Three Native community development financial institutions in Washington have been awarded $1.1 million in state grants to expand business financing and technical assistance for entrepreneurs facing barriers to conventional credit.
Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund was awarded $633,686, Pacific Northwest Tribal Lending was awarded $384,738 and Táala Fund was awarded $81,474 through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Equitable Access to Credit program. The awards are part of $4.36 million distributed to 11 lending organizations.
Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund, based in Oakville, plans to use its 2026–2027 award to expand business lending and assistance with business planning, financial management and loan readiness, according to Executive Director Tamra De Nova. The Native CDFI serves the Chehalis Reservation and surrounding underserved communities in rural Southwest Washington.
During its previous funding period, the lender made 19 small business loans totaling more than $534,000, exceeding its initial goal of six to 10 loans, De Nova told Tribal Business News.
Pacific Northwest Tribal Lending will use its $384,738 award to support Native-owned businesses as it marks its 20th anniversary, Executive Director Nancy Jordan said in an email. The state investment creates a new source of revolving loan capital for Native CDFIs, Jordan said.
Táala Fund, a Native community development financial institution serving the Quinault Indian Nation and surrounding community, will use its second consecutive award for small business loan capital and technical assistance, Executive Director Nora Mix told TBN.
“For me, the most exciting part is watching people bring their ideas to reality,” Mix said. “Balance sheets and budgets are important, but cultivating and believing in people is what makes this work matter.”
Established in 2022, the Equitable Access to Credit program is financed through business contributions exchanged for dollar-for-dollar state business and occupation tax credits. At least 65% of annual grant dollars support Native CDFIs or recipients serving or investing in rural counties.
Businesses can contribute through Dec. 31, receiving credits of up to $1 million per company annually, subject to an $8 million program cap.
