The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)
There are specialized financial institutions in California that are specifically dedicated to, and whose core purpose is to, provide financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial markets and to support renewable energy projects, energy efficiency improvements, economic development, and affordable housing in these communities. These community development financial institutions or CDFIs seek to bridge the growing gap that exists between the financial products and services, renewable energy generation, energy efficiency improvements, economic development, and affordable housing available to the
economic mainstream and those offered to low-income people and communities, as well as the nonprofit institutions that serve them. In addition, they serve a critical role in addressing issues of poverty and access to credit in economically disadvantaged communities by providing services, including, but not limited to, credit counseling to consumers, financial literacy training, home ownership counseling, entrepreneurial education, and technical assistance to small business owners.
(b)
These mission-driven financial institutions require additional capital in order to expand their ability to provide financial products and services, and to promote needed renewable energy generation projects, energy efficiency improvements, economic development, and affordable housing for low-income individuals and communities, and the businesses and nonprofit agencies that serve them. For example, some offer responsible alternatives to high-cost check-cashing
services and payday lenders that have moved into low-income communities. Others help finance small businesses, affordable housing, and community services and facilities that, in turn, help stabilize low-income neighborhoods and alleviate poverty.
(c)
In carrying out their mission, funding community development is given priority over providing high returns to investors.
(d)
It is the intent of the Legislature to provide an incentive in the form of California tax credits to attract much needed additional private capital investments that would not otherwise be available to CDFIs without the benefit of such incentive. It is the expectation of the Legislature that CDFIs will leverage these new investment dollars for the direct benefit of economically disadvantaged communities and low-income people in California.