Call for 2008 State Legislation!
OFN is conducting research for its annual State Legislation Guide on opportunity finance, and this year we are updating our guide to make it an even more effective tool for your state level advocacy efforts.

If you are aware of any new legislation, amendments to current state legislation that affect CDFI activity, or regulatory changes please contact Dafina Williams at dwilliams@opportunityfinance.net. Please send the bill number, a brief description of the bill, and its status.

View the 2007 report: Leveraging State Legislation to Support Opportunity Finance

The NEXT American Opportunity: Good Policies for a Great America, our book of policy recommendations, will publish next month! We’re planning an exciting Web presence to complement it. You, and policymakers, will be able to find the book’s issue papers, policy recommendations, stories, and fact sheets on the Web site. We’ll rotate the spotlight to cover various issues, and provide ways for you to use the recommendations and for policymakers (current and potential) to learn more about opportunity finance. Look for the site to go live this summer!

House Appropriations Committee Approves $105 Million for CDFI Fund in FY2009
The House Appropriations Committee marked up the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations for FY 2009, which includes $105 million for the CDFI Fund, an $11 million increase over last year’s funding level and $76 million increase over the Bush administration’s request.