Community Crafted Lending

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We are committed to using capital, relationships, and voice to target our investments and create meaningful outcomes for people and communities across Oregon and Washington. Learn how Craft3's loans, targeted investments, and partnerships supported our new five-year strategic plan. Read our 2023 Annual Report.

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We’re pleased to announce new steps to help prevent burnout at Craft3 and give our team time to rest and recharge. ‍We are doing this because conversations with staff, survey results, and anecdotal impressions are very clear: too many on our team have been running too hard and not feeling sufficiently supported. ‍The following changes are an effort to offer some respite, expand how we support our workforce, and build a stronger and more sustainable culture over the long term. These changes prioritize employee needs and work-life balance so that we have the focus, energy, and creativity to provide the best possible service to our customers and communities.

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To successfully expand access to capital, simply offering loans and adjusting underwriting criteria is not enough. Many entrepreneurs, especially entrepreneurs of color, face substantial barriers in applying for loans. The language and concepts of finance can be mystifying and inaccessible. Trauma, including previous bad experiences with financial institutions, can compound the situation. And then there is the more universal challenge that small business owners face in making time to not only run the day-to-day of their business, but also to plan, strategize, and grow their business.

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SEATTLE, Wash. (March 15, 2024) – Today Craft3, a non-bank, nonprofit community lender certified by the Department of the Treasury, announced leadership updates at its organization. The leadership updates were shared as part of the ongoing implementation of its Strategic Plan that looks to expand equitable access to capital, deepen its capacity to serve communities and build on an established track record that combines strong growth and effective, responsible operations.

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Wastewater treatment is an essential part of life, even if its usually in the background. However, when there’s a sewage issue, it is difficult to ignore. For years, the Maple Grove community on Camano Island has had to focus on their sewage. Through community collaboration and support from Ecology’s onsite sewage regional loan program, these neighbors are on their way to cleaner, safer water and better wastewater management.