BLOOMINGTON – CDFI Friendly Bloomington (CFB), a financial services nonprofit supporting the Uplands region, has named a new Executive Director.
John Zody, the former Director of Housing & Neighborhood Development for the City of Bloomington, began the role on January 16, 2024. Jane Kupersmith, who led the organization previously, has returned to the City of Bloomington to lead the Economic & Sustainable Development Department.
CDFI Friendly Bloomington was established as a public-private partnership in 2019 to attract funding from the $250 billion Community Development Financial Institution industry to the local marketplace. Community development financial institutions, or CDFIs, are specialized organizations providing financial services in low-income communities and to people or organizations lacking access to financing. CDFI Friendly Bloomington provides technical assistance for organizations seeking nontraditional financing opportunities and connects potential borrowers with CDFI funders.
To date, CFB has helped support the creation or retention of 357 affordable housing units, a pandemic relief loan fund, small business assistance, and a grant and loan program to help individuals and organizations install green infrastructure. In all, it has attracted nearly $26 million in capital investment from nine partnering CDFIs to the Indiana Uplands region – with a total of $58 million in investment for affiliated regional projects.
Chair of the Board Tina Peterson states, “In just a few years since its incorporation, CFB has gained national recognition for its unique strategy in attracting flexible, affordable financing to smaller communities.”
“We are grateful to Jane for helping to attract more investment from CDFIs to the Indiana Uplands region, and we look forward to passing the torch on to John to help unlock even more transformative financing opportunities across Bloomington and the surrounding region.”
“I’m excited to join CDFI Friendly Bloomington’s work to continue advancing this unique organization’s mission to lift up community development projects in our part of the state. I look forward to working with our partners to expand our capacity and do great work together,” said Zody.
Zody served in his role at the City of Bloomington from 2021 to 2023, has more than 25 years of public service at the federal, state, and local levels, and works in higher education. In his new role, he will be responsible for attracting investments from community development financial institutions in affordable and workforce housing, small businesses, green infrastructure, community facilities, and more in Bloomington, Monroe County, and southwest central Indiana. Zody grew up in Martinsville, Indiana, and lives in Bloomington.
CDFI Friendly Bloomington was founded with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association, the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission, Old National Bank, First Financial Bank, and German American Bank.
Visit https://cdfifriendlybtown.org/ to submit projects or find additional information. John can be reached at john@cdfifriendlybtown.org or 812-320-9003.
