Montana CDC, a local community lender, announced today that it has received a capital grant from the Create Jobs for USA Fund, a collaboration between Starbucks and Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). The money will help Montana CDC create and sustain jobs in Montana as part of a national campaign to support community businesses in underserved communities.

Montana CDC is one of the top-tier community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in the nation to be awarded a grant from the fund since the program began allocating awards in November of 2011. The Create Jobs for USA Fund pools donations from Starbucks customers, partners/employees, and concerned citizens into a nationwide fund, held and managed by OFN, for community business lending. Donors who contribute $5 or more will receive a red, white, and blue wristband with the message “Indivisible.” The wristbands are individually handmade in the U.S.A. and all component materials are manufactured by U.S. suppliers, so the effort is also helping support American manufacturing jobs.

Since November 1 The Create Jobs for USA Fund has been collecting donations at www.CreateJobsforUSA.org and at nearly 7,000 company-operated Starbucks across the country. 100% of the donations will support organizations like Montana CDC lending for job creation and retention across the US.

“Create Jobs for USA is making it possible for Americans who have $5 to share help people who don’t have $5 to spare by creating and retaining jobs in their communities,” explained Mark Pinsky, President and CEO of OFN. “Montana CDC received this grant because it has demonstrated that it will provide financing that is good for community businesses and good for communities.”

“We’re pleased that Starbucks recognizes the important work that CDFIs are doing, and honored that the Create Jobs for USA Fund has made a grant to us,” said Dave Glaser, president at Montana CDC. “Create Jobs for USA is unprecedented for the CDFI industry. It is shining a national spotlight on our work and will help Montana CDC to create and sustain jobs in Montana.”

CDFIs provide financing to community businesses in underserved markets where would-be community business owners may not qualify for credit from traditional lending institutions. Community businesses include small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate developers, and affordable housing developers. All of these community businesses help to create and sustain local jobs.

Community business owners who would like to apply for a loan from Montana CDC can get more information at www.mtcdc.org  or, to find other CDFIs, visit http://opportunityfinance.net/findacdfi

Montana CDC’s mission is to provide business financing that can transform the lives of individuals and strengthen community prosperity.