Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF)
Financial ServicesUnited States11-50 Employees
The Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) is a Connecticut-based nonprofit and U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution that provides small business financing to firms unable to obtain traditional bank funding. Chartered in 1994 by the state legislature, CEDF aims to strengthen communities and support entrepreneurs through loans, education, and guidance. It is described as Connecticut's leading SBA microlender and offers term loans, lines of credit, and commercial mortgages funded from capital pools supplied by major local banks. Each borrower is paired with a business advisor who acts as liaison, coach, and consultant to improve outcomes while monitoring performance to reduce risk for the organization. In addition to lending, CEDF runs educational programs—seminars, webinars, workshops, and digital offerings—through WeTeachSuccess.org for both new ventures and existing small businesses, and in March 2026 it announced the Gear Up for Growth training in Newtown, Connecticut.