Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) and Conduit Capital have partnered to help rural small businesses catalyze economic opportunity in their communities. Economic changes have fundamentally impacted rural America, with the evolving dynamics providing a tremendous opportunity for revitalization, digitalization, and investment. More than 70% of rural business owners surveyed said a lack of economic opportunity forces people to leave their communities.

The lack of access to capital and community resource networks for rural businesses can mean the difference between success and failure for these businesses and the prosperity of the communities where they are located. By providing knowledge, networks and capital, the promise of building a more equitable and resilient rural economy can be fulfilled. With the right support, rural businesses can recruit workers, create quality jobs, attract equity capital, and increase community wealth.

This newly created partnership will leverage the relationships CRF and Conduit Capital have with national and local community development ecosystems to better understand and create solutions that help address rural small business challenges.