for small businesses to grow and succeed. As Arizona’s small business landscape evolves, the collaboration between CIC and Vantage West serves as a model for how innovative partnerships between the banking system and the nonprofit community can drive economic growth and community empowerment.
Our org BFF Startup Tucson just WON Stage Two of the U.S. Small Business Admin’s 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition!
This victory, in collaboration with the University of Arizona Center for Innovation and other partners, is all about boosting Southern Arizona’s AgTech & Food Ecosystem through the groundbreaking FEAST Food, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Science, and Technology) initiative!
CIC is proud to be part of this effort, providing alternative financing and financial literacy programs to fuel this vibrant ecosystem.
Together, we’re fostering equitable access to entrepreneurship and supporting the next generation of Southern Arizona’s innovators.
