Breaking Barriers, Funding Growth, Empowering Virgin Islands Entrepreneurs.
Our Mission
The CIF was created to break down financial barriers that hinder local business growth. By providing accessible funding and wraparound support services, we empower the Virgin Islands’ entrepreneurial ecosystem—one business at a time.
About the Community Impact Fund
In 2021, the Research and Technology Park (RTPark) launched the Community Impact Fund Corporation (CIF)—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to increase economic opportunity and improve quality of life across the U.S. Virgin Islands. The CIF addresses a critical challenge in the region: access to capital for local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community-based organizations.
The Catalyst Fund
At the heart of the CIF is the Catalyst Fund, a fully operational lending initiative that streamlines loan processing from application to disbursement. Backed by the DownHome digital platform, the fund ensures transparency, real-time tracking, and financial compliance.
Initially focused on RTPark tenant companies with loans up to $1.5 million, the Catalyst Fund is now evolving to better meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses throughout the territory. Today, we’re focused on credit requests between $25,000 and $250,000—tailored to meet the real-world needs of local entrepreneurs.
Why CIF Matters
Even with over 22 local and federal loan programs tied to the USVI Vision 2040 initiative, funding gaps persist. National benchmarks reveal the challenge: while 12% of U.S. businesses accessed SBA-backed loans between 2018 and 2022, only 4.7% of Virgin Islands businesses did the same.
Local small businesses are often denied funding due to:
Limited credit history
Lack of collateral
Insufficient access to technical assistance
Moreover, many government programs cater to larger firms, require extensive documentation, or lack critical wraparound services such as business planning and financial literacy training. The CIF is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are—and help them grow from there.
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
nikky.cole@cifvi.org
Phone
(678) 472-5205