ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA announced Wednesday that it will begin accepting applications for its first round of technical assistance grants for 2014 beginning Feb. 3.
Low-income designated credit unions can individually receive up to $16,500 in funding for three grant categories:
- A new Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification;
- New products; and
- Student internships.
"These grants will help America's low-income credit unions remain viable and respond to the evolving needs of their members," NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz said. "The funding to assist low-income credit unions in qualifying for a CDFI certification is a welcome addition to NCUA's long-standing grant program. CDFI-certified financial institutions have access to additional capital, which can help them create jobs and promote financial stability in some of our nation's most underserved communities. I encourage all eligible credit unions to apply."
NCUA said it will provide $481,000 in total funding during the first 2014 grant round. The application period runs Feb. 3 through Feb. 14, 2014. Credit unions may apply online. See the NCUA website for details.
CDFI Certification Assistance
New for 2014, NCUA said it will provide $2,500 each to as many as 40 credit unions seeking a CDFI certification. Certified CDFIs may apply for funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. The CDFI Fund provides funding for financial institutions serving low-income people and communities that lack adequate access to affordable financial products and services.
According to NCUA, credit unions have historically represented the second-largest category of CDFIs, even though only 10% of the nearly 2,000 low-income credit unions designated by NCUA are CDFI certified. The CDFI Fund awarded $184 million to CDFIs in 2013.
For the new product grant category, credit unions may apply for first-year funding for one of the following nine products:
New Product | Maximum Grant Amount |
| $10,000 |
| $7,500 |
| $6,000 |
| $5,000 |
| $2,000 |
NCUA said interested credit unions can use a single application to apply for multiple new product grants. Credit unions are not required to submit estimates and contracts with their applications.
Student Interns
In addition to the grant program, NCUA said it will award up to $4,000 to each eligible credit union to hire student interns for summer 2014. These internships must be completed by Aug. 31, 2014. Eligible credit unions will be selected by asset size, smallest credit unions first.
Credit unions that received student internship funding in 2013 are not eligible for student internship grants in 2014.
Funding for NCUA's grant initiatives is provided by the Community Development Revolving Loan Fund, a fund created by Congress to support credit unions that serve low-income communities. NCUA's Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives administers the program.
