TUCSON, Ariz. – Sept. 29, 2026 – Community Investment Corporation (CIC) announced today the launch of CLEAR (Community Land, Estate, and Asset Resolution), a new program designed to help Southern Arizonans protect and keep homes, land and other assets in their families through the inheritance process.

The program is launching with a $250,000 grant from Wells Fargo and coincides with Pima County proclaiming September 29, 2026, “Community Investment Day” in recognition of CIC’s 30th anniversary and the nonprofit organization’s lasting impact on Southern Arizona.

CLEAR will help primarily low-to-moderate income families address heirs’ property issues, including unclear ownership, probate complications, title problems and estate planning needs that can place family property and generational wealth at risk.

National research published in 2023 by the Housing Assistance Council estimates that more than 580,000 residential properties representing more than $32 billion in assessed value are heirs’ properties or at risk of becoming heirs’ properties. The research also notes that an estimated $84 trillion in wealth is expected to transfer from the Baby Boomer generation to younger generations by 2045, highlighting the importance of preserving family property and generational wealth.

These challenges are not limited to other parts of the country. Southern Arizona families also face complex issues that can arise when property passes down to heirs without clear title or estate planning. Arizona’s 2024 adoption of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act further underscores the need for families to understand their rights and options to ensure inherited property can remain in the original owner’s family.

The initiative expands on a pilot program that was focused on South Tucson and was funded with a $25,000 grant from the Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC). CLEAR will initially focus on Pima County and will connect families with legal assistance, estate planning, navigation, and other resources, before expanding to all of Southern Arizona.

“CLEAR is about helping families protect the assets they have worked so hard to build,” said Danny Knee, Executive Director of Community Investment Corporation. “As CIC celebrates 30 years of service, this program reflects what our work has always been about: cross-sector partnerships that expand opportunities for wealth building to strengthen our community.”

The $250,000 Wells Fargo grant is part of a special Arizona grant initiative, America 250, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, through which Wells Fargo is supporting four nonprofit projects that reflect the strength, resilience, and opportunity of communities across the state. CLEAR reflects the America 250 theme by helping families protect the American Dream of homeownership. The grant will support the launch and initial implementation of CLEAR as Southern Arizona’s first coordinated heirs’ property initiative.

“Homeownership can create a lasting foundation for families and future generations, but heirs’ property challenges can put that legacy at risk,” said Katie Campana, Philanthropy and Community Impact for Wells Fargo. “Through our heirs’ property work across the country, Wells Fargo is helping connect more families with the resources they need to preserve their homes, protect generational wealth and carry their family legacy forward. This grant reflects our commitment to expanding housing opportunity, and we’re proud to support Community Investment Corporation’s work helping Southern Arizona families protect inherited property and build a stronger future.”

Since 2019, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have made $830 million in philanthropic investments to help keep people housed, increase housing supply, and expand access to affordable homes.

Over its 30-year history, CIC has developed programs that expand access to homeownership, small business capital, and educational opportunities. CIC has provided financial support to more than 10,000 local homebuyers purchasing their first home through Down Payment Assistance and Mortgage Credit Certificate programs. Its eviction prevention efforts helped keep more than 30,000 Southern Arizonans housed during the Covid-19 pandemic with $65 million distributed in rental and utility assistance.

CIC’s work has also included innovative lending programs, like its community-managed BIPOC Loan Fund and Kiva Southern Arizona Hub, designed to provide access to funding for entrepreneurs traditionally excluded from conventional financing. CIC has originated more than 200 loans since 2021 totaling $5.3 million, helping create nearly 200 local jobs and generating an estimated $5.58 in social and economic value for every dollar invested. Over time, CIC has lent $18 million throughout Arizona, with over 85% going to underserved demographics, including low-income, rural, female, BIPOC, or first-time entrepreneurs in 2025.

In 2023, CIC launched My Schools Tucson, an education initiative that has helped over 2,200 families navigate school enrollment, prepare children for kindergarten, and engage with their education, through Countdown to Kinder presentations and collaborations with local Head Starts in the past three years.

About Community Investment Corporation:

Community Investment Corporation (CIC) was founded in 1996 and works to expand economic opportunity in Southern Arizona through small business homeownership, lending, and education programs – three distinct program areas that are foundational to individual, community, and economic well-being in our region.

For more information about CIC’s CLEAR Heirs Property Program, visit https://cictucson.org/clear-heirs-property.