August 21, 2006
HP-66

Senator Domenici to Join U.S. Treasury Official
to Announce $26.4 Million in Community Development Awards

ACCION New Mexico among National Award Recipients

Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) will join Director Arthur A. Garcia of the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund during a visit to Albuquerque, NM on Friday, August 25 to announce $26.4 million in awards from the CDFI Fund.

Albuquerque was chosen as the site for the national award announcement to highlight award recipient ACCION New Mexico as a national leader in community development. ACCION New Mexico offers business credit to underserved entrepreneurs and has been recognized nationally for its innovative approaches to credit delivery among rural small business owners. The microlender was selected through a competitive review of 172 applications from organizations nationwide requesting more than $149 million in funding under the 2006 round of the CDFI Program* and is the only organization in New Mexico receiving an award.

Who:
CDFI Fund Director Arthur Garcia
Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.)

What:
$26.4 Million National Award Announcement

When:
Friday, August 25
10:15 a.m. (MDT) – Tour of Golden Crown (Open to press)
10:30 a.m. (MDT) – Award Announcement

Where:
Golden Crown Panaderia (Received financing from ACCION New Mexico)
1103 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, N.M.

*About the CDFI Program
Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund invests in and builds the capacity of private, for-profit and nonprofit financial institutions that serve low-income people and communities lacking adequate access to affordable financial products and services.  The CDFI Fund selects awardees based on a competitive application process involving a Comprehensive Business Plan review.  More information on the CDFI Fund and its programs can be found at www.cdfifund.gov .

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