The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) of the Department of Treasury is joining the Urban Waters Federal Partnership as the 15th Agency.  On December 13, 2017 Annie Donovan, Director of the CDFI Fund, notified the Federal Partnership that leadership at the Department of Treasury had approved the CDFI Fund to join. 

Through several meetings and discussions with EPA over the past year, as well as extensive collaboration with EPA and the Proctor Creek Urban Waters Partnership during the October 2016 Resilience Academy in Atlanta, it was clear that the mission of the CDFI Fund and the Federal Partnership were closely aligned.  That is, both are focused on community revitalization.

CDFIs are working on urban waters-related projects in at least some of the Partnership locations.  For example, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) DC has been and continues to work closely on the 11th Street Bridge Park project, committing $50 million to address equity and gentrification issues in the Anacostia neighborhood. This Bridge Park will be directly above the Anacostia River, and will include new parks on the bridge and near the river, as well as many other projects, with some directly focused on providing access to the Anacostia River for all who live near and who visit. Equitable development and gentrification are major issues in all our Federal Partnership locations and CDFIs can assist Partnership locations in addressing these issues.  By working together, CDFIs and the CDFI Fund can help the Urban Waters Federal Partnership achieve its mission.

Let us welcome Annie Donovan and her colleagues at the CDFI Fund to the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

Michael Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water