It's almost the end of the year, which means it's time to look back at all the loans that closed during 2006. You can see the affordable housing loan list here, and the economic development loan list here. For the record, there are a few loans that haven't closed yet. Once they do, we'll make sure to add them to the lists.

Congratulations to all the borrowers who closed a loan during 2006! We wish them the best of luck in the new year.

So, what is the Opportunity Finance Network? Well, it's...

the leading network of private financial intermediaries with a proven expertise in lending prudently and productively in unconventional markets often overlooked by conventional financial institutions. Working in urban, rural, and reservation-based markets we deliver sound financial returns and real changes for people and communities.

The OFN features a number of Member Profiles on their website. These are profiles of organizations...

who have connected to the brand. Each Member Profile contains an overview of the organization, a brief success story, mission statement, products & services, and financial & social impact. Members in good standing who connect to the brand can qualify for a Member Profile.

The Trust Fund qualified for a Member Profile by connecting to the OFN "brand." You can see where we did this on our Partners page.

Members of the Trust Fund team will be working with a representative from the OFN next week to help create our Member Profile, which is expected to be completed in early Q1 2007. We look forward to being featured alongside the Opportunity Finance Nework's current list of distinguished Member Profiles, and will keep you updated about the status of the Trust Fund's profile.

We've been doing a little decorating in the Lansing office lately:

The January edition of the Community Quarterly Newsletter is right around the corner, and we've settled on the main topics for next month's release...

Devon's Hair Salon
The Trust Fund made an economic development loan to Devon's Hair Salon back in September to help facilitate their move into a larger facility at 5480 Highland Road in Waterford, Michigan. The new advertisements, marketing materials, styling equipment, and renovations to the new facility were made possible by the Trust Fund's loan, and should help the business expand its services and reach out to an even wider clientele over the coming years.

Lifequest Group
Lifequest was established in 1999, and offers outreach services to young men in Grand Rapids which includes spiritual counseling and support, helping clients find employment, providing training in the construction trades while also rehabbing older homes, and finding rehabilitation services for clients with substance abuse problems. With a waiting list of 20 men in need of affordable housing, Lifequest came to the Trust Fund in March for a loan to finance their transitional housing program.

We're proud of our borrowers' work, and look forward to sharing more on both of these loans in the January edition of the newsletter.

Until then, have a wonderful holiday season!