Missoula, MT (April 2, 2025) |
Clearwater Credit Union has announced a total donation of $45,000 to one emerging and two established Montana Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs), with each receiving $15,000. Recipients include People’s Partner for Community Development, a certified Native CDFI located in Lame Deer, Montana; NACDC Financial Services, a certified Native CDFI located in Browning, Montana; and the Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation, an emerging Native CDFI located in Crow Agency, Montana.
Nationwide, Native CDFIs focus on expanding economic opportunities in Native communities where access to traditional banking and financing options can be limited. By offering access to loans, business capital, technical assistance, financial education, and more, these organizations help strengthen Native businesses and communities and drive sustainable economic development.
“In Montana, these three organizations serve a crucial role in Native communities,” said Maria Valandra, Clearwater’s Vice President of Community Partnerships. “While each has its own mission, they’re all committed to stimulating economic development, promoting self-sufficiency, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals and businesses located in and around reservation communities.“
People’s Partner For Community Development
People’s Partner for Community Development (PPCD) is a Native-led, non-profit organization serving the communities of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. They offer services and have supported the development of local enterprises to help meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
Agriculture is the backbone of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and PPCD’s youth agricultural lending program helps youth aged 10-20 years purchase livestock, equipment, and real estate and have access to working capital. PPCD also fostered the development of the Warrior Meat Company, a mobile meat processing unit offering local ranchers a more practical way to get their meat processed and avoid the costs of long-distance hauling. And when the closure of a local grocery store during Covid created a food desert, PPCD purchased the store and re-opened it as Warrior Grocery offering local jobs and a way for local producers and ranchers to sell their meat and produce.
Speaking about the donation, Sharon Small, PPCD’s Executive Director, indicated, “Clearwater has given our organization invaluable guidance, we are forever grateful for all the generous support the Clearwater team has done to make a difference in our communities.”
NACDC Financial Services
NACDC Financial Services (NACDCFS) is a certified Native CDFI located in Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. They offer a wide range of alternative financing opportunities for Native American entrepreneurs and small businesses in communities in and near Indian Reservations and across the state, including low rate, low down payment, and private home loan financing assistance; micro and small business loans; credit builder loans; and check cashing services. Their impact is well known and appreciated in Browning where NACDCFS has helped fund many business on Main Street, as well as help many Native American families finance homes.
Another key focus for NACDCFS is advancing Native American financial management capabilities. They offer one-on-one credit counseling and financial literacy classes as well as a workforce and professional development project to reduce historical trauma related to financial management. A unique partnership with the Browning School District helps support a student-run bank within the Browning School District.
Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation
Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation is an emerging Native CDFI located in Crow Agency, Montana that serves the Crow reservation and surrounding communities. They are dedicated to being a cornerstone for community development and self-sufficiency, and they offer individual, business, and workforce development programs as well as micro and small business lending. Their Individual Development Account (IDA) teaches personal finance management and goal setting strategies, as well as supports participants in building assets through a matched savings program.
Water quality and sanitation challenges due to aging infrastructure are a great concern in the Crow community. Plenty Door’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program provides financing, support, and training to help local homeowners and businesses assess and fund needed improvements. Plenty Doors also oversees a business incubator program that offers access to computers, printing, financial and bookkeeping, and webs design services to help local businesses get off the ground. In 2026, they’ll also open the new Crow Innovation Center, a multi-use facility that will offer local businesses and community organizations office and meeting space.
Jack Lawson, Clearwater’s President and CEO indicates Clearwater’s contribution to each organization reflects its deep commitment to fostering partnerships with, and stimulating economic growth in, Native communities. “We are dedicated to using finance to help people overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities,” said Jack. “The work these three organizations are doing in their communities aligns perfectly with our mission. We’re deeply impressed by the impact their having within their communities, and we’re proud to make these donations to help them continue their work.”