Not Linked | Capacity Building – Turtle Island Community Capital

Our work goes beyond simply providing capital.

True capacity building means equipping communities with the tools, knowledge, and support networks necessary to thrive.

That’s why we focus on three key strategies:

1) Expanding Access to Capital

For many Native communities and LIDAC (Low Income and Disadvantaged Communities) regions, access to traditional banking and financing is limited or nonexistent. We bridge this gap by:

Offering flexible, affordable loan products for renewable energy, housing, and small businesses.
Providing direct investment in projects that create local economic opportunity, such as solar manufacturing plants and tribal renewable energy developers.
Acting as a financial intermediary for other Native CDFIs, strengthening the lending capacity of organizations already working on the ground.

2) Strengthening Native CDFIs and Regional Development

We know that local financial institutions are best positioned to understand the needs of their communities. That’s why we support Native-led financial organizations by:

Providing capital infusion to Native CDFIs, allowing them to offer more loans to tribal entrepreneurs and community projects.
Offering technical assistance to improve underwriting processes, compliance, and risk management.
Creating shared services that reduce operational burdens and allow smaller CDFIs to scale efficiently.

By acting as a partner rather than a competitor, we ensure that Native financial institutions remain strong and sustainable for years to come.

3) Driving Growth in New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) Areas

Turtle Island Community Capital is prioritizing investments in New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) zones, which are federally designated areas where economic revitalization is critically needed. Our work in these areas focuses on:

Renewable energy deployment, bringing solar and battery storage to underserved communities.
Affordable housing financing, ensuring tribal members and LIDAC communities can access safe, sustainable housing.
Economic infrastructure projects, including support for Native-owned manufacturing facilities and business incubators.

With strategic capital deployment, we can attract additional private and public funding to these essential areas of development.

The Road Ahead

By 2030, our goal is to:
🔹 Deploy $100 million in capital to Native and underserved communities.
🔹 Support the development of 500+ projects that create jobs and local economic opportunity.
🔹 Build a coalition of Native CDFIs and financial partners to scale our impact even further.

TICC is more than a lender—it’s a force for systemic change. By investing in capacity-building, financial access, and economic development, we’re working to create a future where tribal communities and underserved regions are no longer left behind but instead thrive as leaders in clean energy, business development, and economic sovereignty.