Isles Community Enterprises (ICE), the financial services subsidiary of Isles, Inc. is proud to announce the granting of its certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). CDFI Certification is granted by the U.S. Department of Treasury (www.cdfifund.gov) to financing agencies that focus their business-related lending and business development services in underserved and economically distressed communities.
This certification will help open doors for Isles Community Enterprises (ICE) to access loan capital from the CDFI Fund and banks, as well as grants for supporting loans, training and technical assistance for self-employment and microbusinesses.
CDFI funding will support ICE’s plans to offer its microbusiness development loans and training services in more areas of Mercer County and to add an Energy Efficiency and Education loan product. ICE has made business development loans to more than 22 businesses over the past three years, including a loan to start Isles E4, a weatherization and home energy efficiency business that hires and trains local residents for high paying “green collar” jobs.