Clearinghouse CDFI has provided loans and funding for the Kewa Childcare Development Center, a new 22,000 square foot childcare facility located in the underserved community of Santo Domingo, New Mexico. When fully operational, this transformative project will provide critical early childhood development services to the surrounding community, supporting the next generation in a region facing significant economic challenges.

The Santo Domingo Pueblo faces a 35.6% poverty rate, an area median family income of just 64.4%, and an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, qualifying the area as severely distressed. Despite these challenges, Clearinghouse CDFI recognized the profound impact this project will have on the community’s future.

This project was brought to Clearinghouse CDFI by Native American Bank, which prioritized it as a key initiative. Recognizing the project’s importance for youth development in underserved communities, Clearinghouse CDFI joined the effort to help ensure its successful completion.

Clearinghouse CDFI provided $7 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation and a $1,849,400 loan, alongside $9 million from Native American Bank, for a total Federal NMTC allocation of $16 million. The $10 billion annual NMTC program supports projects like community facilities, businesses, and real estate, with nearly 75% of investments targeting highly distressed areas. 

Clearinghouse CDFI is committed to financing projects, such as Kewa Child Care Development Center, that build strong communities nationwide. Kewa Child Care and Development uses a language immersion approach to deliver child care services to the Santo Domingo Pueblo (also known as Kewa.) The child care center uses the community’s cultural calendar to guide curriculum. The program emphasizes the identity of each child and promotes family core values that are specific to Kewa.

Clearinghouse CDFI is a direct lender financing projects that create jobs and services to help people live, work, dream, grow, and thrive in healthy communities.

Established in 1996 to serve low-income and disadvantaged communities in Southern California, Clearinghouse CDFI has expanded its service area to address unmet credit needs throughout the U.S., focusing on California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico — including all Native American lands.

Clearinghouse CDFI provides innovative and affordable financing for small businesses, nonprofits, affordable housing, community facilities, and commercial real estate. Loan types include construction, acquisition, renovation, expansion, and refinance. Clearinghouse CDFI offers both short and long-term permanent, fixed-rate mortgages from 3 to 25 years fully amortizing.

In fiscal year 2024, Clearinghouse CDFI provided $210 million in financing, which created or retained 1,937 jobs, of which 75% were in areas of high unemployment.

Learn more about Clearinghouse CDFI.