Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) began its multi-year partnership with The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) in 2014 as part of a nationwide initiative - called ReFresh - to spur growth of small businesses that improve healthy food access in underserved rural and urban communities, and to support the development of local food systems.
With a $2 million grant award from the JPMorgan Chase & Co Foundation (JPM), TRF in partnership with CEF and three other nonprofit lending institutions in California, Ohio and Florida launched the first phase of ReFresh this year. For CEF, this involved hiring a local consultant who completed a comprehensive study of potential Colorado markets for healthy foods funding and related resources for small businesses. Next steps include implementing a comprehensive, targeted marketing plan to reach businesses that would benefit from such funding.
CEF is proud to partner with TRF, a national leader in improving the food landscape in low-income communities with more than $180 million in financing provided to 130 healthy food projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic - from supermarkets to corner stores and produce distribution centers. First serving as the manager and designer of the successful Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative in 2004, TRF has since developed a comprehensive approach to improving the healthy food landscape in local neighborhoods, cities, and states.
JPMorgan Chase & Co is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. Its Foundation gives approximately $200 million annually to nonprofit organizations around the world and initiates employee volunteer activities in local communities. JPM also oversees the Mission Main Street Grants program that awards $3 million annually in grants of $150,000 each to 20 small businesses across the country. One of CEF's clients, Living Design Studios, was a recent recipient of this grant award.
We thank TRF and JPM for their support of CEF's small business mission and healthy foods focus in Colorado.