Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Community First Fund, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, received a $361,549 Project Grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Capital Access under the Microloan Program (CFDA 59.046) on July 1, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2026. Through this award, Community First Fund will provide microloans up to $50,000 to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns, with particular emphasis on serving women, minority, and low-income entrepreneurs in underserved communities lacking access to traditional credit sources. The funding supports both direct lending activities and technical assistance delivery to prospective and current microborrowers.

The microloan funds are designated exclusively for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery, and equipment. Additionally, the grant enables Community First Fund to deliver marketing, management, and technical assistance services to support successful business outcomes. As an established intermediary lender with substantial federal grant experience, Community First Fund will operate without subrecipient involvement, building institutional lending capacity while expanding access to capital across its approved rural and urban target markets in Pennsylvania.