Grant to help micro-entrepreneurs flourish

ALBANY - First Niagara recently awarded the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region with a donation of $25,000 to help provide valuable training and technical assistance to micro-enterprises owned by women, minorities and/or people with low-incomes.

“CLFCR is extremely grateful for First Niagara’s longtime partnership in promoting local community development. First Niagara has been an investor in the organization’s lending capital fund, pooling resources with other local investors to provide loans for the start-up and expansion of small businesses and nonprofits and for low-moderate income residential borrowers. The recent grant will support free training and technical assistance activities that help our borrowers succeed,” said Linda MacFarlane, Executive Director of the Community Loan Fund.

The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region is a non-profit community development financial institution that specifically focuses on sustainable community development for economically underserved people and communities. It provides access to capital to non-profit organizations for affordable housing and community services, to micro enterprises for business development, and to individuals for home ownership and repair, as well as providing training and technical assistance.

“The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region is an impactful and result driven organization in our community, and at First Niagara we value that kind of level of excellence, said Kelli Arnold Market Executive at First Niagara.”

Incorporated in 1985, the Community Loan Fund is celebrating its 30th year having loaned more than $41.5 million to 770 projects, and leveraged an additional $171 million in community-based economic development.

About First Niagara

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 390 branches, $39 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits, and approximately 5,300 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.  For additional information on First Niagara, visit us at www.firstniagara.com, follow us on Twitter @FirstNiagara, or like us on Facebook at FirstNiagaraBank.