The Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund (CTLF) has announced the expansion of its community-supporting services and its new larger location in Oakville. The nonprofit will officially open at the new location on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
The new space will accommodate the CTLF to grow existing programs and add new programs, which will benefit Chehalis tribal members, tribal employees, other Native Americans and members of the surrounding community that it serves.
The move will also allow CTLF to take on more clients and further the mission of offering access to fair lending by breaking down the barriers and prejudices Native people face when seeking loans to buy vehicles and homes, finance a business, consolidate debt or achieve other financial goals, according to a CTLF news release.
“A lot of tribal members are not too familiar with banks; they don’t know how any loan program works,” CTLF Board Member Christopher Pickernell said in a news release, adding that Native financial institutions are a vital part of tribal communities. “Not only are we able to bring resources and access to capital and financial education, but also, being a part of the community allows us to create a level of trust.”
Not only does CTLF help their clients access loans, they offer development services and education to promote financial confidence and long-term success. Some of the programs CTLF offers include credit building and coaching, entrepreneurship training and support, and one-on-one and group financial counseling.
“This allows us to better contribute to the long-term growth of our community,” CTLF Executive Director Tamra De Nova said in the release.
Thanks to the expansion, the nonprofit is broadening its business programs and launching the Business Incubator, a new program offering more resources to Native business owners and entrepreneurs.
The Business Incubator program will be based in a multi-purpose room at the new location, where clients can take advantage of drop-in counseling on certain days. Clients can also schedule office time, allowing them access to office space, reliable Wi-Fi, office equipment and supplies. It’s something De Nova said will be crucial in helping small Native businesses thrive.
The current office closes at the end of the day on Oct. 10.
The expansion is supported through diverse channels of funding, including The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation; Business Impact NW; First Peoples Fund; the Oweesta Native CORE Grant; and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
The move is also funded in part through Brick by Brick, CTLF’s largest fundraiser, held this year on Dec. 5 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Centralia. This gala-style event features a live and silent auction, a three-course dinner and live entertainment from award-winning Native American dancer and hip-hop artist Supaman.
