CDFI Friendly South Bend Region

06/08/2026

Business owners we need your input!

Our friends at the South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership are surveying regional entrepreneurs to get an honest picture of what's working, what's missing, and where the biggest gaps in support exist. The data will be used to influence funding decisions, program development, and policy priorities that affect founders across the area.

In other words: the more founders who weigh in, the harder it is to ignore.

⏱ The survey takes 15–20 minutes.
📊 Results will be shared with all participants.
🔒 Your responses are completely confidential.

👉 Take the Survey: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ebt8AVMMVS1RFFs

We selected you because your experience and perspective represent exactly the kind of insight this research needs. We hope you'll take a few minutes to make it count.

06/03/2026

Recent article in Common Ground focused on the sustainability work of our CDFI partner IFF. Featured in the article was the South Bend Sustainability Office EASSI program.

We are launching the 2026 version of the program on June 22nd from 3PM to 5PM at LangLab South Bend! What is EASSI? IFF and the City of South Bend partner to help nonprofits and businesses improve energy efficiency, we help those businesses access capital to complete the project.

You may not recognize this roof, but it's La Casa de Amistad, their solar array was one of the impactful local programs. Click below to read more, and in the comments is more info on the 2026 program launch.

By focusing on energy efficiency in nonprofit facilities, IFF is helping mission-driven organizations across Indiana deepen their impact.

06/02/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is LIVE!

The printed version will be available shortly and we will include all materials on our Annual Report page of our website. Unfortunately we didn't record all the floating heads talking on the zoom, but here are the slides and the presentation from Sam Centellas, our Board Chair Breanna Denise Allen, new board member Rebecca Spohrer, and a client success story (and new board member) Aleks Godspirition.

Thanks to everyone who joined today, from board to donors and partners and lenders! Enjoy the report, it was a labor of love doing the work and we are proud to report on it to the community.

Join us as we review CDFI Friendly South Bend's 2025 Annual Report,...

05/28/2026

Last year was full of challenges, growth, and impact.

Thanks to the support of our donors, partners, and community, CDFI Friendly South Bend helped close impactful loans for local businesses and neighborhood development projects across our region, while continuing to build a stronger capital access ecosystem.

Join us for our Annual Report Webinar as we share:
• Highlights and impact from 2025
• Lessons learned from the year
• A preview of exciting things ahead in 2026
• Opportunities for questions and community input

We would love to have you join the conversation.

RSVP Link in comments.

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/86815364294
Meeting ID: 868 1536 4294
Passcode: 673367
CDFI Friendly America

05/26/2026

FREE Baseball Game TOMORROW (5/27/2026)

Local business owners... we invited recent clients, but want to open the invite to other business owners as well. The Notre Dame Federal Credit Union invited us to use their suite at Four Winds Field tomorrow to watch the South Bend Cubs game. It is a day game starting at 11AM! Good excuse for a long lunch break, to have a hot dog, and check out the new stadium improvements!

Tickets are FREE as a gift from NDFCU, and we have a few spots left so please use this RSVP Form (and you can bring a guest):

Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 gates open at 10:30AM and game starts at 11:05PM. We will have some apps (light lunch) in the suite and soda. Other food and alcohol will be available for purchase. Would like to limit tickets to our board and a business partners and a plus 1, but if you want to bring kids....

05/22/2026

Holiday weekend has us thinking festivals...

Reminder that approved Food Vendors for the South Bend Fusion Fest have a special opportunity to apply for a loan or line of credit through our fund.

From South Bend Venues Parks & Arts:

"Vendors, artisans, and performers who are passionate about sharing their culture through food, art, storytelling, music, dance, and more can apply by visiting sbfusionfest.com. The deadline to apply for vendors, artisans and performers is 11:59pm on Friday, May 29."

Get details on the loan program with Allies for Community Business at our website here:
https://www.cdfifriendlysouthbend.org/fusion-fest

Fusion Fest Helping event vendors go bigIn September of 2023, about 30,000 people enjoyed a re-imagination of South Bend’s famous Ethnic Festival. Over 2 days, more than 50 musical acts and 50 food vendors celebrated every region of the world. Organizers spotted a challenge early on: how can smal...

05/19/2026

Our work is grounded in equity.

CDFI Friendly South Bend was founded to bring capital into neighborhoods with limited investment, support businesses traditional lending often overlooked, and help ensure economic opportunity reaches communities too often excluded or ignored.

Our launch was scrappy and efficient. Meetings happened in coffee shops, borrowed offices, public spaces, over Zoom, or on the phone. We never had dedicated meeting rooms or a professional space for that “loan closing photo” moment.

That is about to change.

We are honored to receive a Special Projects Grant from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, Indiana. It will strengthen our work through a dedicated space where lenders, technical assistance providers, and entrepreneurs can come together in a professional environment focused on growth, empowerment, and access to capital.

You can help write the next chapter.

This is a matching grant, and we must raise $30,000 to unlock the full investment.

You can help in two ways:
1️⃣ Donate here: https://www.cdfifriendlysouthbend.org/donate
2️⃣ Help us grow the vision by suggesting partners, spaces, and ideas that can strengthen a “Capital Access Collaborative” serving entrepreneurs across our region.

Thank you to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County for believing, not just in our organization, but in the idea that economic opportunity should be intentional, community-connected, and open to all.

Read more about the grant here: https://www.cdfifriendlysouthbend.org/news/capital-access-collaborative

CDFI Friendly South Bend launches the Capital Access Collaborative, a new initiative supported by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County to expand equitable access to capital, strengthen partnerships between lenders and technical assistance providers, and support entrepreneurs and neighborhoo

05/12/2026

Want to help develop your neighborhood? The next Build South Bend reception and workshop featuring the Neighborhood Evolution team is coming up!

Save June 2nd for the Reception (flyer below) and June 4th workshop (9AM to Noon) and we will see you there! Details and times are on the BSB website and links to RSVP here: https://southbendin.gov/bsb/events

05/11/2026

Small businesses don’t just need encouragement, they need access to capital and the tools to become loan-ready.

“The coaching program didn’t just help me secure financing,” said Alejandro Saucedo. “It gave me the tools, confidence, and understanding to build a scalable business and create real, lasting change for my family and my team.”

Indiana's Elite Services is one example of how Capital Coaching can help entrepreneurs strengthen financials, build a plan, and access funding for growth.

Read the story: https://www.cdfifriendlysouthbend.org/news/growth-through-capital-coaching-indiana-elite-services
Aleks Godspirition

Entrepreneur Alejandro Saucedo turned persistence into growth through CDFI Friendly South Bend’s Capital Coaching program, helping Indiana Elite Services secure funding, expand operations, and land major contracts across the region.